Costa Rica Staff
Our team in Costa Rica operates a beautiful training center in San Jose.The hostel is located in the district of Guadalupe, near the down town area. We have night desk staff and a house services team that periodically includes the mother of our Global Operations Manager, Luis Siles. The close family feeling that the team creates makes the center in San Jose a very comfortable and warm environment. This also really helps our volunteers to gain a more genuine sense of regular family life and interaction before venturing out to their placement and homestay.
Our program coordinator is very enthusiastic and has worked very hard to quickly become one of our leading program delivery team members. As a result of Karolyn's efforts, we have begun to greatly diversify the number of placements that we are working with in Costa Rica. While we have a long history of involvement with environmental and medical placements in Costa Rica, Karolyn has helped us to develop several new social and eductional projects throughout the country.
BaseCamp Costa Rica is also home to our Global Operations Manager, Luis Siles. As such, the Costa Rican team is well versed in the lessons learned not only during the course of their operations, but through Luis sharing the lessons learned in managing each of our centers with the rest of the team. The result is a fantastic group of people who run a great program!
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Luis SilesOperations ManagerLuis is the oldest of four siblings from Guadalupe, San José. He has a strong background in organization administration with over fifteen years experience and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.
Luis has been working with BaseCamp since January 2011. During this time, he has had the opportunity to visit Canada, Peru and Nicaragua. He describes his experience with BaseCamp as unique and exciting. He is very passionate about his role in managing the operational and logistical aspects of training and placing international volunteers and he enjoys working with our team in each country.
Luis loves the opportunity that BaseCamp creates by connecting volunteers with non-profit organizations that are looking for assistance. Ensuring that in each country we excel at facilitating positive and meaningful connections is his primary objective.
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Karolyn UrenaProgram CoordinatorKarolyn was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and is studying at Universidad Americana to be an English teacher. She has a sister and brother, and her family lives in the province of Cartago.
Karolyn has been working with BaseCamp Volunteer Abroad for a year. Before becoming Program Coordinator in January, Karolyn was working at the night desk office.
Working with Basecamp has provided her with the opportunity to play a part in helping those in need. Karolyn especially loves educating people about her country, acting as a guide for volunteers, and teaching them about Costa Rica's culture.
Of her experience she said, "I am very lucky to have the chance to meet people with a good heart, conscience, and desire to help others by traveling to a foreign country and contributing where they can."
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Alexander PerezNight DeskAlexander was born in Quepos, Costa Rica, but he moved to San Jose four years ago. He has two sisters and one brother who still live in Quepos.
Alexander has been working with BaseCamp Volunteer Abroad as a Night Desk Officer since December 2011. During this time, as a result of his interpersonal skills and charisma, he has greatly improved his English skills by communicating with international volunteers. This position also gave him the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua and enjoy the experience of another BaseCamp location.
He describes his responsibilities with BaseCamp as one of his best working experiences because it has exposed him to other cultures thus providing him with the opportunity to expand his knowledge and at the same time meet international travelers and help to welcome them to Costa Rica, as well as to provide them with support or assistance when required while staying at BaseCamp.
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Katya SenyshynProgram ConsultantKatya Senyshyn recently joined BaseCamp in January 2013, and she absolutely LOVES it. She's currently working out of the office in Costa Rica as a program consultant and when she isn't consulting, she's brushing up on her Spanish skills, exploring her surroundings and soaking in the incredible culture (and sun) of beautiful Latin America.
Katya has always loved discovering the world that she lives in by traveling and experiencing different cultures, so working at BaseCamp has proven to be an incredible opportunity for her.
Katya says that she "works with awesome staff with awesome vibes among awesome volunteers with awesome intentions... What more could I want?"
Specialty Care Inc.