April 2012
Jonathan Katzenberg
Position
Overall Rating:
A beautiful town with beautiful people, a well run organization with an engaged community.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Absolutely, I had the children's full attention. We cleaned the beaches, taught them how to use camera's, helped them with english, and everyone learned from each other.
Organization and communication:
Meradith is one of the most dedicated and passionate individuals I have ever met, she is completely dialed into running her organization and an incredible leader.
Accommodation:
We rented the apartment below the founders of the organization, it was a great setup.
Safety:
Never felt compromised in the slightest.
We spent three months working with Abriendo Mentes in the Spring of 2011. The young organization exhibits exceptional leadership, friendliness, and to our pleasant surprise all around fun. We worked with the community both night and day at times, we lived in the center of town and were completely immersed. Our presence was warmly received and I couldn't recommend the experience to any age or demographic with higher referral.
April 2012
Alexandra Carelli
Position
Overall Rating:
Meradith, the Director of Abriendo Mentes, is encouraging of individual pursuits. With AM I was able to work on project I truly cared about in a safe and welcoming environment. Not too mention the beach there is amazing!
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I was able to have a real impact on the organization through the various projects I worked on.
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
We stayed in a beautiful and comfortable private apartment.
Safety:
Read about my experience Here: http://adaptar.tumblr.com/post/9333667793/looking-back-from-america
June 2012
Carrie Scott
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Safety:
June 2012
Colette Ghunim
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Had a very specific role, able to influence communications team specifically, not so much with community members
Organization and communication:
Excellent organization of all activities, teams, and strategies
Accommodation:
Incredible homestay, always washing clothes and preparing food, very accomodating
Safety:
Extremely safe- able to walk around after dark without feeling unsafe, just bring that flashlight!
My experience so far has definitely met all my previous notions of what the my time at Abriendo Mentes would be like. A casual atmosphere, I am surrounded by passionate, involved staff and volunteers that are working to improve the lives of the community members in Playa Portrero, Costa Rica. The directors have made me feel unbelievably welcome and valued within the organization. Because I am in such a specific role working on video and interviews here, I have been able to go full force filming the various activities that they've had these past couple of days. I have also learned about Abriendo Mentes' communications strategy, which I will help organize and work on fully. Because we are, indeed, in Costa Rica, the days can sometimes be slow, and I was expecting to have a bit more structure before I came. However, with the opportunity to help out at classes and give private tutoring sessions, my time has been quickly filled by other such activities. I have loved my time here, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to be part of a great community!
July 2012
Becca Hurliman
Position
Overall Rating:
I have learned so much! I've definitely enjoyed my time with AM.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Difficult question - I hope so, and I tend to believe so.
Organization and communication:
My work here entails a lot of organization and communication, so I see there's always room for improvements! Overall though, AM is very fluid and well put together.
Accommodation:
My little house is clean and quite comfortable. AM helped to arrange my accommodations prior to my arrival.
Safety:
Abriendo Mentes is based in Potrero, Costa Rica. It's a pretty "traquilo" town where volunteers are welcomed by the community.
July 2012
Mac Routh
Position
Overall Rating:
Very well-run organization, and working with the kids is a very rewarding experience. The children are very responsive to the teaching and appear to genuinely enjoy attending class.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I feel that I contributed to the overall difference that Abriendo Mentes is undoubtedly making in the Potrero community.
Organization and communication:
Well organized, especially considered limited funds and office space. Communication can depend on whether or not you have a fun, but in terms of emails and the websites and blogs, the organization communicates effectively.
Accommodation:
Living with a host family was great. They were very generous and caring, opening their house and family to me as if I were a member.
Safety:
Potrero is a very safe town. It is possible to walk alone at night, and as long as you lock your valuables, you should not encounter any serious problems
September 2012
Emily Wirtz
Position
Overall Rating:
Working with and for Abriendo Mentes was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking to make a difference and truly touch the lives of the people they help.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Not only do I feel I made a difference, it was obvious to me what a difference I was making. Some people work and don't see the impact that work made until a while after, but working with Abriendo Mentes you will not only make a difference but you will see that difference you're making every day.
