Volunteer with Children in Heredia, Costa Rica

Volunteer Project Overview

The Work with Children Volunteer project in Heredia, Costa Rica gives volunteers the opportunity to support local daycares, kindergartens, preschools, and after-school programs throughout Heredia.

During this project, volunteers work alongside local staff to help create a safe, structured, and positive environment where children can learn, play, grow, and feel supported. Volunteers may assist with games, creative activities, basic English practice, classroom routines, meal preparation, and daily activities depending on the needs of the center.

This is also a powerful opportunity to practice Spanish in real-life settings. By spending time with Costa Rican educators, children, families, and community members, volunteers gain meaningful language experience outside the classroom while learning more about local culture and daily life in Costa Rica.

What to Expect and How You’ll Make an Impact

This is not a program where volunteers replace local teachers or professional staff. Instead, volunteers provide extra support, positive energy, and cultural exchange while learning from the people who lead these programs every day.

Many children in Costa Rica have limited opportunities to interact with international volunteers, especially English speakers. Your presence can bring new ideas, activities, encouragement, and cultural exchange to the classroom. Whether you are a student, teacher, nurse, musician, retiree, or simply someone who enjoys working with children, your time and attention can make a meaningful difference.

By volunteering with children in Costa Rica, you can help support their daily learning, contribute to fun and educational activities, and assist local staff who often have many responsibilities throughout the day. Volunteers who show initiative, patience, creativity, and respect may find many ways to become actively involved in the rhythm of the center.

Typical childcare volunteer tasks may include

• Setting up games and activities
• Helping children practice basic English
• Assisting with arts, crafts, music, or movement activities
• Supporting classroom routines
• Helping prepare or clean up after meals

To participate in Tico Lingo’s Volunteering with Children in Costa Rica project, volunteers should be responsible, flexible, patient, and excited to support local children’s programs in a positive and respectful way.

Volunteers must meet the following requirements.

Age requirements

• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate independently.
• Volunteers who are 16 or 17 years old may be able to participate when accompanied by a faculty leader, parent, or legal guardian.
• Volunteers under 18 must submit parent or guardian consent forms and may be required to sign a dedicated underage waiver.

General requirements

• Be willing to work hard, stay flexible, and help wherever support is needed.
• Be creative, especially when working with limited resources.
• Bring a positive attitude, patience, and a genuine interest in working with children.
• Be a native English speaker or have a very high level of English.

Required documents

• All volunteers working with children must provide a background check before beginning the project.
• Volunteers must sign Tico Lingo’s volunteer code of conduct and waiver.
• Volunteers under 18 must submit parent or guardian consent forms.

This project is located in the city of Heredia, Costa Rica, the hometown of Tico Lingo. We have been operating in Heredia for more than 10 years and have built a trusted network of homestay families and local community service projects, all located within walking distance of Tico Lingo.

Most project sites and homestays are located within a 15 to 25 minute walk from the school.

Heredia is a small, walkable Costa Rican city located just outside of San José. It is known for its local charm, friendly people, mountain views, coffee culture, and everyday Spanish-speaking environment.

Heredia is not a tourist destination, and thus provides students and volunteers the chance to experience real daily life in a local Costa Rican community. Students and volunteers walk to class, live with local families, visit neighborhood cafés, shop at local markets, and practice Spanish in natural, everyday situations.

For volunteers, this makes Heredia an ideal place to live, learn, and serve. You are close to Tico Lingo, close to your homestay, and close to the local organizations where you will be volunteering.

Work schedule

The minimum commitment for this project is 1 week, although we strongly recommend 2 weeks or longer for volunteers who want a deeper and more meaningful experience.

We also recommend completing at least 1 week of Spanish immersion at Tico Lingo before beginning the project. This gives volunteers time to adjust to Costa Rican culture, build a stronger Spanish foundation, and feel more confident before volunteering with children.

Volunteers typically complete 3 to 4 hours of volunteer work per day, Monday through Friday. Volunteer hours may take place in the morning or afternoon depending on the needs of the partner organization and the student’s Spanish class schedule.

Most childcare volunteer project sites are located approximately 15 to 25 minutes walking distance from Tico Lingo homestays.

Step 1 | Choose your program option
Decide whether you want to volunteer only, add volunteering to a Spanish immersion program, or combine both during a longer stay.

Step 2 | Submit your registration form
Complete the Tico Lingo registration form and select the Childcare Volunteer Program.

Step 3 | Speak with the Tico Lingo team
We will review your goals, Spanish level, preferred dates, age, and volunteer requirements.

Step 4 | Pay your 35% deposit
If everything looks good, we will send you a secure online invoice that you can use to pay your deposit. This allows Tico Lingo to begin coordinating your homestay, volunteer placement, and Spanish classes, if included in your program.

Step 5 | Submit your required documents
This includes your background check, signed code of conduct waiver, student/volunteer enrollment form, and parent or guardian consent forms for participants under 18.

Step 6 | Arrive at SJO Airport
Plan to arrive on the Saturday or Sunday before your desired Monday start date. After arrival, you will be picked up at SJO Airport by a Tico Lingo team member and introduced to your homestay family.

Step 7 | Arrive at Tico Lingo
On your first day, you will walk to Tico Lingo with your homestay mom and receive your program and safety orientation before beginning your volunteer project.