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Interview with Maureen O'Neill, ASVO Volunteer

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 09:30

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This awesome article was brought to you by Sarah Palmer

Sarah has researched and educated others about international volunteering for six years. She enjoys working with volunteers adjusting to the return home from their service trips. She Tweets at @VolunteerGlobal and also writes at Volunteer Global.

A couple months ago I went out for ice cream with a few friends from work, and as we’re all avid travelers, the conversation inevitably turned to, “Which countries have you visited?” While each of us had visited Costa Rica, it was super cool to find out my good friend and coworker Maureen had also volunteered there with ASVO, the same group I volunteered with a few years ago!

So of course I jumped at the opportunity to interview Maureen about her experience with ASVO, an awesome volunteer organization working in dozens of communities throughout Costa Rica.

A Little Background:

Based in Costa Rica, the Association of Volunteers for Service at Protected Areas (ASVO) addresses environmental conservation issues ranging from wildlife trade, poaching, to deforestation. National and international volunteers assist with research as well as hands-on conservation efforts such as sea turtle tracking and monitoring, research and community education, forest fire prevention, natural area cleaning and restoration, and more.

Room and board costs $15 per day, and basic Spanish language skills are encouraged. Volunteers are asked to stay for at least one week, with long-term and even permanent options available.

On to the Interview!

Sarah: First off, tell me about yourself!

A street in Monteverde

Maureen: I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Honduras, 2007—2009) currently working in a government role in the area of graduate partnerships. I have been passionate about volunteer work since my college years in the DC area, through involvement in alternative spring break projects for Habitat and Humanity, as well as weekly volunteer stints at a bilingual preschool. My love of volunteering later moved overseas, as I participated in a year-long study abroad program in Costa Rica during junior year of college. This experience only increased my love of volunteering, a love that led to a two-year stint as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

S: How did you decide on ASVO?

M: ASVO was recommended to me by our study abroad staff. I paid a visit to their office in San José and also checked out the website, which was pretty extensive. They were very reasonably priced and had a wide variety of options. While most of their programs focus on work in the national parks, there was also a chance to live with a family and volunteer on a coffee cooperative in Monteverde. This sounded the most interesting to me, and I chose this option…within a few weeks, I was on my way to Monteverde!

S: What kind of volunteer work did you do, and how long were you there?

M: I spent three weeks on this cooperative, living with an older woman and getting to know her family members who would visit on a daily basis. I was put to work picking the last of the coffee crop on the farm. In addition, I assisted with basic construction of a few buildings on the property.

S: Was the volunteer work about what you expected when you signed up?

M: The work was not as intense as I’d originally anticipated. I had heard of ASVO volunteers who lived in less plush surroundings; I was living in a house with running water, electricity, and a room to myself, while other volunteers lived on the park grounds in cabin-like accommodations. In this regard, I think work varies from site to site; overall, however, I did feel that the work was meaningful.

S: Would you have changed anything about the trip?

M: I would have loved to stay longer—three weeks was not long enough!

S: What was your favorite part of volunteering with ASVO?

M: The interaction I had with the locals in my area was unparalleled. In my case, I learned so much about the campo lifestyle, one that I had never experienced before ASVO.

S: Would you recommend ASVO to a friend?

M: Absolutely. I have nothing but fond memories of my volunteer experience through ASVO, and I praise this program as a credible, cost-effective and easy way to volunteer in Costa Rica.

Get in touch with ASVO:

Association of Volunteers for Service at Protected Areas Phone: (506) 2258-4430 or (506) 2223-4260
Fax: (506) 2223-4518
E-mail: info@asvocr.org
Website: www.asvocr.org