International Internship in Costa Rica

Our international internship program in Costa Rica provides currently-enrolled university students, recent graduates, as well as more experienced professionals, the chance to gain hands-on experience in a wide range of fields within this biologically diverse Central American country. We offer placements throughout the country, where participants will have the opportunity to both explore nature and live with a Costa Rican host family. Sharing your daily life with them will provide you with cultural experience and insight that you could never have as a tourist. Soon you will become immersed in “Tico” culture and live “pura vida”, the relaxing way of life that has made Costa Rica famous. The goal is for interns to better understand their industry, distinguish their resume with international work experience, and gain confidence in their field of expertise.

AIDE’s international internship programs offer participants the opportunity to gain experience and develop employability skills in a global context. Furthermore, participants may be eligible to receive academic credit for their international internship with AIDE. AIDE believes that this access to experiential learning develops intercultural competence, as well as tolerance and understanding of circumstances and societies that are different from our own. Our aim is to build a worldwide community of global citizens who will be part of an ongoing intercultural conversation. Welcome aboard, and we hope that you enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Participants are placed in an internship that is customized according to their field of study, professional experience, and Spanish language skills.

While on the program you will live with a Costa Rican host family. Sharing your daily life with them will provide you with experience and insight into the culture that you could never have had as a tourist. Soon you will become immersed in “Tico” culture and live “pura vida.”

Positions and start dates are limited. To reserve your placement, click here.

Eligibility:
* At least 18 years old
* Eligible to receive a tourist visa to Costa Rica
* Other requirements may apply according to the internship position offered

Location:
Internship placements are located throughout Costa Rica.

Length of program:
One month minimum

Start dates:
Rolling admissions throughout the year.
Start dates are not available between December 15 and January 15.

What you get:

Accommodations: During your Spanish lessons and/or your internship placement, you will live with a Costa Rican family. You will be provided with 2-3 meals a day, laundry service and an invaluable insight into the “real” Costa Rica. You may live in a host family by yourself or with a group of other interns. A handful of internship placements offer on-site living instead of home stay accommodations.

Visa Documentation: Most tourist visas are valid for up to 3 months. If you are interested in a longer program, we will assist you in applying for a visa extension. We recommend checking with your local Costa Rican consulate for the most up to date visa information.

Language Classes: Optional language classes are available. Language classes are a great way to be introduced to a new country and improve your Spanish skills. Classes are held prior to starting your internship and are usually held in small groups. Classes are an additional USD$250/ week.

Internship placements:
We have internship placements throughout Costa Rica. Below is a brief sample of the kinds of projects and locations we offer. If you are interested in working in an area you don’t see below, please consult your AIDE Program Manager. We do our best to accommodate all requests.

Health Care

Paramedical Assistant

Locations: San Jose, Heredia and Cartago

Description of Project and Duties:
Participants with this program work with a paramedical team in either San Jose or Heredia, getting first-hand experience with the team by responding to emergency calls in the ambulance.  The internship schedule will mirror that of the paramedical team: 24 hours on call at headquarters and 24 hours off.  Each intern will be paired with 2 or 3 Costa Rican paramedics, with whom they will complete their shifts.  Interns will work 2-3 shift s a week. 

Aside from emergency calls, the paramedics will also transfer patients from one hospital to another and host health and safety fairs in the community.  CPR and paramedical training will be provided by the staff so that interns develop an understanding of the necessary procedures and terminology.  This is not only a great opportunity to get medical experience, but also to work closely with Costa Ricans in the medical field. 

Clinical Medicine

Locations: Tres Rios, Montezuma

Description of Project and Duties:
This internship enables pre-med, medical, nursing, pharmacology, and public health students to experience medical observation in a clinic. The clinics AIDE works with also undertake home visits where doctors and nurses try to educate families on preventative medicine. Interns will take on administrative tasks in addition to assisting with patient exams and attending home visits.