Organization and communication:
From the time I arrived, Meradith and Drew had a complete information packet for me, a homestay sorted, and answers to any questions I had. Communication was the easiest part of the experience, not only because Meradith and Drew are wonderful, warm people, but also because they truly want your volunteer experience to be worthwhile and beneficial.
Accommodation:
The first time I volunteered, I stayed in a homestay with a family. It was a fantastic experience, and I will truly stay in touch with my "family" for the rest of my life. The second time, I stayed in a private accommodation, and it was extremely easy and affordable.
Safety:
I've never felt more safe in any place in the world than Potrero. Potrero is so small, and Abriendo Mentes is so entwined into the entire community, that once you're a part of AM, you're a part of Potrero, and I truly felt like everyone I encountered was looking out for me.
October 2012
Natalie Ortiz Villalobos
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Safety:
October 2012
Nicole Faynsin
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Yes! I got involved as much as possible with the great programs.
Organization and communication:
Everything was organized and communication was consistent.
Accommodation:
We rented a casita that the organization set up for us.
Safety:
I highly recommend volunteering here. The organization is doing great things in the community of Potrero. I would come back!
January 2013
Caitlin Sammons
Position
Overall Rating:
I loved my time in Potrero with Abriendo Mentes. It is such a great organization that is so well-run.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
There are so many different ways to make a difference through AM whether you want to teach English to children or adults, help out with grant writing or communications, support the Women\'s Group or be a part of community development activities. When you volunteer with Abriendo Mentes, you become a part of the community and can see the difference you are making first-hand not only while you\'re working but just while you\'re walking down the street on a random morning. There is always an AM activity going on and always a way to help out.
Organization and communication:
Abriendo Mentes is very well-run and the organization and communication couldn\'t be better. Volunteers are always very well-informed and Lindsay does a great job of organizing everyone.
Accommodation:
AM offers many different types of accommodations for different budgets. I loved the apartment I lived in in Potrero! It was clean and even had a pool!
Safety:
Potrero is a small, very safe community. Everyone in the town really respects the work that the AM volunteers do.
I volunteered at three organizations abroad over a period of 4 months and Abriendo Mentes was by far the best. Lindsay, the Director, is so organized and really takes the time to ensure every volunteer is matched in the best role to suit their skill set. There are so many different activities for volunteers to participate in and there\'s something for everyone to be involved with. I worked as a Teacher\'s Aid and helped the Lead Teacher make lesson plans and assisted her in the classroom. It was really rewarding to see how excited the kids would get about attending AM classes.
January 2013
Birgitte Maarup
Position
Overall Rating:
Volunteering with Abriendo Mentes has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. The months I spent in Potrero were amazing and life changing. Potrero became my home, and I miss it daily. What I miss more than the small village itself is all the kids that I got to know and love during my stay. I watched them develop their English language a lot and feel so privileged to have taken part in that. Immediately after my arrival I felt a valued part of the AM volunteer group and I have definitely made strong friendships with people so much different from myself but yet so alike myself. My stay with AM was amazing and I would recommend anyone who got the chance to go to take it without hesitation!
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Yes! I definitely feel I made a difference and that my work had an impact. I was lucky enough to be with AM for close to six months and during those six months I really got to experience the children improve their English a lot! Knowing that these children with the AM classes have a stronger foundation for their further education is incredible and I feel so great having taken part in creating that foundation! The difference made was definitely a team effort, but no one is shy to appreciate your work and that is so valuable too. I felt needed and appreciated from day one, and I never doubted that I was there for a reason.
