Costa Rica NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN SAN JOSÉ

Costa Rica is considered one of the most progressive and politically stable countries in Latin America. The country has been a democratic presidential republic since the 1950s. In economic terms, Costa Rica has developed very positively over a long period of time and is also considered a Central American role model in terms of environmental and climate protection - the country wants to become completely climate-neutral by 2050.

Despite the overall economic upswing, educational opportunities, income, and wealth are still very unevenly distributed. Poverty, lack of prospects and youth unemployment are pressing problems, especially in the constantly growing peripheral neighbourhoods in San José. Around half of the under-35s have neither a secondary school diploma nor a professional qualification. (Source: OECD) For some years now, this situation has been exacerbated by a constantly increasing number of migrants and refugees - especially from Nicaragua. Many of these people arrive in the country without an education; most of them live in precarious conditions.

Our Work in Costa Rica

Despite the high level of development of the region, the foundation identified the need for action to support marginalised young people early on.

In Costa Rica the foundation has been working for people in need since 1987. In the mid-1990s, the focus of the foundation's activities was placed on the technical education of economically disadvantaged young people. Thus, since 1996, the Samuel Foundation has been offering scholarships for high-quality technical education in professions that are in demand. Since 1999, all our technical education programmes have been carried out in the foundation's own centre, which was built specifically for this purpose.

The technical education programme currently includes four industrial and commercial occupations.

Car Mechanics

With the expansion of the vehicle fleets of many companies, the demand for skilled workers in the automotive and mechatronics sectors has been steadily rising. The foundation has taken this development into account by offering the technical education programme in Car Mechanics.

Programme content: Students are trained in all maintenance, diagnostic and repair work, as well as emission control and general overhauls of engines including the execution of basic electronic and mechatronic work. In addition, technical English, occupational safety, environmental protection, computer skills and soft skills, e.g. teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as a mechanic in automotive workshops in the public and private sector, in private diagnostic, repair and maintenance companies, in companies involved in the automobile and commercial vehicle trade and the distribution of motor vehicle parts, as well as self-employment in the automotive sector.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 25
Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico en Mecánica Automotriz" (Car Mechanic Technician).

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology

With the technical education programme Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, the foundation has responded to the continuing high demand for skilled workers in the public and private sectors and particularly in workshops specialised in this field.

Programme content: Students acquire all the necessary knowledge for analysing refrigeration and air conditioning circuits. They learn the correct handling of tools, equipment and measuring instruments and receive theoretical and practical knowledge for the installation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of household refrigeration appliances as well as refrigeration and air conditioning appliances/systems in the commercial sector. In the area of environmental protection, training on the use of climate-friendly refrigerants and their safe handling occupies a special place. In addition, technical English, occupational safety, computer skills and soft skills, e.g. teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as a technician in refrigeration and air conditioning workshops, in private installation and maintenance companies, in hotels and other companies in the private and public sector, as well as self-employment as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded annually: 50
Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico en Refrigeración y Aire Acondicionado" (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician).

Accounting Assistant

By offering the technical education programme Accounting Assistance, the foundation has responded to the continuing high demand of public and private companies for young graduates with accounting and general administrative skills. This offer is especially geared towards the advancement of young women.

Programme content: Students are trained in the theory and practice of all activities pertaining to the accounting cycle as well as in all other tasks related to their field. This includes, among other topics, the principles of proper accounting, current tax regulations, accounts receivable/payable, inventory management as well as cash and account management. In addition, computer skills and their efficient use in accounting, technical English, and soft skills e.g. teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as an accounting assistant in companies from the trade, service, or industry sectors.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 25
Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico Asistente de Contabilidad" (Accounting Assistant).

Administrative Assistant with a focus on English

The foundation has responded to the continuing high demand of public and private companies for young graduates with administrative and English skills by offering the technical education programme Administrative Assistant with a focus on English. This also caters to the demand from US companies which maintain branches in Costa Rica for appropriately trained personnel. This offer is particularly geared towards the advancement of young women.

Programme content: Students are trained in the theory and practice of administration, customer service, human resources, office management and basic accounting. Thanks to the English-language focus of the programme, they are prepared to take up bilingual jobs after graduation. In addition, computer skills and soft skills, e.g. teamwork, are part of the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as an administrative or management assistant in the areas of customer service, human resources, sales, public relations/marketing in companies from the public sector, as well as the trade, industry, and service sectors, such as tourism and call centres.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 25
Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico Asistente en Administración" (Administrative Assistant).

MEASURABLE SUCCESS

In our centre in Costa Rica, we regularly succeed in leading more than 80 percent of the students that enrol every year to a professional qualification after their 19-month full-time technical education. Of these, more than 90 percent are placed in permanent jobs, thanks to the great reputation the foundation's holistic training enjoys. Since the beginning of our work in Costa Rica, around 2,200 young men and women have successfully completed their technical education. They leave the foundation, diploma in hand, as strong and self-confident young people who are well prepared for their professional careers and the start of a new life.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION OPTIONS

Our centre in San José regularly runs vocational training courses in the fields of accounting, computer applications, electricity, car mechanics, English, as well as training in administration and logistics. Some of these courses are carried out in cooperation with local and international organisations and are aimed in particular at refugees, displaced persons and migrants.

For employees of private companies who want to deepen their expertise, our centre in Costa Rica offers further training modules in refrigeration and air conditioning technology.

Current Projects

Education Situation in Costa Rica

49% of those under 35 years have a secondary education certificate.
21% have professional training or non-university further education.
28% have a university degree (mostly bachelor’s degree; only 2% have a master’s degree or higher)

(Source: OECD)

MODERN CENTRE FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The foundation's own Centre for Technical Education is located on an area of 3,500 m² in the immediate vicinity of the city centre of San José. It is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, training materials and tools. The building complex with a total capacity for 250 students as well as training and administrative staff includes nine classrooms, two computer training rooms, three training workshops, a covered multi-purpose area, an administration building and a canteen.

Working together for the climate

Our centre for technical education in San José attaches great importance to the integration of sustainable and climate-friendly technologies in the training curricula of industrial professions. Thanks to its expertise in this area, the centre was selected by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Cooling Initiative of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) to provide training for trainers from other organisations as well as national and international professionals from the private sector on the safe use of hydrocarbons as environmentally friendly and natural refrigerants. In addition, GIZ regularly supports our centre for technical education with equipment for the implementation of sustainable technologies.