Mission éco-volontariat/humanitaire Costa Rica 2018

<p><strong>Who am I</strong> ?<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>My name is Cl&eacute;mence, I&#39;m 17 years old and I&#39;m a student in 1st grade. I am the eldest of a family of 3 children.</p> <p>Having lived in Ghana and New Zealand, I have developed a taste for discovering people and their country.</p> <p>Autonomous and resourceful, I give lessons (English and tennis) and do baby-sittings, in my spare time, to finance my projects.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why this project</strong>? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>During my schooling in New Zealand (4.5 years) and Ghana (1.5 years), I was very aware of sustainable development and helping children. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>During my research on the Internet about the mission that I wanted to do in the summer of 2018, I discovered a mission of Projects Abroad, in Costa Rica bringing together these two aspects. This four-week project immediately appealed to me. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It is initially a project of eco-volunteering and community (July 15 - 29), it is an immersion in the Costa Rican rainforest of Barra Honda. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether it&#39;s fauna or flora, the dry tropical forest of Barra Honda offers a biodiversity unique in the world. Thus, this experience would allow me to participate in various actions to preserve the environment.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Many programs to protect this Costa Rican national park are planned. Below, an overview of some of them:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>scientific studies and projects of biodiversity:</p> <p>&middot; The installation of photo traps</p> <p>&middot; Reforestation projects</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>environmental studies:</p> <p>&middot; Climatological studies</p> <p>&middot; GPS mapping</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>infrastructure construction:</p> <p>&middot; Maintenance of trails, caves and firewalls</p> <p>&middot; General maintenance of the reserve</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The second mission (July 30 - August 12) is a mission to help children in kindergartens and nurseries: a discovery of the disadvantaged suburbs of San Jos&eacute;.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Below is an overview of some of the activities we will do: share knowledge, know-how and skills:</p> <p>&middot; Teach the basic rules of life (hygiene, discipline ..)</p> <p>&middot; Care for young children (helps to get ready in the morning ...)</p> <p>&middot; Reading, writing and arithmetic lessons, to participate in the awakening of children:</p> <p>&middot; Organisation of games, sports activities</p> <p>&middot; Create painting workshops</p> <p>&middot; Schedule concerts</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Finally Costa Rica attracted me because it&#39;s been studying Spanish and the Hispanic culture for 4 years. Nevertheless, I know little about the South American continent; Accommodation in a host family will allow me to fully immerse myself in the local community (missions in the suburbs of San Jos&eacute;). Furthermore, working with other volunteers from around the world will make this experience unique and unforgettable!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>It is therefore an ideal opportunity to give one&#39;s time, to help while speaking Spanish and to discover the Costa Rican culture.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Discovering Costa Rica?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Costa Rica is a small Spanish-speaking country in Central America, a biological corridor linking North America and South America. It has 5 million inhabitants, including 2 million in the capital San Jos&eacute; and its suburbs. Despite its attractiveness related to tourism, 21% of the population lives below the poverty line (less than $ 2 a day).&nbsp;</p> <p>Costa Rica has an incredible biosphere with 6% of the world&#39;s biodiversity, including 10% of bird species (Costa Rica represents only 0.03% of the land area). This diversity can be explained by the geographical location of the country. Thus, to protect and grow this extraordinary richness, more than 25% of the territory is occupied by national parks and reserves and the government is about to definitively stop deforestation.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Projects Abroad</strong>? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I did a lot of research with organizations before choosing Projects Abroad, one of the few that offers missions to miners around the world. In addition, a friend mine went a month to Nepal with Projects Abroad in Nepal and he told me a lot about his missions. At that time, the idea of ​​going to do humanitarian work was already making inroads. And that&#39;s how I decided to live a similar experience.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Project Abroad is an organization that offers, since 1992, voluntary humanitarian missions in 30 different countries. These programs require a sophisticated management and administration system which you can imagine, has a cost. It is an independent and private organization that does not receive grants so volunteers&#39; contributions are the only ones that allow the projects to exist and to be realized.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;A unique experience&hellip; &nbsp;</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This project is not just a trip but a mission to Costa Rica during which I will participate in the protection of the Costa Rican forest and take care of children in disadvantaged suburbs. This is a possible team project thanks to my sponsors. I am aware of the luck that I will have if I go to live this adventure and therefore, it seems normal to me share it to the maximum. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, back to France, I will continue giving my time. I will be happy to share my experience with all those who will have supported me materially and through their thoughts. I already have some ideas in mind: to make a presentation to schoolchildren, to publish a press review in a newspaper, to make a film and to exhibit the photos taken during my trip ...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>(pictures and photos are on the french page)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>