INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS

The CEC has an excellent volunteer/intern program that has been running for over a decade. The CEC has benefited tremendously from the energy, imagination and dedication of many interns and volunteers over the years. We are very grateful to those who have given their time and spirit to our community.

Below is an overview of the programs. More information can be found in the specific volunteer and intern sections.

The CEC recognizes a distinction between interns and volunteers.

• Interns are those who have at least three months to give to the CEC and work as classroom assistants.
• Volunteers are those who stay for at least three weeks and work on land stewardship projects.

Due to the fact that most volunteers only stay for a few weeks, they generally do not work in the classrooms. Instead, they may help with ongoing reforestation projects in the Cloud Forest on the school grounds, preparing and maintaining organic gardens, helping with environmental education classes and school community outreach projects and current programs.

MINI-COURSES

Volunteers and interns additionally can take advantage of teaching positions through mini-courses. This program allows upper level (colegio) students to participate in extra-curricular classes conducted by volunteers, interns or local community members. It takes place once a week at the last hour of school and can include a variety of topics such as drama, dance, journalism, painting, etc. If you have a talent you would like to share with our students, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.

WHY PAY TO VOLUNTEER?

As an international volunteer you are the driving force that helps not-for-profit organizations and other under-resourced communities around the world sustain their efforts to provide education, housing, health care, animal rescue, and wildlife/land conservation.

There is no doubt that as a volunteer or intern at the Cloud Forest School you offer us invaluable assistance, time and skills. Our Intern and Volunteer programs benefit not only the school but the community; the local economy, promote positive values, enrich lives, and serve the important purpose of strengthening the people-to-people ties that have proven such a powerful instrument of international mutual understanding.

So therefore, you may well be asking yourself why we charge a fee for you to participate in our programs. Why pay to work for free?!

There are many things to consider and keep in mind when asking this question to understand why there is a fee involved.

The Cloud Forest School has a lot of experience with volunteers and interns and our program has developed over many years. We have invested the time and the resources needed to build trust and ensure safe and appropriate placements for volunteers.

Developing our programs and catering to your specific experience involves a lot of administration, time and costs that one would not necessarily think of:

• Orientation: This includes important pre-departure reading material. We send you handbooks, information on our courses, questionnaires regarding your programs and homestays, process your references and conduct background checks.

• Orienation in country: When you arrive we give you in country orientation about the school, the community and Costa Rica. And take you to your family.

• Transport: We arrange pick ups at the airport if you ask for private transportation, or guide you through with timetables and bus routes on how to reach Monteverde on your own. Once at the school we provide transport from your homestay to and from school. Even if you stay in your own accommodation we provide transport for you to get up the hill and back.

• Food and Board: We take a lot of time assessing your questionnaires and applications to find an appropriate homestay for you. We believe that the homestay environment is just as important in creating a connection to the culture and community of Monteverde as well as being an opportunity to practice Spanish and gain a first-hand view of social and political events in country. The host families are paid to provide you with three meals a day, a private room and laundry. We make no profit on the homestay fees.

• The Project Itself: Program fees help fund the project itself, from school supplies to construction materials, and program inclusions such as Spanish lessons, and trips. With every new volunteer comes the funding to continue our ongoing projects from reforestation to bio diesel. Volunteers rarely complete an entire project during their short stay. But your work is invaluable to the continuation and success of our projects. Our program coordinator manages your time here at the school so that you can immediately get on with current projects or your own individual one, catered to your time and skills.

• In-Country Support: Our program coordinator is here to not only organise your program but also to support you during your stay with us and in Monteverde. From homestay questions, to trouble shooting, to illness, to travel! They are a valuable safety net just in case something goes wrong.

We have a well established program that is perfect for volunteers with skills and the desire to be involved with international educational development and conservation. Our programs allow you to channel your interests and experience into an established volunteer and internship program for you to receive as well as give the most you can with your time.
As an independent non-profit organization it goes without saying that the Cloud Forest School is entirely run on contributions received from volunteers, interns and donors.

WHAT AM I PAYING FOR AND HOW IS MY FEE USED?

The volunteer and intern program fees are used to support the school and the projects within our campus. As well as covering the cost of your program activities and resources used.

• Service Project Materials: Ongoing funds are needed to supply materials and carry out reforestation programs and projects at our school. This is not only for volunteers but also for intern resources for teacher mentoring and guidance.

• Program Coordination: The costs for program management, orientation materials, volunteer and intern preparation, administration, and logistical support.

• Homestays: with a local family, including 3 meals a day, private room and laundry

• Spanish lessons: 4 hours of Spanish classes a week are available to interns and volunteers (beginners and intermediate) covered by the program fees.

• Workshops: We provide workshops on the education and philosophies followed at the school such as, positive discipline, child centred education, as well as professional development workshops.

• Trips and Tours: The fees cover a 2-3 trips/tours in Monteverde and Costa Rica per semester. We also arrange intern dinners, and out of school activities as well as leaving parties.

• Internet and Coffee: Free internet use at the school, we also have wireless if you are travelling with a laptop. And we provide free tea and Monteverde Coffee for our interns and volunteers.

• Transport: Transport to and from homestays or your own accommodation to school.

What's not covered in the service program fee: Airfare or other travel to Monteverde, visas (most countries get  three month visa upon entering Costa Rica please consult your embassy for deatils), medical and travel insurance.

HOW IS MY FEE USED?

We exist today thanks to the passion and tireless work of volunteers, parents and staff, and the generous support of donors. Our work here is never done, and volunteers, interns and donors are a vital attribute to our school, and the spreading of its mission and ideology. The program fees cover organizational costs and activities as detailed above.
However, as non-profit school we rely on donations from sponsors, donors and on the volunteer and internship program to help families to send their children to our school. Your fees after cost coverage go to our scholarship fund.

The average family income in Monteverde is around $500 a month. The fees for high school are $180 per month. At the core of the Centro de Educación Creativa/ Cloud Forest School is the need to provide the children of the Monteverde zone the necessary skills to negotiate the delicate balance between responsible economic development and environmental protection. Thus, we provide 65% of the students at the school with financial aid.

This year (2007 – 2008) the school is providing $150,000 in scholarship assistance. Over half of this comes from the intern and volunteer program. Our average tuition fee per month is $150, what parents on average pay is $80 per month due to financial aid provided by the school.

In short your fees go to ensuring that students have the opportunity to carry on studying with us when the alternative is to finish school early and in most cases stop education completely.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interns: Please fax or email us the following

• Intern application (click here to download)
• Your resume
• A letter of intent
• Two letters of recommendation
• A copy of your passport (first page)
• A photocopy of the check for the application fee of $75. Please send the check in the mail. (Payable to Centro de Educacion Creativa)

Volunteers: Please fax or email us the following:

• Volunteer application (click here to download)
• Your resume
• A letter of intent
• One letter of recommendation
• A copy of your passport (first page)
• A photocopy of the check for the application fee of $50. Please send the check in the mail. (Payable to Centro de Educacion Creativa)
  

Our address is:

Centro de Educacion Creativa
Apdo 23-5655
Monteverde, Puntarenas
COSTA RICA

Telephone: 506-645-5161
Fax: 506-645-5480