If you have any questions, you can reach your mentor at:
Phone +44 7758 484544 (09:00 to 17:00 UK time)
WhatsApp +31 6 12773423
mike@thepowerofsports.org
Fill in your personal details
On this page you fill in your personal details. You can only do this after you have booked your flight. Click the green button to open the form. This Google Form lets you easily fill in all your details.
The information is automatically forwarded to our colleagues in Costa Rica. That way they are well prepared for your arrival and have important information such as your arrival time and date, medication, dietary requirements and emergency contact(s).
Make sure you fill in and send the form at least two months before departure. To be safe, also let your mentor know you have done so.
Fill in your personal details hereinfo@elpoderdeldeporte.org
info@elpoderdeldeporte.org
Hi everyone, my name is Francisco, but you can call me Kito. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I will coordinate and support the various activities you’ll take part in in Costa Rica. For me it’s important to enjoy my work, so let’s try to do everything in the best possible way while having fun together.
The Power of Sports has supported the local community in various ways, thanks to the contribution of volunteers and interns over the years. I firmly believe that we can achieve great things whilst having a brilliant time. So I’m curious: would you like to contribute to sport, the environment and education in Costa Rica? Because I certainly would, and I’ll be here to support you every step of the way!
mike@thepowerofsports.org
My name is Minne and I studied Sport Studies at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, specialising in Sport Management & Entrepreneurship. Sport plays a big role in my life, whether it’s hockey, surfing or wing foiling. I believe sport is more than exercise: it’s a powerful way to learn and grow.
Through The Power of Sports, I undertook a five-month internship with the organisation of the same name, El Poder del Deporte, in Esparza, Costa Rica. I helped run sports programmes for children in local neighbourhoods, such as setting up a football club, organising after-school training sessions and collaborating with local schools. What touched me most were the children themselves; their energy, resilience and openness have stayed with me.
Although my internship is over, I stay involved from a distance and I’m keen to help create lasting impact. As I know the programme inside out, I’m also happy to help think of good internship assignments.
+44 7758 484544 UK
+506 8459 69 81 CR
Phone +44 7758 484544 (09:00 to 17:00 UK time)
WhatsApp +31 6 12773423
mike@thepowerofsports.org
Spanish lessons with Cecilia Wolman
This is Cecilia Wolman (Ceci), a Spanish teacher at the University of Buenos Aires. She gives the online Spanish lessons. Spanish lessons are very useful, as the children and young people in our projects usually speak little English.
The online lesson series runs twice a year, with lessons every Monday at 8pm Dutch time (7pm UK time).
First course:
24 August | 31 August | 7 September | 14 September | 21 September | 28 September | 5 October | 12 October | 19 October | 26 October.
Second course:
23 November | 30 November | 7 December | 14 December | 21 December | 28 December | 4 January | 11 January | 18 January | 25 January
The lessons are designed specifically for complete beginners. Do you already know some Spanish? Then you can take lessons at your own level in Costa Rica.
The full course is free for participants who join the project for at least 10 weeks. Staying for a shorter time? You can still join the course for a contribution of €100.
Flying via the United States
If you have a stopover in the United States, you must apply for an ESTA. You can do this quickly and easily at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a system used by the United States to allow travellers from certain countries to travel to the US without a visa for tourism or business.
There is a fee for submitting an ESTA application, which must be paid online by credit or debit card. It’s important to only use the official ESTA website to avoid paying extra to unreliable sources.
The application will probably take a few hours, but to be safe do it at least 72 hours in advance.
The accommodation is in the centre of Esparza, where you will stay in one of two eco houses called Jaguar House and Toucan House. Together they can house up to 22 people. The rooms are for four people and you sleep in bunk beds. If you need extra privacy or are going with your partner, we also have two private rooms available. Each house has two Western toilets and shower rooms with cold water, which is refreshing in the heat of Esparza. The rooms have insect screens and two fans. There are laundry facilities, a kitchen, a large dining room, a chill out area, a communal area shared by both houses, free wifi, TV and table tennis, plus a large garden with tropical plants, including coconut palms, papaya, banana and citrus.
Overview
| Standard Accommodation | ||
| All meals | Yes, very good home cooked meals in a largely European style. | |
| Free drinks | No | |
| People per room | 2 to 4 | |
| Wifi | Yes | |
| Washing machine | Yes | |
| Bed linen | Yes | |
| Door lock | Yes | |
| Shower | Yes | |
| Private room | No | |
| Cleaner | Yes | |
| Towels | No | |
| Mosquito net | No (not needed) | |
| Fan | Yes | |
| Air conditioning | No |
Pancakes, fruit, sandwiches, eggs. Sometimes rice and beans with egg, which is a typical Costa Rican breakfast. You often get lunch at school, or we give you food to heat up. Dinner is excellent and often on request. Sometimes pizza or burgers, but mostly meals based on pasta or rice, lots of vegetables and almost always meat.
