San Jose
San Jose, Costa Rica
Family And Youth Development
You may be able to combine any of the Service-Learning Experiences below with an ISA Academic Program.
After School Program
Spanish (Intermediate)
Work with an organization that provides after school and daycare services to children of limited economic resources. Be a positive role model and help students with homework and educational activities. Engage the children by facilitating recreational activities, art, and music projects.
Youth Development Center
Spanish (High Intermediate)
This organization is part of a larger public park dedicated to creating an integrated space for community members and promoting an appreciation for nature, the environment, art, music, and technology. This center focuses specifically on youth education and recreation programs that help children and young adults learn new skills in a safe and creative learning environment. Participants may have the opportunity to facilitate English and technology classes, assist with administrative tasks, and help prepare educational materials and activities.
About the Location
Costa Rica's allure can be attributed to numerous factors, including its impressive biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, environmental awareness, and great opportunities for adventure and ecotourism. The variety of outdoor recreation activities provides endless possibilities to experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Outdoor enthusiasts will find challenges on the various trails winding through mountains, rain forests, and up volcanoes. The miles of beautiful Costa Rican coastline support an underwater ecology as diverse and spectacular as the landscape. In Costa Rica's cosmopolitan capital city, San José, you will find a large number of excellent museums, cinemas, theaters, restaurants, and dance clubs.
This tropical paradise offers near-perfect temperatures year-round, making it easy to explore Costa Rica’s exotic landscapes. Locals are warm and friendly and the cost of living is much lower than in the U.S. For all these reasons and more, Costa Rica is a fantastic place to participate in a service-learning program.
San José
San José is the political, economic and cultural hub of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley region, the city is surrounded by stunning geography with the Talamanca Mountains to the south and volcanoes to the north. It’s the perfect place to experience a bustling and cosmopolitan Latin American metropolis and a great jumping off point to experience the many natural wonders of Costa Rica. ISA’s service-learning program in San José is one of its largest, offering participants the chance to volunteer in a variety of sectors, including community development, education, environment, family and youth development, and health. As Costa Rica’s capital, San José has something for everyone and is an ideal service-learning destination for participants who want to live and serve in a large city. Participants don’t need to have an advanced knowledge of Spanish to make a real and lasting difference in this diverse city.
What's Included
- Pre-departure orientation materials
- Visa support
- The Professional Development Toolbox
- Guaranteed placement with local host organization
- Airport reception at San José Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
- On-site orientation through the Bridging Cultures Program
- Full-time resident staff with a maximum 20:1 student to staff ratio
- On-site ISA office, computer and WiFi internet access
- Housing
- Meals and laundry service (varies according to housing option chosen)
- Placement supervision
- Academic supervision
- Academic credit options
- Cultural activities
- Insurance
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- 24-hour on-site support
- Optional excursions (for additional fee)
- On-site transportation stipend
- Project materials stipend
- Donation to host organization
- ISA Service-Learning Portfolio
Academic Credit
Participants looking to earn academic credit for their ISA Service-Learning experience can explore the following options.
Credit From Your Home Institution
Participants may work with their home university to receive academic credit for their program. Each academic institution has a unique policy for granting internship, service-learning and experiential learning credit, thus students should inquire about receiving academic credit with their home university advisors, professors, and/or academic department heads. Many ISA Service-Learning participants have successfully received “Independent Study,” “Internship,” “Directed Studies,” or “Special Topics” credit for their program by presenting their Portfolio.
Transfer Credit from Carroll College
ISA Service-Learning has partnered with Carroll College in Helena, Montana, to offer a U.S. transcript and award lower division service-learning academic credits for ISA Service-Learning programs. Credit awarded will be based on the successful completion of the ISA Service-Learning Portfolio and the number of contact hours accrued at the host organization.
Participants will be able to earn 3 credits for the following programs: 4 and 6-week full-time programs, ISA Semester/Summer + Service-Learning, ISA Intensive Month + Service-Learning.
Participants will be able to earn 6 credits for the following programs: 8 week (or more) full-time programs.
The additional cost of academic credit is $300, and includes a transcript with either a pass/fail or a letter grade from Carroll College.
ISA Service-Learning strongly recommends that students receive confirmation from their home institution that credit transfer will be accepted.
Prices & Dates
| Program Code | Duration | Dates (mm/dd/yy) | Application Due Date | Price | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPR-2021 | 8 Week | 02/10/21-04/10/21 | 12/01/20 | $4300 | Apply Now |
| SUM-2021 | 4 Week | 05/26/21-06/26/21 | 03/01/21 | $2650 | Apply Now |
| SUM-2021 | 8 Week | 05/26/21-07/24/21 | 03/01/21 | $4300 | Apply Now |
| SUM-2021 | 4 Week | 06/23/21-07/24/21 | 04/01/21 | $2650 | Apply Now |
| FAL-2021 | 8 Week | Early Sep - Early Nov | 06/01/21 | TBA | Apply Now |
Housing Details
ISA Housing in San José allows participants a truly enjoyable and immersive experience living in a Costa Rican (Tico) home with a local family. All housing is located in middle to upper class neighborhoods and offers glimpses of everyday life with easy access to city amenities. The experience of living in another culture will be both educational and rewarding. You just have to remember to stay open-minded at all times. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a new culture and place as a local would, so take advantage of that, become a "Tico" and live the "pura vida"!
Homestay
ISA Homestays allow participants to experience aspects of Costa Rican or "tico" lifestyle that are inaccessible to the average visitor. You have the opportunity for complete cultural immersion by staying with locals and experiencing the Costa Rican way of life. Homestays include breakfast and dinner everyday and laundry service once a week. In your homestay you will have your own bedroom, although there may be another student living in the same homestay. Every family has been carefully selected by resident staff in order to ensure a comfortable, enjoyable and immersive living situation.
Independent Housing
You may opt to secure housing independently. If you select this option, you will receive a discount equal to the housing portion of the program price. By choosing to opt out of ISA Service-Learning housing, you are solely responsible for researching and reserving housing, and paying all fees, deposits, and rent directly to the housing facility that you choose.
Visa Info
Participants must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months AFTER their expected departure date from Costa Rica.
U.S. Citizens
Participants will enter the country on a tourist visa which they will obtain upon arrival to the airport in San José. The tourist visa is a stamp that is placed in passports by immigration which is valid for up to 90 days.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Please note that non-U.S. citizens should contact their Consulate to verify specific entry requirements. As these requirements vary based on citizenship, non-U.S. citizens may not be permitted to travel to Costa Rica without a visa or outside of their visa dates. Also, visa fees for non-U.S. citizens may differ so please be sure to check specific Consulate's website for the most up to date information.
Note: Embassy and Consulate contact information is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the website of the Embassy or Consulate to verify information.