Requirements:
Some previous medical experience or relevant coursework.

1 month: USD$ 2,250*
2 months: USD$ 3,950*
3 months: USD$ 5,650*

Additional Week(s): USD$ 400*
*(Includes accommodation and meals)

Physical Therapy and Special Education

Location: Quepos / Manuel Antonio

Description of Project and Duties:
The mission of this project is to improve the quality of life for handicapped children in the rural Pacific coast region of Costa Rica. Basic services for the disabled are located in San Jose, Costa Rica, a six to nine hour roundtrip bus ride.  Since the center operates in a rural area where this type of care is non-existent, they welcome children with all types of physical and mental disabilities. 

AIDE interns will assist with daily activities such as art classes, games, and sports.  There are also special education classes and specialized speech and physical therapy sessions. Usually interns will find themselves gravitating towards a few certain children and become more of a personal coach and mentor.

Psychology and Social Work

Family Development

Location: La Guacima

Description of Project and Duties:
Interns will work in a home for young mothers and their children. These young girls have been sexually abused and/or exploited, come from extreme poverty and are at high social risk.  The mission of the project is to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and sexual exploitation of the children in Costa Rica by providing a safe, loving, environment for at risk young mothers (age 16+) and their children. This environment will provide the resources necessary to allow these families healthy and successful participation and reintegration in society.

The home can accommodate 15 mothers and 20 or more of their children. It provides shelter, emotional support, educational and vocational development and training in parenting skills. There are four live-in house mothers, a social worker, a psychologist, two school teachers, one part-time nursery worker and two cooks on staff, to provide 24 hour care and counseling.

Interns may get involved with a variety of projects within the home. Past participants have worked with the young mothers on vocational training, parenting classes, and English lessons.  It is also a possibility to focus on the children living in the home and to work with them through developmental activities, art projects, sports, etc.

1 month: USD$ 2,000*
2 months: USD$ 2,900*
3 months: USD$ 3,800*

Additional Week(s): USD$ 225*
*(Includes accommodation and meals)

Educating and Empowering Young Women

Location: Alajuela

Description of project and duties:
Interns will be assisting in a secondary home for young girls (ages 3-12) and teens.  The home is a private entity sponsored by the Costa Rican government and National Children’s Bureau.  A majority of girls in the home come from impoverished conditions and their families cannot afford to house and feed them full-time. Some of the girls also come from homes where family members abuse drugs and alcohol.  The girls and young women live in the home during the week and return home to their families on the weekend.

   Daily activities may consist of the following:

• Assisting the girls with their homework
• English lessons
• Recreational activities --art, music, dance, etc.
• Teamwork and self-esteem building workshops
• Sharing meals and encouraging healthy eating

Interns are encouraged to develop personal relationships with the girls they work with.  Many times the girls in the home just need someone to listen and pay special attention to them. 

Women with an interest in psychology, women’s studies, and sociology are a great fit for this project. 

Adult Occupational Therapy

Location: Heredia

Description of project and duties:
Interns will be working with a non-profit organization that provides support to adults with special conditions or disabilities.  There is a large population of Costa Rican adults with various mental and physical disabilities who do not have access to labor education programs after graduating from high school.  Due to lack of resources and community infrastructure, many of these people live a sedentary lifestyle with little opportunity for social and educational development. 
The mission of the project is to facilitate job skill training for people with special needs.  The goal is not only to enable these adults to enter the workforce, but also to provide them with a place to socialize and build healthy relationships.

  Daily activities may consist of the following:

• Implementing life and job skills activities, such as gardening, home upkeep, woodworking, and jewelry making
• Speech therapy for those adults with pronunciation or speech difficulties
• Assisting the staff with participants that have special medical needs

This internship is an ideal placement for people interested in adult special education, occupational therapy and community development. 

