Praxis Center de Costa Rica
Site Address:
Esquina suroeste de la plaza de deportes, porton negro al lado de Grupo Roga
Santo Domingo
,
Heredia
40306
Costa Rica
Website:
praxiscentercr.org
Categories:
Spanish Language Preferences:
Location Details
Description
Praxis Center Costa Rica seeks to connect organizations in low income and immigrant communities with students for the purpose of carrying out meaningful service that will be transformative in the lives of both the volunteers as well as the local partners. We seek to assist students in navigating what it means to operate in another language as well as the complexities of being an “other,” albeit only for a few weeks. In addition, through the study of Central American history and culture, participants gain a deeper understanding of the root causes of poverty and marginalization in the region. We hope that they may be inspired by their experiences here to think about new ways to respond to the twin crises facing the global community— Climate Change and Migration—so that they may be better equipped to participate in the development of life-giving and deeply humane responses to these global challenges.
Student Role
There are several different placements available at our site: • Assisting in teaching/tutoring any of the following: English, math, dance, music, art, computer and/or digital media skills to children and teens in a low income immigrant community • Composting, soil preparation, seed saving, planting and harvesting vegetables, and watershed protection at neighborhood urban gardens • Assisting immigrants in various ways to start their own small businesses: business planning, marketing, social media, accounting, etc. as well as fundraising and grantwriting for the organization. • Accompaniment of people who are incarcerated at a minimum security prison: teaching English, tutoring people earning their high school diploma, participating in training about personal growth, goal setting, etc. • Working at a public school with children with differing abilities • Taking vital signs, organizing the pharmacy and assisting a medical doctor at a primary care clinic
Work Schedule
Students would work at the site 5 days a week for at least 7 hours a day. Their day would usually start around 7 or 7:30 am and finish at 4 or 5pm. Some sites require a 45 minute commute on public transportation.
Orientation
Our staff will provide orientation that will include topics such as Central American history, the cultural adaptation process, how to get around on the public transportation system, tips for understanding cultural aspects of working with a Costa Rican organization, as well as site-specific introductions to each participating organization.
Housing Information
Students in the program will stay all together at one of the following places: At a small guesthouse with a Costa Rican college student or in a small apartment rented from a Costa Rican family. They will need to share a room and a bathroom with other ND Bridge students.
Spanish Language Proficiency
Conversational
Other Language Proficiencies
Spanish is the only language that is required.
Background Check
Immunizations (please note if any are required by your site below)
Drivers License
No
Student Preferences
We will do our best to place students where their particular skills can best be utilized. Almost all the placements require good people skills and students will gain experience in navigating cultural differences while they are here.