• Decent Work And Economic Growth

Microfinance Internship

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Improve your Spanish through total immersion.
  • Work in a fun and relaxed environment.
  • Gain real-world experience.
  • Meet other volunteers from around the world.
  • Work with experienced staff

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples

About the program

Interns in this program mentor small and medium business owners so they have sustainable growth and the right tools to manage their company and small loans.

Interns joining the Microfinance and business program will be helping small entrepreneurs manage their business plans, loans and advise them on key decisions for better growth. Interns can also help in workshops that range from basic financial literacy, marketing, accounting, data analysis, and ...

About the program

Interns joining the Microfinance and business program will be helping small entrepreneurs manage their business plans, loans and advise them on key decisions for better growth. Interns can also help in workshops that range from basic financial literacy, marketing, accounting, data analysis, and more. Depending on the intern's profile, skills and interests he/she can be assigned to different areas.
Interns must speak basic Spanish and are preferred to have a background in finance, economics, accounting, marketing, and related fields. Intensive Spanish lessons are also available in Costa Rica before starting the internship.

Possible tasks:

  • Financial literacy workshops.
  • Guiding individual small business owners
  • Loan management training.
  • Helping small entrepreneurs establish the right tools for their future business.
  • Helping small entrepreneurs make feasibility studies.
  • Smart use of technology and training in ready available financial tools.

Availability: Year-long.
Program Duration: 4-24 weeks
Location: San Ramon de Alajuela.
Schedule: Flexible schedule, but typically around 30 hours of work per week starting at 8 am. Monday-Friday

Typical day

7 am : breakfast with host family

7:30 am: walk to project

8am : meet with project staff to oversee daily tasks

1pm: lunch time

4pm: Project work time ends

7 pm: Dinner with host family

Typical day

7 am : breakfast with host family

7:30 am: walk to project

8am : meet with project staff to oversee daily tasks

1pm: lunch time

4pm: Project work time ends

7 pm: Dinner with host family

Free-time activities

San Ramon is centrally located to various places like la Fortuna or Monteverde. Also many hikes are available around San Ramon.

Gyms and various sporting centers are also available.

Free-time activities

San Ramon is centrally located to various places like la Fortuna or Monteverde. Also many hikes are available around San Ramon.

Gyms and various sporting centers are also available.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak Spanish (basic level)

Education Requirements

business,economics ,finance,accounting at studying or completed level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV, online application and laptop

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Work experience appreciatted

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 08:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Integrated Learning Experience

  • Accommodation: Host family , in private room with two meals per day
  • Participation in cultural activities.
  • On call support throughout the service.
  • Coordination with the host country organization of volunteer service.
  • Orientation to placement
  • Welcome at airport with transport.
  • Certificate of program completion.

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

Airport pickup provided from SJO airport to you host family or other accommodation.

Accommodation

Host family, in private room with two meals per day.
Or volunteer hostel with no meals and kitchen access (extra cost).

Food & Beverages

Vegetarian diets can be accommodated. Other types of diet may require participant to cook for him/herself.

Two meals per day

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Every Sunday at SJO airport.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,663€
5 weeks 1,840€
6 weeks 2,017€
7 weeks 2,194€
8 weeks 2,371€
9 weeks 2,549€
12 weeks (max. stay) 3,080€
Average fees 336€/week

Program fees

336€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Integrated Learning Experience during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Integrated Learning Experience

Perfect 4.6 rating (48 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2005

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Diego

Spoken languages: Spanish, English

About the project

Integrated Learning Experiences was founded in 2005 by former Peace Corps staff that wanted to provide flexible volunteer programs with a positive impact.

Meet your organization

Integrated Learning Experiences’ (INLEX) mission is to strengthen human resources in Central America and South America through volunteer programs, educational travel and internship opportunities.

In addition to this, INLEX provides opportunities for students and professionals to further gain experience in their field of choice by matching participants with the best opening available.

We work towards:

  • Sustainability in the projects and communities that we work in.
  • Programs that promote cultural exchange.
  • Safe and affordable programs.
  • Strengthening and empowering communities.
  • Authentic experiences for our participants.
  • Facilitating education.

INLEX was set founded by former Peace Corps staff in Guatemala in 2005 who wanted to provide flexible programs for volunteers in Central America. This flexibility allows our participants the option to commit for as long as they want in the area they are best suited to support; creating a positive impact and a rewarding experience. We do this because we believe in the principle that every volunteer can make a difference.

Many years and happy people later, we continue working with key partner projects to develop communities in the Latin American region.

48 reviews · rating4.6

Lowie rating5

2023 at Microfinance Internship

I worked at a company that specialises in constructing social housing. It's a family-owned business where the father is a lawyer, one son is an architect responsible for designing houses and overseeing construction sites, and the other son and daughter handle administrative tasks and interact with ...
Max Gierth rating4.8

2024 at Environmental Preservation

I stayed in Costa Rica for a rather short time but even in two weeks I had the chance to learn a lot and to dive a bit into tico culture. My work was dealing with butterflies, the rearing and handling of caterpillars and planting tasks for the host plants of the caterpillars. The work was very ...
Laura rating5

2023 at Medical Clinic Supporter

I spent one month in Antigua with Inlex, working in a medical clinic in the mornings and undertaking Spanish lessons in the afternoons. Alex and Diego made sure I felt comfortable and integrated into the community and my host family from the very start, and continued to check in throughout my ...
Laura O'Grady rating5

2023 at Medical Clinic Supporter

I spent one month in Antigua with Inlex, working in a medical clinic in the mornings and undertaking Spanish lessons in the afternoons. Alex and Diego made sure I felt comfortable and integrated into the community and my host family from the very start, and continued to check in throughout my ...
Emmerson rating5

2023 at Environmental Preservation

i feel it could have been more environmental conservation, some times it just felt like i was helping with the tourism instead of the environment. the host family was wonderful and i made friends that i know will last a life time but for the actual position itself i struggled to find meaning and ...
Isabelle ERNY rating5

2022 at Wildlife & Sea Turtle Conservation

The work in preservation and protection programs of marine wildlife in Monterrico (Guatemala's Pacific's coast) was amazing: I did exactly the same work as my Guatemalan colleagues. The work itself was completely adapted, carried out with seriousness but always in a very good mood! :) I had chosen ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > San Ramon de Alajuea

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Contact Diego
  Very high response rate
Spanish, English

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