Organization and communication:
The organization is amazing. I love Abriendo Mentes so much. From my first day in Potrero I knew that this was a place I was going to love because of the incredible people behind it. Abriendo Mentes is an organization made up of people with the same goal: Enhance. Educate. Empower. Every volunteer is important and I never doubted that I was appreciated. I was not just another volunteer, you are not just another volunteer with AM. You are not just the communications intern or the director of education, you are more than that, you are you, and everyone is warmly welcomed into the AM family. The communication within the organization is great, too. There is a weekly meeting that assures that everyone is caught up with everything, and then there are emails. Lots and lots of emails! It works great, and everybody is always kept in the loop. Besides, you see each other all the time and talk all the time. It is a small village, so it is inevitable and thus the communication is great.
Accommodation:
Accommodation in Potrero far exceeded my expectations. I don\'t know what I had expected, really, but I do know that I was pleasantly surprised by the cute little houses that are kept nice and clean. I first stayed with a family, and it was lovely, but wanting a bit more independence myself I moved into a shared flat, and I loved it. I had basically everything I needed and loved living there.
Safety:
I felt super safe in Potrero.
When I left home to go volunteer for nearly six months, I had a lot of expectations and a lot of fears, too, but I had promised myself to make the best of whatever I was confronted with.
My expectations were met and positively exceeded. I met awesome people, made great friends and got to help make a difference in the small community of Potrero. I was challenged in so many ways and trusted with so much responsibility, and I learned so much more than I ever thought possible.
As to my fears, I don\'t know. What had I feared? Not liking it? Them not liking me? Yes. Me not fitting in, me not being understood, my Spanish not being sufficient, my teaching abilities not being sufficient, huge spiders, cockroaches. The list is long now that I think about it, but I confronted my fears. I loved it from the first day, nobody disliked me - there is room for everyone in Abriendo Mentes. I fit right in, because there is no right or wrong type of person. Everybody is different and that is a beautiful thing about AM, there really is room for everyone. My language skills needed to be perfected, but broken Spanish never stopped me. Everybody is extremely patient with you. Whatever the fear, there was always something that made up for it, that made it worth it. There was nothing to fear really, well except the cockroaches and the spiders, but you learn to live with them.
I had expected that I would go home wanting to go back, what I had not expected was still wanting to go back more than six months after coming home. I miss Potrero and I miss Abriendo Mentes, and I think about my experiences, the kids, the community, my friends daily. It was an experience of a lifetime, and I cannot recommend Abriendo Mentes enough. Amazing community, amazing people, amazing opportunity, amazing Abriendo Mentes.
January 2013
Christie Vogt
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Safety:
February 2013
Max Mermelstein
Position
Overall Rating:
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Safety:
At Abriendo Mentes I had the opportunity of meeting great people and making a difference in small kids by teaching them English. A typical day included morning at the beach, teaching in the afternoon and maybe playing soccer after classes ir there was time. At nights we usually hung out with the volunteers at the green house. The kids in Potrero are very willing to learn, this makes the experience that much better as you can tell how much they appreciate it. The first week it took a little bit of effort to get used to the slow paced town that is Potrero, but I quickly learned to enjoy it and to meet people in town.
February 2013
Carrie Scott
Position
Overall Rating:
Abriendo Mentes is a program built around its community so you know that what you are doing is what the community wants you to be doing. AM is also well lead meaning that directors Lindsay and Meradith make sure that you get the direction and flexibility you need to be as big a part of the organization as you want to be.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
More than teaching kids English we are helping kids learn the value of education and giving them a community and relationship building outlet
Organization and communication:
AM is a continually growing organization because it is always in a conversation with the community about it needs. That means that while generally everything is done well and quickly it isn\'t always perfect. As far as I\'m concerned though the rate at which this is done it negligible
Accommodation:
There are many options and if regular options don\'t fit the director is happy to work with you to help you find a better fit.
