My daughter wants to do volunteer work at costa rica. What should I do?

Question

Well she is turning 19 soon and just joined the uni this year. Plus we are living in the opposite side of the planet. Frankly the whole idea freak me out! It is not actually free, we have to come up with own travel arrangement, air tickets, visas, health insurance coverage, travel insurance.....program cost etc.

Answer 1

Well, its a wonderful experience she will remember for the rest of her life.  Do you want her to be well-rounded and have an appreciation for all aspects of life?  I bet you do.  Let her go.  If it doesn't work out, then its another lesson you learn in life!

Answer 2

A co-worker of mind went to Peru to volunteer and began sending us updates. These quickly stopped, they made them travel and work long hours and the real world here is not at all like the real world there. Although I did not speak to her about her thoughts I do know she spoke fondly of another place she had volunteered and it was not in South America. There are however numerous published stories of sites and adventures a 19 year old would cherish. I would go.

Answer 3

Well volunteer work is very commendable -- that says a lot about your daughter's kind heart and good character. It is not like she wants to go party on Spring Break or something.

The first thing to do is check if the country is safe to visit. I think the U.S.A. Travel Government (something like that) will have a page listing "safe countries" and you want Costa Rica to be on that list.

Then think how she has been on her own before -- is she really ready to be that far from home, in an entirely different culture? It can be a bit of a shock? Consider having her spend a week away from home with family out of state or something so she can see what it is like to be on her own in some ways. Being thousands of miles away is going to be more challenging.

Many kids raise funds for thier trips. There are some organizations that will help them if you ask, I think like the local Lions clubs and things like that, the Rotary -- they may have scholarships she could apply for.

Finally if she could talk to some kids from the SAME organization who have been to Costa Rica -- that could help give her a good idea of what it is like. It also might give you some peace of mind.

Good luck! :)

Answer 4

I say you should let her do it if you think she is old enough.All mom's have to let the kid go away someday.So I say let her do it for awhile.

Answer 5

That much money could be better spent on local charities instead. Have her investigate programs that don't cost so much.

Answer 6

My opinion is  she is trying to run away from her reality.  Totally uinaccaptable  behaviour, as you have described it. Suggested antidote. Study world trade. (Around the world by water). Amazingly  , Thanx to the Suez canal,  in the middle east, and  the panama canal, the world can be circumnavigated by water, around its middle. This will give a wiorld knowledge, with a career education. if language ios of interest, then i would need to know where you live,(WHICH COUNTRY), before i cvould reccommend any  prescription.

Answer 7

. You're willing to spend probably 5,000 quid on a month's volunteer 'work'?

Some of these companies who take your money are VERY UNreliable!

Here is good info for traveling thru Costa Rica @ http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-... ; ...