Individual Volunteering: Sustainable Coffee Farming & Outdoor Work
VISIONEERS gGmbH
San Andrés, Zona de los Santos, Costa Rica
Description
During your Individual Mission, you will work closely with the local workers to support the daily agricultural activities on the VISIONEERS Coffee Farm in the remote village of San Andrés. Your tasks will include establishing and maintaining a tree nursery, planting and caring for coffee and other crops, and supporting sustainable cultivation practices on the coffee fields. You will help design and maintain garden areas, vegetable beds, and new ecological garden spaces, contribute to compost systems, and assist in caring for animals such as chickens. This role involves hands-on outdoor work and offers the opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture, coffee production, and ecological farm systems. You will also collaborate with the team in planning and implementing environmental and community-focused projects on the farm. This position is ideal for volunteers who enjoy practical work in nature and want to contribute to a meaningful sustainability initiative in a rural setting.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
You will stay at the VISIONEERS Finca, a sustainable coffee farm and community hub located in a very remote and rural area. San Andrés is a small village surrounded by stunning natural landscapes and coffee fields. Accommodation is simple and shared, offering basic comfort close to nature. Meals are provided daily with fresh, local ingredients. Transport for project activities, airport transfers, and local mobility support are partially included.
Training during the activity
You will receive a mandatory pre-departure training to prepare you for volunteering and working in a rural and remote environment. Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you will participate in an induction covering safety procedures, local protocols, and cultural orientation. Throughout the mission, you will be trained in sustainable agriculture, reforestation, environmental education, labor rights, and community engagement, supported by continuous mentoring.
Participant profile
We are looking for a physically active and hands-on volunteer who enjoys outdoor work, agriculture, and practical tasks. Experience in farming, gardening, forestry, or ideally coffee cultivation is an asset but not mandatory. What matters most is a strong motivation to work with nature, readiness to learn, and a proactive approach to supporting various areas of the farm. Candidates should have a passion for sustainability, ecological practices, and manual labour, and be comfortable engaging in physically demanding activities. The project takes place in a remote rural village shaped by Christian values, and volunteers are expected to respect these principles. To ensure a safe environment for local youth and all community members, the farm follows a strict no-drug, no-alcohol, and no-tobacco policy. English is mandatory; Spanish is desirable. The on-site team speaks Spanish, English, and German. Ideal participants are adaptable, team-oriented, and open to simple rural living. This role is especially suited for individuals - ideally men - who feel comfortable in an active, physical position and who enjoy working in natural environments while contributing to sustainable community development.
Activity dates
A total of 49 week(s) during the period 01/03/2026 to 25/02/2027
Activity location
León Cortés Castro, San Andrés, Zona de los Santos, Costa Rica
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye
Activity topics
Social challenges
Environment and natural protection
Education and training
Creativity and culture
Nutrition and subsistence agriculture
Deadline for applications
No application deadline
Project code
2025-1-EACEA-VOLUN-101250792