Community Engagement: Service Immersion in Costa Rica/TEC
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The SHU delegation will be partnering with the Institute of Technology of Costa Rica (TEC) at their campus in Limon, Costa Rica. University students from Limon will be joining the SHU delegation for a week of volunteer activities in the community of Rio Peje. Both SHU students and TEC students will be staying together in an off-campus guest house the rainforest in the community of Rio Peje! Activities include rainforest conservation, butterfly and tree frog rehabilitation projects, as well as youth enrichment activities in the local public schools.
The communities in Limon and Rio Peje are near the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. These are very different communities from the tourist destinations and resorts, which are mainly located on the Pacific (western) coast. The populations are also very different in these areas on the Caribbean. This will allow SHU students to explore some of the social and economic differences that are present in Costa Rica. In many ways, Costa Rica is a more developed country than its neighbors in Central America. However, there are still many communities that struggle with issues of poverty and political exclusion. Our group will explore some of these struggles as a team.
Dates & Deadlines
| Term | Year | Application Deadline | Decision Date | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2026 | October 26, 2025 | October 28, 2025 | February 28, 2026 | March 7, 2026 |
Program Orientation & Preparation Meetings
There will be two mandatory orientation meetings (dates TBD). Student leaders may organize additional group meetings to discuss fundraising.
Program Description
Both SHU students and TEC students will be staying together in Veragua Reservation in the community of Rio Peje. The communities in Limon and Rio Peje are on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. These are very different communities from the tourist destinations and resorts, which are mainly located on the Pacific (western) coast. The populations are also very different in these areas on the Caribbean. This will allow SHU students to explore some of the social and economic differences that are present in Costa Rica. In many ways, Costa Rica is a more developed country than its neighbors in Central America. However, there are still many communities that struggle with issues of poverty and political exclusion. Our group will explore some of these struggles as a team.
Program Orientation & Preparation Meetings
There will be two mandatory orientation meetings. Student leaders may organize additional group meetings to discuss fundraising.
All participants in the program are required to take a 1-credit Global Studies course (at no additional tuition cost) in the spring 2026 semester. The 1-credit course requirement is waived if students opt to take one of the following 3-credit courses in the spring 2026 semester.
Cost of all housing is included in the program fee. Housing in Veragua Reservation will be in basic shared rooms. All meals in Costa Rica will be provided. The only meals that are not provided by SHU are those in the airport traveling to/from Costa Rica.
Total cost per student is $2,000. This includes airfare, housing, transportation to/from SHU, all transportation in Costa Rica and the majority of meals. The only meals that are not provided by SHU are those in the airport traveling to/from Costa Rica.
Payment Due Dates
- First payment of $1,000 (not refundable): November 7, 2025
- Second payment $1,000: January 16, 2026
All checks should be made payable to “Sacred Heart University.”
There will be no deadline extensions for these payments. All students are responsible for their own program fees. Fundraising is encouraged, both on an individual and group basis. However, each student is responsible for handing in their own individual payments on the dates above. Late payments will jeopardize a student’s participation in the program.
Arlete Perez Paez
Assistant Director of Community Engagement
203-396-8421
perezpaeza@sacredheart.edu
Spring Break 2026
- Departure: February 28, 2026
- Return: March 7, 2026