Volunteer Program
We are partners with two of the most important institutions in Costa Rica in volunteer
programs:
ASVO
The Volunteer Association of Service in Protected Areas was founded in 1989. ASVO
is a non-governmental, not for profit organization that has no religious or political
affiliation. Its primary goal is to support the conservation efforts in Protected
Wildlife Areas, through national and foreign voluntary work, without distinctions
of age, gender; or profession of its participants.
In order to accomplish this task, ASVO offers participation possibilities through
different Volunteer Programs. The association has been declared to be of the public
interest by the Ministry or Energy and Environment and received recognition with
the “Joven al voluntariado 2001” (Volunteer Youth) award.
Volunteer projects are currently developed to take place in different National Parks,
Wildlife Refuges, and Animal Rescue Centers, among others. The promotion of a conservation
program focused on natural resources in the coastal areas is also taking place,
using different management and conservation techniques and paying special attention
to the protection of sea turtles.
IMAS
The IMAS (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social) which means “Mixed Institute of Social
Aid” is an autonomous Institution which was founded in 1971. The IMAS maintains
the goal of resolving the problem of the extreme poverty throughout Costa Rica.
Institutions of the public sector (both national and foreign), private organizations
of all natures, religious institutions, and other interest groups unite in contributing
to the national fight against poverty.
Through their work programs, the IMAS facilitates opportunities, services, and resources
to participate in the eradication of poverty in conjunction with national and international
organizations, business sectors, and civil society.
The program’s purpose is to build healthy societies through communitarian management,
promoting human development by means of social volunteering, social participation,
and the culture of working in groups.
The primary contributors to the success of the effort lie with the individual volunteers
and voluntary organizations that operate in different spheres of influence:
- Children: abandoned, impoverished, children whose families current live without
the means of providing basic necessities.
- Adolescents: drug addicted, destitute.
- Adults: Alcoholics, drug addicts, indigent, prostitutes.
- The Elderly: abandoned.