FAMILY PROGRAMS
International Family Programs help bring families together and provide a truly unique and invaluable bonding experience. Family program participants have a desire to break away from traditional family vacations and choose to instead embark on a program that will teach their family the benefits of giving, learning, and respecting cultural diversity. Sharing this life-changing experience abroad opens your family’s eyes to how diverse and incredible the world is. It is a great opportunity to share a fun experience with a group of trustworthy traveling companions. Families who take advantage of the opportunity of a program abroad often find that the stories, photos, and meaningful memories made are a lifelong gift they share with each family member.
Family programs offer many different options based on the needs and goals of the unit. Some past World Endeavors family participants have included a father and daughter working side by side at a children’s home in Ecuador, a family with two high-school-aged children volunteering with a street children assistance project in Ecuador, and a young couple who spent their honeymoon volunteering in Costa Rica.
World Endeavors Family programs run year-round and last for 1-3 weeks depending on the family’s schedule and availability. Because traveling with a family, let alone as an individual, can be tricky and at times daunting, we choose very safe and especially family-friendly locations for our family programs. Our in-country-coordinators are very good at accommodating families and making them feel at home.
REQUIREMENTS
Family programs are designed for any family from a single parent and his/her children to a group of adult siblings, married couples, two parents and their children, and so on. World Endeavors requires that children on Family programs must be at least 8 years of age and have parental supervision. Participants that are 18 years and older do not need parental supervision.
We offer Family programs in the following locations: Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Thailand.
Costa Rica’s renowned biodiversity, laid-back culture, and breathtaking landscapes make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latin America. Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity, while occupying only 0.25% of the world’s landmass. The Costa Rican people, affectionately known as “Ticos,” have a well-deserved reputation for being friendly, fun-loving, and welcoming to foreigners. Despite its natural beauty and wonderful people, Costa Rica experiences problems that plague many Latin American countries. Many nonprofit organizations working to improve conditions in local Costa Rican communities lack funding and volunteer support. With eco-tourism ranking as Costa Rica’s main industry, education and environmental conservation are essential to ensuring a bright future for the Costa Rican people.
World Endeavors volunteers live in Atenas, a small, relatively prosperous farming town in the central highlands of Costa Rica where coffee, sugarcane, and fruit are grown. Life here revolves around family and community, and the nightlife consists mostly of family gatherings, barbecues, and shared meals. Local residents can often be found browsing the colorful farmer’s market for fresh produce, enjoying a cup of local coffee at a café, or strolling in the park at the center of the city. Atenas is renowned for its climate, which keeps the city warm in the daytime and cool at night. Public pools and hiking trails make Atenas an appealing destination for those wishing to spend time outdoors, and the town’s location, less than an hour from the capital of San José and the international airport, makes it easily accessible for arriving volunteers.
Most volunteers in Costa Rica stay with host families, where they share space, build relationships, practice language, and learn about traditional culture, food, home rituals, and customs. Living with a host family ensures total immersion in the culture, and provides the most authentic experience in the host country. Many returning volunteers cite their host family experience as one of the most meaningful and eye-opening aspects of their time abroad.
PROGRAM OFFERED
Participants on the Family program in Costa Rica can volunteer at one (or a combination) of the following projects:
• Childcare Assistance
Volunteers can give their time at a children’s home, where they help provide care for the children and much-appreciated support for the adults who care for them.
• Environmental Conservation
Volunteers lend a helping hand at nearby reserves, helping with whatever is needed at the time—whether it is outdoor work like planting trees, clearing brush, or making trails or working with community outreach by helping to promote recycling and composting.
• Teaching
There are multiple schools around Atenas where volunteers can give their time to help teach the students and assist the teachers.
• Wildlife Conservation
Volunteers care for the aquatic inhabitants at a freshwater turtle conservation site and help with general maintenance and upkeep.
• Women’s Development
Volunteers assist a small group of women who make compost and cultivate orchids to sell at expositions, fairs, and festivals.
PROGRAM FEATURES
• Volunteer placement
• Onsite English-speaking coordinator
• Spanish language instruction: 2 weeks for programs of 4 weeks or longer
• Home stay accommodations
• Onsite orientation
• 3 meals per day
• Travel medical insurance
• Visa support
• Pre-departure guidance and handbook
• Cell phone rental
• Cultural activities (cooking class; dance class)
• 24/7 emergency phone support
• Re-entry support and alumni services
PROGRAM DATES
The World Endeavors Family program in Costa Rica is available year-round for a duration of 1-3 weeks, depending on what best fits your family’s schedule.
Please note that placement availability may be limited during the Christmas holidays and Holy Week as many Costa Ricans go on vacation at these times.
Ecuador’s stunning diversity of landscapes and cultures belies its relatively small size. From dense jungles to Andean highlands to the renowned biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador contains tremendous natural resources, and its culture reflects a combination of indigenous, African, and European influences. Despite these assets, many Ecuadorians still live in poverty, and the country struggles to protect its natural resources. Volunteers are needed to support efforts by nonprofit and government organizations to strengthen education, social programs, and environmental efforts.
World Endeavors volunteers in Ecuador typically live in Quito.
Quito is the capital of Ecuador and the country’s second largest city. Nestled amongst the snowy peaks of the Andes and situated between Pichincha Volcano and the Machángara River Canyon, the city flaunts beautiful panoramas and breathtaking views in every direction. Ecuadorian history comes alive in Quito; the city is a wonderful mix of colonial and modern architecture, and its historical center has been distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Culture is another aspect that Quito isn’t lacking. The city hosts a variety of museums, festivals, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and cafés for its lively and engaged population. Visitors to Quito are fortunate to have a variety of outdoor opportunities at their fingertips—from hiking in the Andes surrounding the city to paragliding from a volcanic peak to going on archeological or birdwatching tours, the area has something for everyone – from the cautious to the most adventurous explorer.
