Volunteering in Costa Rica - Animal Rescue Project

Iona Johnstone Start Date: Nov 22, 2016 - End Date: May 21, 2017
  • Costa Rica

My Travel Story

by: Iona Johnstone Start Date: Nov 22, 2016 - End Date: May 21, 2017
I have been given an amazing opportunity to volunteer on an Animal Rescue Project after my A-Levels next year, where I will be working with some of Costa Rica's most threatened species that have been rescued from captivity or found injured in the wild.
Costa Rica is home to over 500,000 species including sloths, spider monkeys, jaguars, 5 species of turtle, white-faced howler, toucans, parrots, kinkajous and olingos. However, due to aspects like poaching, there is a steady decline in the numbers of these species and many animals need to be cared for before being released back into the wild.
The company I am volunteering with is 'Frontier', who although work with the government, do not receive any governmental support, hence I am asking for support with funding my project as they rely on volunteers being able to come and help.

So what will I be doing?
I will be working alongside local staff and volunteers to help look after the animals and educate visitors, as well as gaining hands-on experience with various primates. I will be involved with the day to day running of the centre, feeding the animals, preparing the food and cleaning, building and repairing the enclosures.

I have never been to a developing country before so this would be a "once in a lifetime" experience for me, and seeing as I have just applied to vet school, this would provide me with animal related experience which is completely different to anything I have done previously. As Costa Rica is a Spanish speaking country, I would also get to practice my language skills (as I am studying Spanish as one of my A-Levels).
As you can guess this project costs money. The project itself costs £599 for the two weeks at the sanctuary, and then there is the cost of vaccinations and travel money for when I am out there. The biggest cost of everything is the flights, which hit the 4 figure mark due to the duration being around 14 hours each way, which is why I really need your help. In the cost calculator, I have not included some sections, for example, the flights, visa and insurance as my main goal is to raise £1000 to go towards my total expenses. (£250 has been already given separately)
Currently, I teach clarinet and all my earnings from that are going towards this project and I aim to do various other fundraising activities over the next 6 months which will all be included on this page so everyone can see what I am up to.
Finally, thank you so much for visiting my page and I would be really grateful for any contributions anyone can offer to help me fund this project!

Here is a link to a video about the project: https://youtu.be/ahct2pNx7zg
  • Costa Rica

Updates

8

  • Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Award

    I am amazingly proud to be able to add here, that I have been successful in my application for the Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Awards Trust and I have been given £500! I have to produce a report for them about my trip and one of my teachers and I from school will be going to the awards dinner in the autumn and making a presentation about my experience in Costa Rica. Hugely excited!

  • First Rabies And Hepatitis B Vaccine Down!

    I have my second Hep B and rabies next week, and then the final one mid-June. 3/7 injections down!