English Teaching Volunteers for Refugees (Costa Rica)

“We are excited to introduce our new initiative, GLP with Refugees, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) under the social responsibility course of action that celebrates inclusion and ratifies our commitment to deliver the highest positive impact in the region. View our official announcement video here.

About GLP with Refugees:

GLP with Refugees is a new volunteer program developed in conjunction with UNHCR and Living the Inclusion division in Costa Rica; our primary objective is to join efforts to positively impact the employment and educational opportunities for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons in Costa Rica, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 8, 10, and 17.

We aim to develop and implement by October 2024 an English Program for students under refugee status, where we are looking for volunteers, for the role of English Teacher Volunteers/ESL instructors, that can assist virtually or in-person by developing the English academic program, teach, assist lessons, participate in students evaluations and curriculum materials and more.

Program objectives:

• Course Development: Designing a comprehensive English course plan that takes students from basic proficiency to levels acceptable for the Costa Rican labor market, with flexibility for virtual delivery to meet the needs of our beneficiaries.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing a regular monitoring cadence with support from GLP & UNHCR to ensure compliance with agreements and conducting evaluations to contribute with annual assessment of the program’s impact under the umbrella of the Living Inclusion Program. 

• Managing a Positive, Safe and Inclusive Environment: Ensuring continuous engagement, respect, tolerance, empathy and support for students, volunteers and team members throughout the program period.

About UNHCR: 

Since 1950, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge from violence, persecution, or war. UNHCR provides vital protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced, and stateless people, striving to save lives and build better futures for millions forced from their homes.

UNHCR operates on the principles of humanitarianism and neutrality, offering shelter, food, water, medical care, and education. They also work on long-term solutions like integration and resettlement, advocating for the rights of displaced people and working towards sustainable development in host communities.

For more information about UNHCR’s work, please visit:

UNHCR Global, UNHCR Costa Rica, UNHCR Costa Rica Twitter

About Volunteers:

Do you have a passion for education and a desire to empower resilient minds? 

We're seeking bilingual (English-Spanish) volunteers with a background in education or a related field to join our online English language program for refugees in Costa Rica. You'll play a vital role in developing curriculum, teaching classes, assisting lessons, and evaluating student progress. Most importantly, you'll bring a strong willingness to teach and a flexible schedule.

What we require from you: 

• Fluent/Native English (C1/C2) and Basic Spanish Knowledge (A1+).

• Education background, related or willingness to teach.

• High level of cultural sensitivity, adaptability, collaboration and patience.

• Availability between 2 to 5 hours on a weekly or biweekly basis from October to December 2024 or January to March 2025.

 Your program benefits: 

• Access to Free Coaching Platform (Physical, Mental, and Social-Emotional Well-Being Support). 

• International Experience. 

• Cultural Sensitivity & Awareness And Professional Development Workshops. 

• Positive Social Impact.

• Safe & Supportive Environment.

• Mentorship and guidance. 

• Schedule Flexibility.

• Participation Certificate. 

• Virtual or In-person Modality. 

Principal Tasks:

• Curriculum development.

• Lesson planning.

• Teaching and training.

We invite you to apply or share this opportunity within your network to help us find passionate volunteers ready to make a difference. If you are or know of professionals interested in gaining international experience while making a positive impact, please have them apply here for our Virtual Program or here for the In-person Program, or reach out to Katherine Viquez, our Learning & Development Projects Lead, at kath@globallearningprograms.com

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of refugees in Costa Rica. Together, we can transform lives by building bridges of opportunity and inclusion.

At GLP, we STUDY, we TRAVEL, we TRANSCEND.

Warm regards,

The GLP Team”