We’ve just had to say good-bye to two terrific volunteers at Proyecto San Gerardo – and our reflections on their time here made me think it was about time I wrote a piece on volunteering in San Gerardo.

Before living here I thought I knew all about volunteering and committees; but I had never lived in a small community that is moreorless self-sufficient when it comes to running itself. I was used to government departments responsible for roads, security, recreation, events, and maintenance. When I arrived here I noticed the plethora of meetings, groups and the activities that flowed from this communal effort. It’s true! Without local volunteers San Gerardo could not function – so everyone does their part and volunteers on committees large and small to make San Gerardo the beautiful place it is. It’s very social too – a wonderful way to meet your neighbours and make new friends, and for me a new way of practicing my Spanish!

On our Get Involved page we focus on four opportunities for volunteering in San Gerardo, but truth be told there are many more. Coming up soon (February 27th) is the Carrera Chirripó (fiesta time!) and many, many volunteers are needed to help with preparing food, selling food and drink, cleaning up and generally ensuring the 4 day event goes on without hassles and without the load on too few shoulders. If you give just a four hour shift you will experience a slice of the real Pura Vida! Working alongside local community members, joking and laughing, your vacation here will be something to remember forever as you make new friends. If you would like to sign up to help out in anyway visit the Get Involved/Carrera Chirripó page and contact us.

Volunteers on projects such as reforestation at Cloudbridge Reserve or teaching with Proyecto San Gerardo are here for longer periods of time, and some of them elect to stay with local families and really experience rural Costa Rica. Rising early and sharing the first cup of coffee, helping out with harvests, picking coffee or playing with the children who inevitably visit: this is a chance to share intimately in the lives of rural ticos. Our volunteers have repeatedly mentioned this as a highlight: “The family was absolutely wonderful and did everything they could to make sure I felt at home” – Amber, 2009

Back to our volunteers who just said good-bye! They were here to teach English at various levels mainly to adults in the community who would like to enter the tourism business but lack language skills. The classes focus on conversation rather than reading and writing, and for many it is their first time back in the classroom for many years as high school education is a comparatively recent acquisition here. Typically shy and nervous about speaking aloud in the eight week course most of the students learned to initiate conversations in English or at least make themselves understood. Says Kevin: “A lot of the students didn’t have the opportunity to go to high school, as they were working from a young age. This made me realize how I had taken my education for granted. All my students were genuinely interested in learning, they were there because they wanted to be there. There is nothing more gratifying for a teacher than to have students who are eager to learn as I was to teach.”

We finished the session that also included computer skills classes, with a graduating party for everyone. Over 80 people turned out: students and their parents, homestay families, teachers and community supporters. It was great to see the pride with which each student received their certificates and hear how 100% want to come back again in the new year when we resume classes.

Volunteering is always a two-way streak. People, communities, the environment benefit when others donate their skills, creativity and time. But those same volunteers benefit immeasurably from the welcome they receive here in San Gerardo and the lessons for life than can be drawn from living in the community. Soon we will be expanding our volunteer recruitment to include arts and crafts teachers for a new women’s group, and we are always on the lookout for First Aid instructors, as well as our core ESL and computer skills teachers.

So ‘Gracias’ to all our volunteers and host families of the past three years, as well as the community for supporting volunteers here in San Gerardo. Last word to one of our volunteers:

“The two months that I stayed in San Gerardo was a once in a lifetime chance to experience a culture from the inside rather than viewing it from the outside in the traditional tourist sense …I am sure I will stay in touch with my family and the friends I have made in San Gerardo, and I thank Proyecto San Gerardo for giving me the opportunity to volunteer” – Jed, 2009