Safety:
Minus Wednesday nights where the town goes crazy you are quickly going to know everybody in town and they are going to know that you are with AM. Being with AM means that people are going to want to be your friend
I came to Costa Rica with my fiance planning on figuring out our lives when we got there. Quickly we decided that Abriendo Mentes is where we should be. Costa Rica wasn\'t so quick to decide that we should be there though and the first month of our stay was fraught with issues with our location (getting to work when the high tide was happening) and internet. My fiance worked online while we were in Costa Rica and not having internet meant that we were probably going to have to go home. AM stepped in and lead us through the process of finding the perfect place for our needs. This is the first of many times that I realized that we had met up with a group that really wanted both volunteers and the community members to leave with a smile on their face.
From then on I was place in Brasilito, their new off-shoot program. It was fabulous! We ended up expanding from one kids class to 4 kids classes (two at the public school), 1 enrichment kids class and 2 adults class. We had children that were happy with any of the attention they got and worked hard to actually learn what we were teaching.
Simply stated I know I learned a lot from my experience. I know I had fun. I believe I did a good thing. I think that you should try to volunteer with Abriendo Mentes.
February 2013
Cheska Hong
Position
Overall Rating:
It is hard to summarize in words the kind of experience I had because it was so rich and diverse. But really simply put, I think it was one of the greatest things I did in my life.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
This is a tough question to answer. At the time, not as much because we were doing small projects for the local population. I certainly did feel that we were doing something that was going to help them but I think I helped in the process of making a difference. I would be too embarrassed to say that \"I\" made a difference.
Organization and communication:
Abriendo Mentes was a great organization. I had Meredith and Drew who were great people with such beautiful hearts. I had fabulous friends whom I worked with and still keep in touch. It was a very close organization. For new comers, it is a welcoming environment and who really can take your time to get used to the things around you.
Accommodation:
I had a great living space. I really wanted to homestay and I did get one, which I found very blessed. They were a great family and they had horse farms, which I LOVED. But the location was a little difficult to comute especially as a girl up and down the mountain when the sun went down. (Not that it was too dangerous but I did feel insecure when traveling alone after sunset). But once I told Meredith, our project director, my concern, she immediately began searching for house and provided us with one of the best housings in the town. I lived with two of my other best friends/volunteers and we immediately became great roommates. Traveling wise, I had a bike and most of the time, everything was within walking distance. No problem with traveling at all.
Safety:
The town is very small and everyone knows each other so you do feel extremely safe just walking around the town or going to the beaches, which are only within three minutes walking distance. You just have to take care of your stuff, keep an eye out just like you do whenever you are traveling to new places but other than that, really there is nothing in particular that you have to be aware of. Oh, if you are not too friendly with bugs, I just you pack a good amount of bug repellant.
I found this website and this organization at a time when I desperately needed a change of setting. I have always been passionate about volunteering, doing service work but never had the chance to do it actively because of other \"priorities\", so to speak. But at one point, it just struck me that I needed to do what I want to do. So I spent a good month thoroughly researching and collecting information on a few of the places on Omprakash and Abriendo was my final pick.
I have never traveled on my own nor to a place where I couldn\'t fluently speak its language, yet it was one of the greatest things I did in my life and I have not an ounce of regret. I also wanted to tune my Spanish outside of college so Costa Rica was the perfect location for me. Luckily, the weather wasn\'t too bad and I left in December, which is supposed to be the \"tourist season\" so depending on whether you like that or not, you should choose your months carefully too. I am not a big fan of crowdy places so I was glad I left just in time before the flood of foreigners.
It is extremely difficult to summarize in a paragraph or two the experiences I had when I was in Costa Rica. It is not just about what you feel, see and do but also how they make you feel afterwards, and also what remains in you over time, the kind of lessons you take and the lift attitude that you develop.
Personally, I went at a time when life was unsettled, as much as it can be for a college student, and confusing so Costa Rica naturally became my healing place. I had never intended to get a healing time --I really wanted to do something that I have always wanted to do but never had the time to do it because I was so focused in school. But I think there comes a point in my life --and it did for me and few others -- when you stop and say, wait where am I going or why I am doing this for? To answer that question, I went back to the basics and started doing things I thought would make me happy.
