VOLUNTEER IN
COSTA RICA 2027

From Bridges to Growth: Supporting Migrant and Local Entrepreneurs

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GET ALL THE DETAILS ON OUR 2026 PROGRAMS

Join global professionals to mentor migrant and local micro-entrepreneurs in Costa Rica through hands-on business training, digital strategy, and financial empowerment, alongside the University for Peace.

Become a Volunteer in San José, Costa Rica

Join Venture 2 Impact and the University for Peace (UPeace) in a unique international volunteering experience that supports migrant and local entrepreneurs as they strengthen their businesses, expand economic opportunities, and build more resilient futures.

During this one-week immersive program, you’ll share your professional expertise with entrepreneurs who are growing businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening their communities through innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Why San José?

Costa Rica is home to a growing community of migrant and local entrepreneurs who contribute significantly to the country’s economy and community resilience. However, many continue to face barriers to business growth, financial sustainability, digital adoption, and market access.

Through our partnership with the University for Peace (UPeace), this program connects entrepreneurs with skilled international volunteers who provide practical business training, mentorship, and global perspectives to help build stronger businesses and create lasting economic impact.

What You'll Do as a Volunteer in San José

In-person
program

The Volunteer Alliance Program takes place in El Rodeo, San José, Costa Rica, in partnership with the University for Peace (UPeace), a United Nations-established institution dedicated to peacebuilding, sustainable development, and social inclusion. Together, we bring international professionals and local entrepreneurs together to strengthen entrepreneurship, digital innovation, financial resilience, and long-term business sustainability.

Volunteer engagement

Each volunteer joins for one week of in-person workshops, mentorship, and entrepreneurial activities, supported by virtual onboarding, curriculum calls, and cultural preparation before arrival. This flexible model allows professionals to create meaningful impact while sharing practical business expertise with entrepreneurs at different stages of growth.


Participant structure

Each volunteer cohort works alongside approximately 15 migrant and local entrepreneurs throughout the week, allowing volunteers to build meaningful relationships and provide personalized support. Participants are grouped according to their business stage—from early-stage entrepreneurs developing their first venture to experienced business owners focused on scaling their impact. The program also welcomes returning alumni from the 2026 cohort, creating opportunities for continued learning and peer exchange.

Curriculum & tools

Volunteers facilitate practical workshops and mentorship sessions covering entrepreneurship, business strategy, financial literacy, digital marketing, AI tools, branding, customer experience, leadership, productivity platforms, and business technology. Every session is designed around participant needs and provides practical tools entrepreneurs can immediately apply to strengthen and grow their businesses.

Strategic impact

This program goes beyond business training—it strengthens Costa Rica's entrepreneurial ecosystem. By connecting migrant and local entrepreneurs with experienced professionals, participants gain practical skills, stronger business strategies, expanded professional networks, and the confidence to build resilient businesses that create lasting economic opportunities within their communities.

Expanding Economic Access for Migrant and Local Entrepreneurs

In Costa Rica, many migrants, especially refugees and asylum seekers, launch businesses out of necessity due to legal and employment barriers. But without access to financial tools, networks, and formal training, these micro-entrepreneurs often stay stuck at subsistence level. Even local entrepreneurs face difficulty growing their ventures due to limited digital skills, financial literacy, or connections to broader markets.

Through our partnership with the University for Peace (UPEACE) and its collaborators like UNHCR and Fundación Omar Dengo, this program helps bridge these gaps by offering inclusive, skill-building opportunities for sustainable growth.

Learn more about our partner

Human-Centered Volunteering.
Inclusive Economic Growth.

Human-centered Design

We start by listening. Every element of the Costa Rica program is co-designed with UPEACE and local community leaders to ensure it reflects the lived realities of migrant and local entrepreneurs. By grounding the experience in empathy and inclusion, we respond to real barriers with context-driven solutions—not outside assumptions.

Skilled-based Volunteering

Each week, 10–14 professionals from global companies bring their expertise in finance, digital tools, marketing, and business strategy. Volunteers lead interactive workshops and one-on-one mentorship sessions, translating technical skills into practical tools that participants can apply immediately to strengthen their ventures.

Peer Mentorship

This isn’t top-down training, it’s mutual exchange. Volunteers work side-by-side with entrepreneurs to co-build systems, improve digital visibility, and clarify business goals. For many participants, especially migrants navigating uncertainty, this mentoring creates confidence, agency, and a stronger vision for long-term growth.

Workshops with Impact

Every session is built for real-world use. We integrate tools like Canva, Trello, Google Workspace, ClickUp, and ChatGPT into workshops on branding, budgeting, customer engagement, and more. With embedded Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL), we track progress and ensure learning leads to lasting results.

Be Part of the Mission for 2026

In 2026, we’re launching our first program in Costa Rica, partnering with the University for Peace (UPEACE) and local leaders to empower migrant and local entrepreneurs with the tools to thrive. Over three weeks, we’ll deliver hands-on mentorship and co-designed workshops focused on business strategy, financial literacy, branding, and digital resilience.

By embedding technical expertise within a culturally responsive framework, we aim to equip grassroots changemakers with systems they can scale. This mission is about more than skills, it’s about creating pathways to dignity, sustainability, and self-reliance. Together with our local partners, we’re building a model for inclusive, community-led growth grounded in shared purpose and long-term solidarity.

Ready to Co-Create with Cordilleran Changemakers?

Lend your time, tools, and talent to help Baguio’s youth scale their impact.

Ready to Strengthen Migrant and Local Entrepreneurship?

Share your skills, experience, and global perspective to help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and more resilient futures. 

apply for your preferred dates

You can join for one of the following weeks:
(Each week hosts a new group of selected volunteers)

  • Week 1: Friday, May 7th - Saturday, May 15th, 2027
  • Week 2: Friday, May 14th - Saturday, May 22nd, 2027
  • Week 3: Friday, May 21st - Saturday, May 29th, 2027

Each week includes:

  • Entrepreneurial and intercultural exchange
  • Interactive business workshops
  • One-on-one and small-group mentoring
  • Expert forums with local entrepreneurs
  • Marketplace experience and networking
  • Reflection and knowledge sharing
  •  
  • Each volunteer participates for one week. Spaces are limited per cohort.
 

You're in Great Company

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