Isobel, 19, is from Amsterdam in The Netherlands. She did a Raleigh Expedition in Costa Rica in 2021 as part of her year out after school.
29th April 2022
Isobel, 19, is from Amsterdam in The Netherlands. She did a Raleigh Expedition in Costa Rica in 2021 as part of her year out after school.
I’m on a year out, having just graduated from school. I’ve never volunteered before, even though I’ve wanted to. Back home I was studying and working in a restaurant, so I didn’t have the time. Now, it’s my gap year, I thought: ‘Now is the time to do something for others’. I researched international volunteering on Raleigh’s website.
You also get to help out with environmental projects in national parks and do a trek. I really liked the idea of trekking across the country, seeing the views, the towns, and the people along the way.
My first phase was in a school in an indigenous community at Sarkli. The work involved building an extension for the children’s dining room. We carried a lot of wood out of the mountains that had been cut by the local community, brought it down to the school, and started digging holes to build foundations.
As well as the construction work, we created a vegetable patch which will produce corn, cucumbers, and peppers. We learned traditional basket weaving and some of the local language, Cabécar. We also held Active Global Citizen sessions twice a week, where we discussed specific environmental issues.
There are several Dutch people on this Raleigh cycle, but I found that I was the only Dutch person in my group so, at first, I really panicked. It was so scary because I was way out of my comfort zone. So, it was a challenge but, in the end, I was really happy because I overcame it on my own and because of that, I got way more out of it. I had such an amazing time and I really turned it around from what I expected.
We organised activities such as face painting and we did drawings with the school students that showed the importance of clean water and conserving water by turning off the tap. It was really nice to see all the families and know that they were happy with our work.
My highlight on trek was the kindness of people. People are really welcoming and, if you stop somewhere for a break they give you fruit, or if you’re looking for a place to stay, people always want to help.
I think I lost some of my resilience in my gap year, and now I’ve rediscovered it through Raleigh and found that I really want to persevere and finish things, even when they are hard.
Because it’s really out of your comfort zone and seems a big thing but in the end it’s so nice and a lot of fun, and there’s lots to learn.
Volunteer on a summer of action in Costa Rica
Work with innovative young people of Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, to preserve its natural resources. You will improve access to national parks and will work with local indigenous communities to improve access to education for some of Costa Rica’s most marginalised children. You will also build your skills on the adventure leadership trek. Challenge yourself on trek and help lead your team through a variety of stunning routes that tourists don’t get access to.
Apply for a Costa Rica Expedition