Insurance
Taking part in activities of The Power of Sports is at your own responsibility. Before and during the activity, everyone must have valid health and travel insurance covering medical costs, repatriation, accidents and liability. For activities abroad, an EHIC or GHIC is also required where applicable. Insurance details must be provided on registration; without them, participation may be refused or ended without a right to a refund, insofar as permitted by law.
The Power of Sports and its carefully selected partners are insured for their business operations, but medical costs and loss of or damage to personal belongings are always at your own expense, unless directly caused by a mistake by The Power of Sports or its partners. For full details see our terms and conditions.
To make sure you are properly insured, we recommend European Insurances. They know our programmes and can give you professional advice, including for trips outside Europe. Through their website you can easily request a call back and get tailored advice within 24 hours. Please check that the policy is available to UK residents; if not, choose a UK travel insurer that covers volunteering and sports activities abroad.
European InsurancesVoluntourism
The topic of ‘voluntourism’ is a hot topic of discussion, and we completely understand why! You may well have heard of ‘orphanage tourism’, but voluntourism is much broader than that. It’s incredibly important that you, as a volunteer or intern, are aware of this issue and the impact it can have. At our organisation, we’ve set up our own projects and give careful consideration to all aspects of voluntourism. That’s why we also undergo an independent assessment by Volunteer Aware, an index that shows how organisations address the harmful aspects of voluntourism.
But it is essential that we consider our behaviour carefully not only as an organisation, but also as individuals. A well known phenomenon within voluntourism is the so called ‘white saviour syndrome’, where Western volunteers and interns tend to see themselves as the saviours of less privileged communities in other countries. Although our programmes definitely have a positive impact, we must stay aware of the limits of our role. As a volunteer or intern you have a supporting role within the project. Remember that we are guests in the community where we work and that our role should mainly focus on supporting local initiatives and listening to the needs of the community.
To help you better understand voluntourism, we recommend watching the video below. It will help you become aware of the key principles of responsible voluntourism and how to apply them in practice during your project.
We are incredibly grateful for your commitment and dedication in taking part in our programmes. Let’s work together towards a responsible and respectful approach to volunteering or interning abroad.
Vaccinations
For a trip to Costa Rica the following vaccinations are recommended:
- DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and polio): this vaccination is recommended for all travellers.
- Hepatitis A: also recommended for all travellers.
Depending on the length of your stay and your personal situation, additional vaccinations may be considered:
- Hepatitis B: recommended for stays of three months or longer, or if you are at increased risk.
- Rabies: consider this vaccination if you expect a lot of contact with animals.
- Yellow fever: this vaccination is required if in the seven days before entering Costa Rica you have been in a country where yellow fever occurs.
It is also important to protect yourself against mosquito bites, as diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika occur in Costa Rica. Use insect repellent with DEET and wear covering clothing.
For personal, tailored advice, it is advisable to contact a travel clinic.
Click the link for our current Terms and conditions and code of conduct
The Power of Sports – Code of conduct
As a volunteer or intern with The Power of Sports, you help create a safe, respectful and positive environment for everyone involved in the project. This short code of conduct describes what is expected of you.
1. Respect and behaviour
- Treat all participants, colleagues, volunteers and interns with dignity and respect.
- Discrimination, intimidation, bullying, abuse or any form of inappropriate or transgressive behaviour will not be tolerated.
- Always contribute to a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, and outside project activities too, show respect for local culture, norms and customs by avoiding behaviour or expressions that could be experienced as offensive, disrespectful or inappropriate in the local context.
2. Professionalism and integrity
- Act honestly, responsibly and professionally.
- Do not misuse your position, information or project resources for personal gain.
- Follow the instructions and guidelines of project coordinators where necessary, when they relate to safety, cooperation or the reputation of the project.
- Offering or accepting inappropriate gifts or other unlawful benefits is prohibited.
3. Laws, rules and safeguarding
- Comply with all applicable local laws and project rules.
- Respect all safety, health and safeguarding regulations, including child protection policies where applicable.
- Respect the house rules of accommodation and partner organisations, follow coordinators’ instructions regarding safety, wellbeing and regulations, and be aware of your role as a representative of the project during your stay and activities.
4. Use of property and resources
- Handle project and partner property, facilities and materials with care.
- Use these resources only for legitimate project related purposes.
5. Communication and cooperation
- Work constructively and respectfully with fellow volunteers, interns, staff and partners.
- Communicate openly, honestly and professionally in all project related situations, both during and outside working hours when it concerns the project.
- Respect agreed schedules, working arrangements and responsibilities.
- Report concerns, incidents or suspected misconduct to your supervisor or project coordinator as soon as possible.
- Inform your supervisor in good time in case of illness, delay or absence, and always agree changes in planning or attendance in advance with the coordinator responsible.
- Take responsibility for your own wellbeing and consider the safety and wellbeing of others in the project environment.
6. Drugs / alcohol
- The possession, use, purchase or distribution of illegal drugs or narcotics is strictly prohibited for the entire period you stay with us.