Law

Legal Assistant

Location: Tres Rios

Description of Project and Duties:
Interns with this program will be working in a Costa Rican law firm and will assist a lawyer with his or her daily assignments.  There is also the opportunity to accompany the lawyer to client appointments and to hearings in the local court.  Another option with this internship is to assist a judge. 

This internship is good fit for pre-law and law students, as well as anyone interested in international law.

Please note that this internship requires a minimum of 2 weeks of Spanish prior to beginning your placement.

Education

Teacher’s Assistant

Locations:
Heredia, Quepos, Tres Rios

Description of Project and Duties:
AIDE works with several Costa Rican public and private schools. A teaching intern can assist an English teacher with their daily lessons and communication activities. Interns are also encouraged to bring their own skills and interests to incorporate into the classroom, such as art, music, dance and sports.

*** Please note that specific details, such as exact work hours and the type of work, can only be determined by expertise, skills, attitude, and Spanish fluency. Also, some programs do have special requirements that are needed to be accepted.

Ecology and conservation

Sea Turtle Conservation

Costa Rican beaches serve as a nesting ground for several endangered species of turtles. Interns work with a local turtle rescue program to patrol the beaches, rescue and incubate eggs, track turtle movements, develop the hatchery, and assist with community education about the importance of animal preservation. This project is located on the beach and there is an option to add surf lessons to your internship experience.

1 month: USD$ 2,250*
2 months: USD$ 3,950*
3 months: USD$ 5,650*

Additional Week(s): USD$ 400*
*(Includes accommodation and meals)

Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Description of Project:
The goal of these animal sanctuaries is to re-introduce endangered species to their natural habitat. The facilities provide rehabilitation for injured and abandoned animals. Many of these animals have been confiscated by the government due to illegal trafficking or were brought to the center by people who found them lost and ill in the wild. Each animal receives specialized attention for their recovery and subsequent release into their natural habitat. Those animals who cannot survive in the wild (due to injury or lack of survival skills) live in peace and comfort at the sanctuary. Among the animals found in the sanctuaries are monkeys, sloths, porcupines, kinkajous, raccoons, anteaters, alligators, turtles, and many types of exotic birds.

Description of Duties:
Daily activities for interns may consist of the following: preparing food for and feeding the animals, cleaning and repairing enclosures, assisting veterinary staff, building and cleaning trails throughout the sanctuary and giving guidance and information to visitors and working with the sanctuary on any other ongoing projects. AIDE participants will live with a local host family.

1 month: USD$ 2,395*
2 months: USD$ 4,595*
3 months: USD$ 6,795*

Additional Week(s): USD$ 450*
*(Includes accommodation and meals)

*** Please note that specific details, such as exact work hours and the type of work, can only be determined by expertise, skills, attitude, and Spanish fluency. Also, some programs do have special requirements that are needed to be accepted.

Summary:
* Pre-departure orientation
* Guaranteed internship placement prior to departure
* Visa assistance (if needed)
* Travel Medical Insurance
* Airport pick-up
* One way transportation to the city of your internship placement
* Arrival orientation
* Accommodations and meals
* Full-time local representative in Costa Rica
* 24/7 personal support and emergency number
* Certificate of completion (upon request)
* Assistance receiving academic credit (check with your university advisor for requirements)
Program Pricing:
AIDE is a non-profit organization. Donations contributed in excess of the fair market value of services you receive from AIDE may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax adviser.

Unless otherwise noted above, program pricing is as follows:

1 month: USD$ 2,000*
2 months: USD$ 2,600*
3 months: USD$ 3,200*

Additional Week(s): USD$ 200*
(Includes accommodation and meals)

Language Class Fees
Each Week: USD$ 250

Prices are subject to changes. Prices do not include airfare, visa fees and personal expenses.
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Any questions?
* Request more info
* Call our toll free: 1 866 6ABROAD
* Chat with us live

You might also consider an internship in: China • Argentina • Australia • Spain • Peru • Ecuador • Ireland

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