Social justice and environmental internships in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua
An eight week internship program for students interested in working, learning about, and comparing development issues in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
An eight week internship opportunity that provides practical, hands-on experience with communities, NGO’s, and development organizations in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. An excellent opportunity to gain experience in two countries and learn about their history, culture, socio-economic conditions, and the different ways that they address similar development issues.
Work and compare efforts in one of the following fields:
- Social work
- Environment
- Gender
- Human rights and migration
- Agro ecotourism
- Community development
- Health
- Education
SAMPLE COMPARATIVE PROJECTS GENDER
Work with gender development projects in each country and learn if economics influences machismo, incidence of domestic violence, and the methods used by organizations to deal with violence. Do greater economic opportunities for women reduce the incidence of domestic violence, her ability to break the cycle, or the way that organizations intervene?
MIGRATION
What are the push factors behind emigration from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, and what services are available to meet migrant needs in Costa Rica?
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
What are the cultural beliefs behind illnesses in Nicaragua and how can health professionals in Costa Rica better incorporate these beliefs in education and treatment of Nicaraguan migrants?
What role does machismo play in health policies surrounding childbirth and motherhood? COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
What role do community members play in the protection and management of natural resources in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua?
EDUCATION
How is public education funded in each country? How do curriculums compare? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? What services exist to meet the needs of families with the greatest economic needs?
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Nicaragua and Costa Rica: These neighboring countries have very different histories and levels of development yet are challenged by similar problems including domestic violence, drug abuse, school abandonment, pollution, and biodiversity loss. How does each country, given their differences, deal with these social and environmental problems? This program not only provides students with practical experience, but also demonstrates to them first-hand how socio-economic conditions, culture, and politics influence how development problems are addressed.
FOUR WEEKS IN COSTA RICA
Working through The Costa Rican Internship Institute (CRINI). In Costa Rica interns can work in either an urban or rural area. Upon arrival in Costa Rica, interns will receive an extensive orientation that includes readings and discussions on the history of Costa Rica and the specific development issue that they will be working in. Interns have the opportunity to work with one of many different social or environmental organizations including women’s organizations, ecotourism projects, schools, or national parks. We match your skills, field of study, interests, and experience with those of our collaborating institutions.
FOUR WEEKS IN NICARAGUA
Upon arrival, interns will also receive an extensive orientation about Nicaraguan history, development, and the specific area that they will be working in. and its epidemiological profile. They will then spend four weeks working through Viva Nicaragua! at facility in either the city of Granada or rural areas in the south-west of the country. Internship work will be similar to the work done in Costa Rica, and includes work in schools, women’s organizations, youth programs, nature reserves, and tourism projects. Upon completion of the internship, interns will return to Costa Rica (to either Liberia or San Jose) for their return flight. Interns will travel by bus to Costa Rica or to Nicaragua.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
-Interns must have an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish. If upon arrival it is determined that participants do not have the required level of Spanish needed to complete their internship, they will be required to study Spanish at one of our partner Spanish schools.
-Participants must demonstrate proof of international medical insurance
Intern Responsibilities
All interns are required to keep a daily record of their activities and work in order to trace their adjustment process as well as the needs of the communities and/or organizations where they work.
Interns are required to present a written weekly report as well as a final written report based upon the work they do. These reports are often useful for developing future research projects or policy agendas for their host organizations and communities.
Academic Credit
While academic credit is not directly available, we provide all interns with a written evaluation of participation that may enable them to negotiate independent study credit from his/her home university. It is recommended that participants discuss credit options with their academic advisor. The evaluation is also useful when applying for graduate school or employment.
Application and Placement Process
All applicants must complete our on-line application. We review the application and then notify the applicant of their acceptance to the program.
We cannot officially begin the placement process until we have received the program deposit.
Lodging
CRINI places interns with carefully screened families or helps to find appropriate housing near the internship site. Interns that work within national parks usually stay in biological field stations.
PROGRAM COST: US$4,800
Included in the program fees: transportation to and from the airport, orientation, discussions and readings, internship placement based upon careful review of the intern’s application, family stay with two meals and laundry included in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, bus transportation to and from Nicaragua, pick-up in Granada, project support in both countries, written evaluations in each country, and 24-hour assistance for any reason.
Not included in the program fees: Airfare, Border crossing taxes (approximately $15), Spanish lessons (if required), personal travel expenses, departure airport taxes. Each student should bring between $500 to $600 for personal expenses and weekend trips, international medical insurance.
WHY A COMPARATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM?
The proximity of these two very different Central American countries make them perfect locations to observe first-hand how differing development paths and socio-economic conditions influence the way that similar social and environmental problems are addressed.
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is one of the most developed countries in Central America. It is well known for being a country of peace and democracy. It has never experienced extended wars, as in other Central American countries, and because of its geographic location is not prone to natural disasters. This has allowed the country to devote more resources to economic development and improving socio-economic conditions.
Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948. With no military spending, the government has been able to devote more resources to social programs such as health care, housing, and education, as well as infrastructure, such as potable water and sanitation systems.
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua, in contrast, while currently politically stable, has a long history of dictatorships, wars, corruption, and natural disasters. These factors have impeded the country’s economic development, making it the poorest Central American country. Years of military spending and government corruption have limited the ability to invest in social programs and infrastructure. Most of the population has limited access to health care facilities, education, and potable water and adequate sanitation. Most of the population lives in extreme poverty, and unemployment rates are high (with approximately 75% of the population unemployed or working in the informal sector) and salaries are low (a minimum wage of under $100 per month. NGO’s play an important role in addressing development problems, in combination with the current government’s social programs.
Venturing into Latin American, I never expect to see such dramatic differences between bordering countries. Traveling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua remarkably demonstrates the effects that political and economic differences have on regions.