There were some tough times in Costa Rica. As with any place, it wasn\'t a pure heaven and doing a volunteer work IS tough. Meeting new people and having to work with those people for how many months or years you will be there could be a torture if you don\'t establish the right relationship. Fortunately and blessed as I am, I have not had a single soul that I did not spend my time with. EVERYONE, and I mean quite literally, every single one, including the volunteers, the people I met on the street, on the beach and friends I made here and there were all as beautiful and open-minded as the country itself. But I do advise people to also remain open-minded if you want to attract the good things. If you are not willing to strike a conversation with someone new and if you are not willing to travel to new plaeces, you won\'t see or feel some of the wonders of life.
I thank Meredith, Drew, Shannon, Emily, Ilene, Petr, Lizz and my two fabulous roommates, Linny and Anna and everybody else that I cannot remember on top of my head because I am running on three hours of sleep but really, even if you don\'t choose AM (but I hope you do) please, please take your time to explore the world and give your helping hand somewhere. It changes the way you look at your life and the world, if you are open to letting it soak you.
February 2013
Ely Blackwood
Position
Overall Rating:
Abriendo Mentes was fun, it was involved and flexible. We met so many cool people and it was obvious that AM\'s presence within the community really made a positive mark.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I was able to really get involved with the clients that AM serves and be a part of many activities and programs. I even got to lead some which made me feel like I could make a difference.
Organization and communication:
AM seemed well organized- new strategies were tried until the right one fit which helped in organization. communication was good too because the director was able to delegate duties and didn\'t take everything on all by herself.
Accommodation:
Our little house was great!
Safety:
We never felt like we weren\'t safe. It actually felt safer than home because it was small and quaint. this was really important for us because we had traveled with our young kids. the kids even commented on how safe they felt walking around town and going to the Supers on their own.
February 2013
Carmel Suttor
Position
Overall Rating:
Unlike most volunteers who have posted here, I became increasingly disillusioned about Abriendo Mentes during the time I spent there. As an educator, I was very unimpressed with the way lessons were being taught, and saw much self-congratulating by the organization over very small results.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Briefly, for the time I was there. However, the organizers showed absolutely no interest in what we were doing in Brasilito while we were there, and later brought in new volunteers to start again from scratch, giving them the impression that we had done badly.
Organization and communication:
Communication consisted mainly of schedule changes and last-minute cancellations.
Accommodation:
My accommodations were OK, but I found them myself by asking around.
Safety:
Brasilito is a very safe town if you don't go looking for trouble.
Spending six weeks in Brasilito teaching English after school was a phenomenal experience. I enjoyed it immensely - the kids were great, and I had two wonderful co-volunteers in Lydia and Emily who made the experience very special. I'm glad I went. However, the non-participation of Abriendo Mentes was puzzling to begin with and ultimately very frustrating.
I arrived in Potrero early, as Meradith suggested, so that I could see the program in action and have time to prepare for Brasilito. Meradith was friendly, energetic and positive at first, but somewhat disorganized. The Brasilito program had no start date, contrary to what she had said in emails, and she had not actually booked me a casita, as she had offered, but dropped me off there to make the arrangements instead. These seemed like small glitches at the start of a big adventure.
I was eager to see the Potrero program in action. Neither Meradith nor her "indispensable" assistant Anna were in class that day. The class was being led by a retired professional from the US who had adapted a play for the kids. She obviously had very little experience in teaching drama to children and was becoming frustrated. Younger volunteers sat around muttering about what a disaster this would be, but no one offered to help. At the end of the class the volunteer looked very disappointed. I was appalled that there had been no backup planned.
The following day, a "Fun Friday," Meradith did come in an pull a rehearsal together. She is good with kids. However, I learned, much later, that the play had been scheduled to be performed on the day of the Mardi Gras parade, when most of the kids would have been involved in the parade. I don't know if it actually took place.
