During my two years in Costa Rica, attending the United World College, I was engaged in a multitude of volunteer projects. This page is an overview of some of my favourite projects.
La Carpio: Refugee Community Support Program
La Carpio, San Jose, Costa Rica
La Carpio is Costa Rica's most marginalized settlement, inhabited predominantly by refugees from Nicaragua. We were based at Fundación Sistema Integral de Formación Artística para la Inclusión Social (SIFAIS). This experience reshaped my perception of Costa Rica, revealing the stark inequalities that exist even in the "happiest country on earth."
To bridge cultural gaps, I fast-tracked my Spanish language acquisition, moving beyond simple tutoring to provide holistic support, including healthcare navigation, career counseling, personal growth workshops, and anti-discrimination advocacy for the local immigrant and refugee population.
Cabécar Community Service
Pacuare River, Costa Rica
In this community service project, we worked together with the Cabécar, an indigenous group of Costa Rica, to provide resilient community infrastructure and educational services.
CIRENAS: Turtle Sanctuary
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
In this environmental conservation project, we worked on building and maintaining a turtle sanctuary in one of Costa Rica's most vulnerable ecosystems.
Santa Ana Public Library: ESL Teaching
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
I provided basic English lessons in our local public library. This experience increased my confidence when I started learning Spanish and gave me insights into the Costa Rican educational system.
Santa Ana Elderly Centre Initiative
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
I co-led an initiative at the local elderly centre with the goal of fostering intergenerational and intercultural dialogue.
Jacó Beach Cleanup Initiative
Jacó, Costa Rica
This student initiative contributed to public community efforts to keep Jacó beach clean and protect the local marine ecosystem.
