Community Volunteering in Santiago

At La Casita del Turista, your Spanish journey goes beyond the classroom. Through our Community Volunteering program, you connect with local people, support meaningful projects and help us take care of the town we call home.

What is Community Volunteering?

Our Community Volunteering program connects you with local organizations in Santiago, such as:

The local ASADA (community water association)
The Community Development Association
The public school and high school
Other community groups and neighbors

Together, we design small but meaningful projects that help to beautify, protect and support our town. You will be working side by side with local residents, practicing Spanish in real situations while making a positive impact.

Covering community needs

Projects will vary depending on the needs of the community, the time of year and the number of students we have. Examples include:

Installing or painting trash bins in key areas of the town
Cleaning and collecting litter in streets, parks and riversides
Painting murals that celebrate local culture and nature
Planting trees and flowers in public spaces
Supporting small community improvement campaigns (recycling, water care, etc.)
Learning with the local water association (ASADA): visiting a natural spring, seeing how water is captured and distributed, understanding basic water quality concepts and discussing why safe drinking water is essential for the health of the community

All actions are designed as “social action”, simple, concrete projects that make Santiago cleaner, more colorful and more welcoming for everyone.

The true meaning of belonging

For us, Santiago is not just a location on a map. It is our home.

When you join our Community Volunteering program, you:

Help to protect the environment and public spaces of a real Costa Rican town
Support local efforts to improve quality of life for families and children
Learn how a small community manages its own water resources and why water safety is so important for public health
Experience what “community” truly means in Costa Rica
Practice Spanish in authentic interactions with neighbors, leaders and students

This is not “voluntourism” as a show. It is a small, honest way to say “thank you” to the community that welcomes you.

Be Part of Something Real

You do not need to be an expert or speak perfect Spanish to participate.

We will:

Explain each project clearly before we start
Provide basic safety and cultural guidelines
Work together in small groups, guided by our family and local partners
Adapt activities to different ages, interests and abilities

Most volunteering projects will take place in the afternoons, a few times per week, so they combine naturally with your Spanish classes and workshops at La Casita del Turista.

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A Typical Volunteering Afternoon

You might start the afternoon at our kitchen–ranch, where we review useful Spanish phrases for the activity. Then we walk together to the school, park, ASADA office or area we will be improving.

You meet local people, greet them in Spanish, and spend a couple of hours painting, planting, cleaning, installing bins or learning how our water system works. There is always time to talk, laugh, ask questions and learn new words. At the end, we usually share a small snack, take a group photo and walk back home feeling tired but happy.

Be Part of Something Real

By joining La Casita del Turista, you are not only booking Spanish classes and accommodation.
You are becoming part of a small, real community project in a real Costa Rican town.

If you would like to include Community Volunteering in your stay, let us know when you contact us.
We will be very happy to welcome you, and to work together for a more beautiful and healthier Santiago. 💚