While the tourist areas and capital city of San Jose are beautiful and up-to-date, the poorer areas are often run down and in shambles. This is especially true at local orphanages and in poor, rural communities, where people do not have the skill sets or money to do basic repairs. In San Jose, IFRE has construction volunteer opportunities in place to improve local homes, schools and orphanages. As an IFRE volunteer, you will work to repair and build homes and schools for poor communities to improve the city and overall morale. In the past, our volunteers have had a positive effect on the community, and the local citizens really appreciate the program.

Another positive side to Construction in Costa Rica with IFRE-Costa Rica is that you can make this small city a more beautiful place even if you’re in San Jose for only a small amount of time. IFRE-Costa Rica can place you in short-term construction projects.

No specific qualifications are required to join the construction in Costa Rica project, though the work will be physically demanding. While beginner to intermediate knowledge of Spanish is preferred, it is not mandatory. If you cannot speak Spanish, we suggest you enroll in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding – both for you and for the community you are helping.

IFRE arranges room, breakfast and supervision for volunteers for the entire duration of the volunteer in Costa Rica program. In San Jose, you will have the option to stay with a well-screened host family or in an apartment-style room. Our host families are respected members of the community and are well-versed in the art of hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home with private rooms (occasionally rooms will be shared with other same-gender volunteers), shared bathroom facilities, and a “western” style toilet. You may ask your host family to do laundry for you for a nominal extra fee. You will receive three prepared traditional Costa Rican meals per day. If you will be out of the house during lunch hour, you can request a lunch "to go" that you can take with you or eat out on your own. The capital city of San Jose is located in the Central Valley, and it boasts a wide variety of museums, parks and plazas with recreational areas, countless flora and fauna, lakes and open green areas. San Jose is known for its beautiful European-inspired theatres that feature numerous musical, artistic and cultural activities and shows. San Jose also has a wide variety of annual festivals and parks, along with restaurants that specialize in Costa Rican cuisine.

During the volunteer project, our local staff will stay in contact with you either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. The volunteer coordinator lives just minutes away if you need anything during your stay. Volunteers are always welcome at the local office, as well. We request that you stop by the office once a week to keep us posted on how you are doing with your home stay and project. If you any advice or have any issues you need to discuss, you can talk to your coordinator.