Why is Peace Corps in Costa Rica?

When I received my invitation to Peace Corps with my country of services listed as Costa Rica I was first relived that I was officially going somewhere and then surprised because most people think of Costa Rica as a vacation destination. Many other people I spoke with before I left had similar reactions, “Costa Rica that’s amazing, I went on vacation there!”

Now after being in country for a few weeks and being a part of Peace Corps country debriefing I have a much better idea of what Peace Corps does and why Costa Rica is still apart of their agenda.

Peace Corps has been working with Costa Rica from early in the organizations history and in many ways is a Peace Corps success story- build up of infrastructure, access to clean water, electricity, basic education and healthcare are standard around the country. Costa Rica is a great environment for volunteers to efficiently and effectively work because resources needed for survival are already in place. However, as far as Costa Rica has come over the past 40 (+) years there is still a need for Peace Corps development. Fundamental weaknesses exist that could compromise the successes made by past Peace Corps Volunteers.

Why I am here:

o   Costa Rica and the U.S. have good diplomatic relations, without which Peace Corps could not send a volunteer oversees. Also, since 9/11 the States needs to keep and maintain international friendships.

o   The government of Costa Rica has set a national standard for all students to be bilingual by 2017 and has enlisted the help of the U.S. government and Peace Corps. (TEFL program was implemented specifically to help with this goal.)

o   High school graduation rates are EXTREMELY low. Somewhere between 20 and 30 percent. At age 14 a student may choose to leave school and work in order to support their family.

o   Teen pregnancy is at an all time high.

o   College degrees are even less common than high school diplomas.

o   English provides people with the ability to enter into jobs in the tourism sector, which is hugely important to the country’s economic stability.

o   As we have witnessed with Mexico (drug wars), Costa Rica is seeing a rapid increase in the smuggling, distribution and use of illegal substances. School is a major tool to fight the influx of cartels. Keep students in school, motivated and prepared for a future in an ever changing, modernizing and technologically advanced world.

o   Right now 40% of the total population of Costa Rica lives in slums- tourists will never experience this side of Costa Rica.

o   Rural areas lack major resources like hospitals or medical clinics. Costa Rica has huge mountainous regions where roads wind up and down mountain sides, making driving a short distance in miles/km take hours. This country is also prone to earthquakes and landslides that frequently damage and block major roadways. Not having a clinic or hospital in rural areas is a major setback for people without cars and when ambulances can’t get past dirt covered roads.

Peace Corps is about sustainable human development, where you give a community the education and thus the ability and confidence to overcome challenges. My focus as a TEFL teacher is to support educators, students and communities in a way that will enhance their English language skills. By doing this, teachers can more effectively pass on knowledge of English; students can turn their education into a means of self sufficiency through work. These students will be a part of communities that produce well educated citizens who can invest into the growth and success of Costa Rica as a whole.