University student Matt Kafker participated in two excursions with volunteer tour operator Global Works. Matt Kafker contributed to a Global Works' community development project by assisting a local school in Costa Rica.
Global Works is one of many international community-service programs based in Costa Rica that respond to pressing environmental issues with globally minded solutions based on sustainable development principles. Volunteers enlisted in Global Works' Costa Rican service projects often live with local families and learn Spanish.
It is estimated that 5 percent of biodiversity on the planet can be found within the borders of Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s progressive and environmentally conscious policies have put the South-American nation at the forefront of biodiversity conservation efforts. The country has enacted laws to preserve its natural resources. Fifty-one protected animal reserves in Costa Rica are home to a number endangered and threatened species, such as the leatherback sea turtle and the jaguar. There are also many community-development projects located in rural villages that focus on raising environmental awareness and helping farmers implement sustainable agricultural practices.
