Internship Organization

This non-profit organization was created to promote the humanization of childbirth in Costa Rica. It-s mission is to promote women’s whole health and self-determination, and to support all women, babies, and families in achieving a safe, satisfying, dignified birth, free of violence and coercion, and full of love and respect!

Collaboration with the Costa Rican government C.C.S.S.

Throughout the past 20 years, we have observed the violence personally, listened to women’s stories, raised public consciousness about this issue, and responded to the increasing demand for “humanized” birth options. In 2008, this association was invited by the national public healthcare system to collaborate on a complete revision of the C.C.S.S. Maternity Care Protocols, redirecting the focus to more individualized, "woman-centered care," promotion of normal, physiologic birth, and the use of evidence-based obstetric practices. The new official government guidelines were published in 2009.  Unfortunately, there is still an abysmal gap between the 2009 CCSS guidelines and current health provider practice. 

Activities for interns

This is an internship for those interested in midwifery, general women’s health, and activism  for women’s empowerment.  During the internship, the student will gain perspective about women’s health and maternity issues in Costa Rica, and the challenges we face in a traditionally “machista” culture and paternalistic health care system, which have systematically pathologized and appropriated women’s bodies and reproductive processes. By working alongside the midwives and other complementary care providers, the intern will have a chance to observe, participate in, and even create services that actively promote a more respectful, holistic, empowering model of care for women.  The intern will live at the newly-created Center in Turrialba, taking part in all the classes and workshops offered to the community, in addition to shadowing Dr. Rebecca Turecky, an experienced midwife in the area.

The internship provides hands-on experience of what holistic therapeutic care for pregnant mothers and babies looks like in the form of classes such as prenatal yoga, meditation, and baby massage therapy.  Interns will gain awareness about the natural birth process and the personalized, supportive midwifery model of care by sitting in on prenatal visits and homebirths with Rebecca’s clients, and even visiting a 95-year-old traditional Costa Rican midwife! Each intern is welcome to assist in teaching, writing or developing new programs that contribute to the Center-s goals and efficacy. 

Current activities and services include:

•      Infant massage classes

•      Early childhood stimulation classes

•      Yoga for kids

•      Yoga for adults

•      Prenatal yoga

•      Physical therapy and Massage

•      Childbirth Preparation classes

•      Holistic Prenatal Care

•      Respectful Doula and Midwife support in labor and birth

•      Lactation and Postpartum support

•      Adolescent women’s empowerment groups

•      Full Moon Sisterhood gatherings

•      Feminist movie night and discussions

•      Student internship program

•      Natural mama/baby products for sale in the “tiendita”

Requirements

You need to speak Spanish level B1 when starting the internship. (When starting with 0 level, you need 12 weeks of studying 20 hrs per week in group sessions or 8 weeks of 30 hrs per week in group sessions). 

Guidance

Dr. Rebecca Turecky has been working in the field of Women's Health and Midwifery for 30 years, with experience in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Costa Rica.  She has resided in Turrialba for 25 years, and co-founded the Mamasol Association in the year 2000. She received her Bachelor's degree (BA) in Women's Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, her Doctorate of Nursing (ND) from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and her Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery (CNM) from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in the United States. Subsequently, she received her Bachelor of Nursing and her Masters in Gynecological, Obstetric and Perinatal Nursing from the University of Costa Rica. She is licensed to practice by the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the College of Nurses of Costa Rica. She speaks English and Spanish fluently. 

Remarks

You need to fill in a form that this organization provides. You will be renting a private room at the Center, paying a rent and ensuring you will be right there at the spot for all events taking place. Because of this special housing the price of the total internship-package may vary from what is mentioned at On-Stage online pricelist.

Interested?

Please contact service@onstagelatinamerica.com after subscribing at our website. Just to be clear:

On-Stage Latin America provides many internships for all kinds of study programs. Besides the available vacancies on the website, we also offer a wide range of other internships. If you have a specific request, send us an e-mail and we will do our best to help you,

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