Most volunteers in Ecuador stay with host families, where they share space, build relationships, practice language, and learn about traditional culture, food, home rituals, and customs. Living with a host family ensures total immersion in the culture and provides the most authentic experience in the host country. Many returning volunteers cite their host family experience as one of the most meaningful and eye-opening aspects of their time abroad.
PROGRAM OFFERED
The following volunteer programs are available in Ecuador:
• Childcare Assistance
World Endeavors Childcare Assistance volunteers help to empower some of the most vulnerable children in Ecuador.
• Deaf Education
World Endeavors Deaf Education volunteers devote their time and energy to a school for deaf students in Quito.
• Teaching
World Endeavors Teaching volunteers in Ecuador work in local schools with children between the ages of 5 and 12.
• Wildlife Conservation
Volunteers help rehabilitate wounded or sick native species, such as parrots and macaws, and prepare to return them to the wild if possible. This project is in the Amazon in Pastaza Province, about 5 hours southeast of Quito near Puyo. Volunteers live in a shared volunteer house on-site.
Some volunteer projects may be better-suited for different age groups and abilities.
PROGRAM FEATURES
• Volunteer placement
• Onsite English-speaking coordinator
• Home stay accommodations
• Onsite orientation
• 2 meals per day
• Travel medical insurance
• Visa support
• Airport pick-up and welcome
• Pre-departure guidance and handbook
• 24/7 emergency phone support
• Re-entry support and alumni services
PROGRAM DATES
The World Endeavors Family program in Ecuador is available year-round and can last from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on what best fits your family’s schedule.
As one of the largest, most populous, and most ecologically diverse nations in Southeast Asia, Thailand has long been a popular destination for tourists. Visitors are drawn to its friendly people, stunning scenery, and world-renowned cuisine. Beyond the Thailand that most tourists experience, however, there are many social and environmental challenges plaguing the country. World Endeavors volunteers in Thailand can make a meaningful contribution to Thai society through a community-focused volunteer project, all while experiencing immersion with authentic Thai culture.
Participants volunteering in Thailand will live and work in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and its largest city. Occasionally, placements may also be available outside of Bangkok. In the evenings and on weekends, volunteers are able to spend their time among the numerous cultural, educational, and entertainment activities that Bangkok has to offer. Volunteers can explore the floating markets and intricate temples, or they can head farther afield to experience the fascinating hill tribes in the north or the sparkling turquoise beaches in the south. The World Endeavors in-country coordinator in Thailand can provide guidance and travel tips for those wishing to explore the country.
Most volunteers in Thailand stay with host families, where they share space, build relationships, practice language, and learn about traditional culture, food, home rituals, and customs. Living with a host family ensures total immersion in the culture, and provides the most authentic experience in the host country. Many returning volunteers cite their host family experience as one of the most meaningful and eye-opening aspects of their time abroad.
PROGRAM OFFERED
The following volunteer programs are available in Thailand:
• Childcare Assistance
The World Endeavors Childcare Assistance program in Thailand helps underprivileged children empower themselves to challenge a life of poverty and exploitation.
• Community Development
Volunteers help local residents gain employable skills by teaching English, computer and website skills, and occupational skills such as cooking and handicrafts.
• Deaf Education
Volunteers assist with lesson preparation and presentation and classroom management, and they help the students by providing one-on-one tutoring and homework help.
• Teaching
Teaching volunteers help shape young lives in Thailand by supporting local schools and sharing their enthusiasm and expertise, particularly in English classes.
• Eldercare
Volunteers may give English lessons, play games, lead activities, or swap stories with residents. They also assist nursing staff with distributing medicine and seeing to the residents’ needs.
• Environmental Conservation
World Endeavors Environmental Conservation volunteers assist with natural resource management in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Healthcare
Volunteers learn about the Thai healthcare system and contribute through a variety of projects.
• Health Education
Volunteers partner with local public health organizations, hospitals, clinics, or schools to increase awareness of various public health issues and to promote healthy habits.
• Special Education
World Endeavors Special Education volunteers in Thailand work at education centers around Bangkok that help students with special needs.
• Wildlife Conservation
Depending on what is most needed at the time of their trip, volunteers may assist with daily tasks such as feeding and caring for the animals and cleaning, maintaining, and updating the facilities.
• Women’s Development
Work with an organization that teaches local women how to make hand-crafted items such as clothing, beaded jewelry, souvenirs, and household goods and facilitates selling these items internationally.
• Youth Soccer Coaching
Depending on where they are working, volunteers may assist local coaches or coach teams on their own.
• Youth Basketball Coaching
Volunteers help rehabilitate wounded or sick native species, such as parrots and macaws, and prepare to return them to the wild if possible.
Some volunteer projects may be better-suited for different age groups and abilities.
PROGRAM FEATURES
• Volunteer placement
• Onsite English-speaking coordinator
• Thai language instruction for programs 4 weeks or longer
• Home stay accommodations
• Onsite orientation
• 2 meals per day
• Travel medical insurance
• Visa assistance
• Airport pick-up and welcome
• Pre-departure guidance and handbook
• Cell phone rental
• 24/7 emergency phone support
• Re-entry and alumni services
PROGRAM DATES
The World Endeavors Family program in Thailand is available year-round and can last from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on what best fits your family’s schedule.