- Breaking this rule leads to immediate termination of participation and may lead to removal from the project and/or accommodation.
- You are responsible for complying with local laws on drugs and alcohol, which in some countries may be stricter than in your own country.
7. Sexual contact and transgressive behaviour
- Sexual harassment and transgressive behaviour are not permitted.
- Sexual contact with minors is strictly prohibited and leads to immediate termination of participation and possible reporting to the authorities.
- Sexual contact between volunteers, interns, staff or others involved is discouraged in order to maintain professional boundaries.
8. Conflicts of interest
- Avoid situations in which personal interests could conflict with your role as a volunteer or intern.
- Report any actual or potential conflicts of interest to the project coordinator immediately.
9. Compliance
- Compliance with this code of conduct is a condition of participation as a volunteer or intern.
- In serious cases, non compliance may lead to immediate termination of participation without a right to a refund.
10. Use of photos and video
- Photos and videos taken during project activities are the property of The Power of Sports.
- Volunteers and interns may only use this footage for project related purposes and with the prior permission of the organisation.
- Sharing photos or videos on social media or other external platforms is only allowed with permission, always respecting the privacy and safety of participants and third parties.
General clothing:
- Hat: a wide brimmed hat to protect your head and neck from the sun and prevent sunstroke.
- Jumper: bring a jumper. One is enough.
- Sportswear: bring lots of sportswear, as you’ll be doing sport every day. You also get a sports shirt from us.
- Shorts: as it will mostly be warm, bring plenty of shorts.
- Socks: you’ll need lots of socks for the sports activities. Don’t forget football socks if you’re going to play with a local team.
- Swimwear: swimwear is a must, both for the pool and the sea. You might also want to try surfing.
- Trousers: cotton trousers are recommended because of the heat, and they’re also handy in the evening to keep insects away.
- T-shirts: bring plenty of T-shirts for everyday use.
- Underwear: cotton underwear is more hygienic than synthetic. Make sure you have enough for at least a week.
- Special equipment: whistle/hockey stick (for hockey coaches), trainers/football boots.
Shoes
- Casual shoes: one pair is enough.
- Sandals/flip flops: bring a pair of comfortable sandals or flip flops with ankle straps for good ventilation.
- Trainers: choose a pair that can get dirty, as you’ll be working and playing sport outside a lot.
Rainwear
- Waterproof jacket: lightweight, waterproof and breathable, ideal for unexpected showers.
Other essentials
- Camera/phone: essential for capturing your adventures.
- First aid kit: a good first aid kit is essential when travelling.
- Mosquito and insect repellent: choose a product with a high DEET content (50%) to prevent mosquito bites.
- Sun cream and after sun: bring high factor sun cream (30+) and after sun because of the strong sun.
- Sunglasses: useful to protect your eyes from the bright sun.
- Towel: bring at least two towels and a beach towel.
- Wash bag: with your everyday essentials.
- Water bottles: make sure you always have at least two litres of water with you. Bottled water is usually available, but not always.
- Whistle: handy for refereeing during sports activities.
- Handy bag: a small, light bag for everyday use.
- Power bank: you may be away from home for long periods.
The Power of Sports clothing
By taking part you receive this great The Power of Sports shirt from us. After you have filled in your personal details, we send you an email with your unique code. With that code you can order the ‘casual shirt’ for free.
To do this, go to our web shop, click on the casual shirt and enter your unique code. The shirt will be sent to you before you leave.
It’s also ideal to wear the shirt on your arrival day, so our colleagues abroad can easily spot you when you are picked up from the airport
Would you like to order extra shirts or other clothing? Of course you can! Feel free to have a look at the rest of our range. All clothing is high quality and delivered to your home before departure.
Worth knowing:
The full profit from the shirt goes straight to The Power of Sports Foundation. So you not only wear a great shirt, you also do your bit for our foundation!
Confidential adviser
If something happens during your stay abroad that you would like to talk about with someone outside our organisation, you can contact one of our two confidential advisers. They are trained for this and offer an independent and confidential listening ear. Together you can discuss what happened and what support you might need.
Catherine (confidential adviser)
Tel: +31 6 27117466
Juliette (Confidential Advisor)
Tel: +31 6 37350327
Hi, I’m Juliette. I’m originally from Leiden and completed my bachelor’s in Psychology and master’s in Forensic Psychology in England. I now live in Holland again, although I’m often abroad.
My passion lies in contact with people: I love to listen and talk, and I think it’s important that everyone feels heard, understood and at ease. I believe an open and safe atmosphere is the basis for personal growth and development. That’s why I try to meet the person in front of me without judgement and explore together what they need to move forward.
Besides my interest in psychology, I get a lot of energy from travelling, discovering new cultures and meeting different people. These experiences have broadened my view and help me look at others with an open, curious and empathetic attitude. The combination of travel and psychology is why I’m keen to be a confidential adviser for The Power of Sports.
