Country Welcome for Costa Rica

¡Bienvenidos!

We hope you find here the information and inspiration to join us in Costa Rica as we live the pura vida lifestyle and carry out the Peace Corps mission.

Peace Corps/Costa Rica is a team of Volunteers, staff, community members, and host country partners working together as one and holding ourselves to the highest standards. Every day we use all the tools we have to promote worldwide peace and friendship through collaboration on locally prioritized projects that build relationships, promote knowledge exchange, and make a lasting and measurable impact.

Peace Corps/Costa Rica has been providing technical assistance and cultural exchange for over 60 years, and the commitment from the host country government, partners and local communities remains just as strong as when we started. During the past six decades, more than 4,000 Volunteers have contributed by integrating into host communities and supporting local initiatives that improve education, promote resilient communities, enhance livelihoods, and enrich community development.

Peace Corps/Costa Rica is well-positioned to support the communities where our Volunteers serve with our current portfolio of programs:

• English Education (ED): Peace Corps/Costa Rica partners with the Ministry of Education to improve English language skills at the primary and secondary levels in public schools in rural and urban settings. Working with local teacher counterparts, Volunteers focus on supporting students' English competencies and confidence through a variety of engaging activities both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Community & Economic Development (CED): The CED program seeks to sustain economic growth and improve the standard of living for families and communities. Volunteers are assigned to work with community development organizations in rural communities where small-scale business activities, such as retail, rural tourism, agribusiness, or community-based services, drive the local economy. CED activities have a particular emphasis on working with women and youth.
• Youth Development (YD): The YD program works with youth in primary and secondary schools of the Costa Rican public education system. It aims to equip youth to be healthy, productive, and active citizens. Volunteers work to address the challenges facing the youth of Costa Rica by supporting the development and enhancement of life skills via clubs, sports, the arts, service learning, and more, allowing youth to achieve their goals and full potential.
• Peace Corps Response: The Response program is aligned with the goals of ED, CED, and YD. The Response Volunteers support projects with a shorter-term commitment in the same initiatives as the two-year Volunteers. Response assignments often focus on a specific task intended to improve the local organization's efficiency and effectiveness.

Peace Corps service is an honor and a privilege. It is a unique, lifelong experience that offers abundant challenges as well as professional opportunities, personal growth, inspiration, and hopefully great joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Join us!

Lane Bunkers

Country Director
RPCV Costa Rica 1989-91, Chile 1991-92