In February, I am headed to Costa Rica to volunteer with Globe Aware - The Road Less Traveled Rainforest Village Experience. This volunteer travel program offers a unique opportunity to help a small community next to the Carara Rainforest Reserve improve their well being and create a sustainable future in ecologically important areas. This project was chosen with the Travelocity Travel for Good grant I won via WE tv and Ladies’ Home Journal and I am beyond grateful to be able to bring my boyfriend along for the do good adventures. He's been extremely patient and supportive of my volunteering efforts over the past eight months and I am excited to be able to share a small part of The Global Citizen Project with him -- especially in one of my favorite Central American countries.
The Carara Rainforest Reserve borders a tiny village where volunteers are immersed. Although the villagers love their natural paradise, they have struggled to make ends meet as much of their farmland was taken over by the national park. They hope to create sustainable community-based tourism, and Globe Aware volunteers will work on community development projects to help them reach this goal.
Projects will vary depending on the number of volunteers, which projects were finished with the prior group, what priorities have changed, weather conditions, which supplies are available, and often the interest and fitness level of the volunteers.
Some completed Carara Rainforest Reserve volunteer work projects:
- Built pedestrian bridges
- Buried and installed new PVC water pipe to bring new clean water source into community
- Painted school
- Built cabinas
- Planted hundreds of trees
- Built book shelves for school
- Built fence around school
- Set up First Aid center
- Made oil lamps to line public road
- Made and installed road signs to community
- Painted communal hall
- Built recycling stations
- Built waste receptacles
- Painted and installed identifying signs in rain forest
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4 comments:
I can't believe it's almost time for your big trip. I hope you and the boyfriend have a WONDERFUL time and I can't wait to hear all about it!
Travel for Good - I cannot believe it either! I've been really looking forward to helping out in Costa Rica and have been reading up on the region and its people. THANK YOU again for making such amazing voluntourism opportunties possible with your grant program. And big thanks to all the folks who voted for me. Couldn't have done this without your cyber love and support. Can't wait to report back on everything!
Hello,
I was looking up reviews for this volunteer program and found your blog. Awesome idea to travel around and volunteer. I may be doing this Feb 19th trip as well so I just wanted to introduce myself in case were there at the same time. My name is Angela. hi hi :-) Maybe we'll meet on this road less traveled. Happy travels.
Hello Angela! Nice to meet you. I wish I had more to share about this specific project, but do know that I have heard nothing but great things about how Globe Aware runs its voluntourism programs. Hope our paths cross in Costa Rica. Let me know if you're headed down in a few weeks. Safe travels to you!
Charyn
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