On a regular classroom day I saw how the children did "Days of the Week," then a craft. I'm an experienced teacher of French as a Second Language, and I realized that for all the goodwill and enthusiasm of Abriendo Mentes, no one in the program really knew what they were doing, and no one but Anna had any background in education. Kids need to be pushed beyond "Days of the Week." They'll rise to expectations.
I went to visit Brasilito, and seeing the distance between the towns, phoned Meradith to propose that I look for a place to live there (I had been walking around Potrero with $700 in cash to pay for the casita I'd booked there, and had never been able to find the owner.) Meradith was enthusiastic about the idea. After an afternoon of asking around in broken Spanish I rented a room a few metres away from the main square. Meradith offered to help me move the next day. However, her phone was off all day, so I moved in a cab.
Lydia, my teaching partner, made the same decision the following day, and with Meradith's blessing rented a room in the same place. We met Emily, a professor from Chicago who was in Brasilito for the year, who worked with us twice a week, when she was not teaching her other classes. Both were a great pleasure to work with.
There was a lot of contradictory information as to when the program would start, and we spent most of a week waiting for people to come meet with us. Meradith set up several meetings, then cancelled. Eventually CEPIA came through. It turned out we had been waiting for someone in Brasilito to turn over a key, and Caesar from CEPIA was able to talk her into it. CEPIA came through with some supplies that we asked for after Meradith forgot to drop them off.
We had been told the kids in Brasilito would know a lot less English than those in Potrero. It was the opposite. We had the impression that the English program at the school was pretty good, and kids understood a lot of basic English. Some of them were very bright, especially one group of Grade 2s. As we got to know the kids we became better at planning lessons that would work for them - usually the Grade 5s got the more basic lesson and the Grade 2s did a slightly more advanced version. Roberto and Jimena caught on to absolutely everything, and were incredibly enthusiastic. Among our Grade 5s was Martha, a very studious girl who became our neighbour over the fence. There were a lot of fun times with the kids. In the mornings we would go over to the aula to prepare our classes, and some of the kids would hang out and draw or colour in our company.
When Lydia was sick for a few days, and Emily busy, I had to teach the classes alone. I asked Meradith if we could get some volunteers from Potrero coming up regularly so that they would know the kids and we'd be covered if something like that happened again. A roster was drawn up, and we were to get someone almost every day. In fact, one girl turned up twice, and it was nice to have her, but no one else showed up.
As we passed the mid point in our assignment we became increasingly concerned about the lack of engagement by Abriendo Mentes. We were worried that, having started a program, it would not be continued when we left. Meradith's story about that kept changing, and we were not reassured, given how little interest she had shown. Eventually she told us that she herself would lead the Brasilito program. We asked her to please come and spend some time with the kids so she'd get to know them before starting up again after Semana Santa. She dropped by for a few minutes, but that was all.
I left at the end of March, and said a heartfelt goodbye to Lydia and Emily. There were no goodbyes from Meradith, and never a "thank you," nor did she list Emily or me among the 2012 volunteers.
I know that Meradith did find some people to teach in Brasilito afterwards. Lydia forwarded a link to a blog one of them had, where she said that we had "sucked," according to Meradith. When I complained to Meradith the post disappeared, but it had only been a symptom of what she had told the volunteers who followed us. I've read some of the self-congratulatory posts on the Abriendo Mentes blog, and all is supposedly getting better and better in both Potrero and Brasilito as kids cotinue with the Days of the Week.
February 2013
Rachel Gallucci
Position
Overall Rating:
The atmosphere; the community; the opportunity to get involved, learn, and make a difference- everything was phenominal.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Safety:
Very small town, very safe.
