”I have had four classes visit Proyecto Asis. We were there roughly 24 hours, each time. We arrived just after lunch and spent the afternoons engaged in an educational activities, then we dispersed to host families for dinner-overnight-breakfast, and then we returned to the rescue center for half-days of volunteering. For each of our four visits, the students have had high praise for the experience at the rescue center. For each of our visits, our volunteer responsibilities have been different, as have the residents of the rescue center, but it has been a rewarding experience each time.
The host family experiences have ranged from highly interactive and entertaining to quiet evenings at home, but nobody has had a bad experience. Much as would be the case in the US, some of the families are simply more outgoing than others, and some of the students are more outgoing, than others. Also, the composition of the families (no children, small children, high school-aged children, older children, pets and livestock) have as much to do with the experience as anything else. For your daughter, just as it was for most of my students, staying with a family that does not speak English may be a new experience, but these families have hosted many non-Spanish-speaking guests, and they know how to make their guests comfortable. I, too, do not speak Spanish fluently, and I too, have stayed with host families; never have I felt uncomfortable.”
– Craig Stettner, Harper College, USA (February 2015)
Martin Streal, known as “Big River Man” swan 5,268 Km (3274 miles) of the Amazon River! He dedicated the swim to the protection of the rainforest.
What does he say about Proyecto Asis!?
“Proyecto Asis is a great idea for the wild animals in Costa Rica and this world. This volunteer center is a nice place for anybody or young generations to spend a couple of weeks with wild animals, to understand how friendly these animals are and how we can find a good conection with them. Our precious place in this world called jungle.” September, 2010.
National Geographic’s Program “Are We There Yet?: World Adventure”
National Geographic’s Program: “Are We There Yet?: World Adventure” at Asis
We simply could not have done it without you!
– Stacey Jenkins
Associate Producer , Sinking Ship
(Adventure) Productions.
”Visiting Proyecto Asis was better than I could have ever imagined. Everyone was incredibly nice and welcoming. They made me feel right at home. For someone who had not done much traveling before, this trip was an easy place to come and feel part of a community.
I would say one of the best parts of the trip was my Spanish classes with Analia. She is an incredible teacher and an incredible woman. By the end of the month she had me speaking four hours with her in Spanish. Even outside of the classroom she was extremely helpful with anything and everything I needed. My month in Costa Rica was absolutely amazing and I would not change a second of it! If you want to learn Spanish, meet some incredible people, and have a blast doing it, come to Proyecto Asis! You will not regret it”.
– Claire Jaffe
“It is so wonderful to meet people who care about enhancing the lives of the rural Costa Rican families.”
– Betsey Roberts (Ecoteach volunteer February 2008)
“Costa Rica is a great country for traveling with children. It is breathtakingly beautiful and warmly welcomes visitors. When it was time for us to say goodbye to all the wonderful people we had met, we were all sad to leave. Our trip has been an awesome way to start learning a new language and to experience the lifestyle of a different culture! I had to promise the boys that we would come back soon.”
– Bibi LeBlanc (Family Program Mom of three young boys)
“Very hands-on. Great to see veterinary medicine from the perspective of another culture.”
– Maura Faller (Farm Animal Science Group, Ohio State University student, Dec, 2007)
The home-stay experience was unique and delightful. I loved learning Spanish in our open “toucan friendly” classroom.”
-Polly Freeman (Spanish student February 2006)