The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children is pleased to announce volunteer opportunities at our clinic in Alajuelita, Costa Rica!

Our clinic serves the community of Alajuelita (“Little Alajuela”), located five kilometers outside of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. Approximately 12,500 Nicaraguan migrants, refugees and impoverished Costa Rican citizens are settled here. The majority of this population, comprised largely of women and children, is medically uninsured. Though the World Health Organization estimates a remarkable 89% of Costa Rica’s population have primary medical insurance, the poorest sector of the population slips through bureaucratic cracks and Nicaraguan political refugees still receive little or no medical care.

The most pervasive medical issues plaguing this population include diarrhea, head lice, malnutrition, persistent bronchial infections, gastrointestinal microbe infections, unplanned pregnancies, alcoholism, drug addiction, and HIV. These problems are readily treatable with preventative measures, education initiatives and continuous healthcare monitoring. Coupled with these medical issues are equally persistent social problems—the absence of clean water and sanitation facilities, absent or overcrowded schools, underemployment, and overwhelming poverty. In the face of these obstacles, FIMRC and its volunteers make an overwhelming difference in the lives of Alajuelita’s residents.

The FIMRC clinic in San Felipe, Alajuelita was established in January of 2005 and is just a short walk to the underserved communities of Jasmín (“Jasmine”) and Los Pinos (“The Pines”). The centrally located three-room clinic serves as a FIMRC base within the community for well-child and acute care visits. In addition to maintaining a base at the clinic, FIMRC works on community services initiatives in conjunction with the mayor of Alajuelita.

Past volunteers have found that one of the most rewarding aspects of our volunteer program is the home-stay arrangement. We work with each volunteer individually to place them with Costa Rican families living in houses in safe areas with full western-style amenities for the duration of their volunteer mission.

FIMRC's Global Health Volunteer Program is open to volunteers of all ages and educational or professional backgrounds. The medically focused nature of our programs makes us especially appealing to medical students and professionals, but non-medical volunteers will find a wealth of opportunities to make a difference! We have hosted everyone from college students taking an alternative spring break to medical specialists with decades of experience.

We host volunteers traveling in groups as well as individually. Volunteers are welcome to travel for a week, a month, or more! We estimate the costs for a one-week trip to be the following:

Airfare approx: $500 to $700 (variable, depending on travel dates & season);
Housing/food: $25 per day, to be paid locally; includes three meals daily;
Program donation: $699 per week;
Spending money: $150 (minimum recommended amount for in country for transportation and other daily expenses during your trip).

We would be pleased to accommodate volunteers traveling individually or in groups up to 10. If you are ready to find out more about FIMRC’s project in Costa Rica, or about our programs in Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua or Uganda, please visit our website at www.fimrc.org and fill out our information request form. If you would like to speak to one of our team members, please contact VP of Volunteer Programs Sara Schoenleber at missions@fimrc.org or call 1.888.211.8575. We look forward to hearing from you!