February 2013
Trevor Cobb
Position
Overall Rating:
In many ways, Abriendo Mentes provides the perfect volunteering opportunity. Lindsay is a fabulous Director, who supports her volunteers and interns throughout their experience, and immediately makes you feel at home in Potrero and the AM family.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
With space for a blend of autonomous responsibilities, and projects in a more social setting, volunteers are able to take on as much or as little as they feel comfortable with. At AM, you know you are making a difference because the people of Potrero -- children and adults alike -- tell you how happy they are for your efforts, and openly express their gratitude.
Organization and communication:
While many well-intentioned non-profits struggle with keeping organized and communicating effectively with volunteers, AM is not one of them. Lindsay and the team always have their doors open, clearly express what they expect from each individual, keep the lines of communication open for your whole stay. AM is well organized, and it comes out in well run and executed programs and fiestas for the benefit of the entire community.
Accommodation:
There are a number of options available to fit the needs of anyone who comes on board. The homestay opportunity is a great way to get to know a local family, and the private accommodations are all wonderful. It's not possible to go wrong!
Safety:
Potrero is an incredibly safe community, where anyone can walk around on their own at any hour without a worry. Not only do you not feel threatened, most people smile and say hi, even if they are complete strangers.
If you are considering going abroad to volunteer in Costa Rica, I would highly recommend Abriendo Mentes. I came on board as the Community Coordinator Intern, and immediately felt as if I was making a difference. Lindsay and Becca helpeded to train me and make me feel like a part of the team, handing over more and more responsibility as I felt comfortable and ready. This experience was the perfect blend of professional growth and development, with a wonderful community of passionate people... oh, and did I mention Potrero es en un pedasito de paraíso!
On of the great things about AM is that there is nearly always room to get creative and use your talents or skills to bring different offerings to the community. They embrace diversity and varied perspectives, and not a day went by that I wasn't grateful for my experience.
February 2013
Tara Yanez
Position
Overall Rating:
One of the most amazing experiences of my life! I learned so much from this organization!
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I was working as the youth development director and it was wonderful to see the kid's progress. I feel like their level of English greatly improved during my time there.
Organization and communication:
Accommodation:
Living in Potrero was great. I lived in a nice house close to the beach with extremely cheap rent. The project director and community coordinator definitely take care of the volunteers and make sure you are happy with your accommodations.
Safety:
I always felt safe in Potrero, never had any problems. It's a tight-knit community and the people all take care of each other.
Wow, I don't even know where to begin! My time with AM was a life changing experience!
AM has created a balanced cultural experience for their volunteers. I felt like I had a good support system as I was easing into the culture of Costa Rica and also was able to genuinely connect to the local community of Potrero. I made lasting relationships with my fellow AM volunteers and felt so lucky to have had the chance to work with such inspiring, hardworking, and loving people. AM is such an intricate part to Potrero and I felt like I was opened up meeting the locals in a way I had never experienced- I went to Independence Day celebrations, my student's graduation ceremonies, and many other community events all due to the strong relationship AM has with the local community members.
The classes we offer really do make a difference! Our English and technology classes have the chance to improve our student's lives and the Women's empowerment group is a great way to bring people together in a positive way.
The location is perfect as well! AM is located in one of the best kept secrets of Costa RIca. There is so much natural beauty in the area and all the people are extremely friendly.
I could go on and on about how much I love this organization! I miss my students and fellow volunteers every day!
February 2013
Serena Vandenberg
Position
Overall Rating:
From the organization itself, to the energy of the town and the group of volunteers, everything was unforgettable. As my first experience abroad, I felt very supported and met people I will keep in touch with forever.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I think helping develop technology classes felt like something that could be very helpful for the youth and adults in Potrero.
Organization and communication:
Weekly staff meetings as well as committee meetings helped communication among the large group of vounteers.
Accommodation:
Awesome! best home stay ever and best roommate ever :)
Safety:
I had no safety issues while in Potrero
Everything about my experience was amazing. Words really cannot explain how wonderful the Guanacaste region is and how wonderful my volunteer experience was. I miss Potrero everyday and I have been home now for more than three months. I will be back to visit.
