What is it?
When we train an LGBTIQ+ migrant, we're not just giving them information, we're giving them tools to claim their rights, to compete in the job market, and to build an independent life in Costa Rica. When we train a company, we're transforming the organizational culture that determines whether that person will find a place to work with dignity.
Training operates on two fronts at the same time because both are necessary: it's not enough to train a person if the job market isn't ready to receive them. And it's not enough to sensitize companies if the person doesn't have the tools to take advantage of that openness.
Knowledge is a political act.
IRCA CASABIERTA provides it from that conviction.
What we can do and what we can't
Training doesn’t guarantee a job, it guarantees tools.
We Do
- Facilitate training processes for the LGBTIQ+ migrant, asylum-seeking, and refugee population, tailored to their interests and needs.
- Train partner companies in inclusive hiring and reducing gaps in job access.
- Pedagogically mediate the ITDP training process.
- Refer occupational profiles of our population to partner companies.
- Set up agreements with educational institutions for access to courses required for work.
- Provide guidance on the recognition and validation of academic degrees.
- Provide guidance on recovering diplomas in the country of origin when possible.
- Facilitate group workshops and individual career guidance sessions.
- Follow up with the people who take part in the training processes.
We Don't Do
- Direct job placement: we don't filter job options for people or represent them in formal recruitment processes.
- Support for job interviews (it's a personal matter).
- Meeting unmet basic needs like housing or food.
- Certified technical training (we are not a technical training center; we guide you toward the available agreements).
- Support in naturalization processes.
- Labor market analysis or supply and demand research.
- Mediating the processes in tutoring (we support, but the person leads the process)
- Guarantee employment at the end of the program (we support the process, not the outcome)
Training for target population
Migrants, asylum seekers, and LGBTIQ+ refugees who want to get training, learn about their rights, and build their life project in Costa Rica.
Program: Boost Your Productive Development (ITDP)
ITDP is the organization's main socio-educational program. It consists of a training that, together with CID, is tailored to each person's interests and learning needs, focusing on employability, rights, and life project building. It combines group activities and individual tutoring and is designed to be realistic with each participant's timing.
What do you learn at ITDP?
The program BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT includes training in the following areas:
Exercise of rights
Labor rights in Costa Rica: minimum wage, workday, Christmas bonus, social security.
What to do in a situation of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or nationality.
Socioeconomic integration
How to open a bank account to receive salaries, where and how to study English or take supplementary courses that are in high demand in the job market.
Access to agreements with technical training educational institutions.
Validation of degrees
How to validate elementary and high school diplomas with the MEP.
Guidance on recovering degrees in your home country through emergency support whenever possible.
Employability
Occupational profile reconversion: how to translate previous experience into competitive skills in the new context.
Job interview preparation. How to register with the National Employment Agency (ANE).
Access requirements
To access ITDP you need:
- Being an LGBTIQ+ person in a situation of migration, forced displacement, or seeking refuge in Costa Rica.
- Having an open file in IRCA CASABIERTA and a valid document (or in the process of renewal with a current appointment).
- Willingness and commitment to actively participate in the training process.
For specific rights or integration workshops
Training for companies and institutions
We transform your organizational culture and implement real strategies for inclusive hiring
Training in diversity, inclusion, and LGBTIQ+ inclusive hiring
IRCA CASABIERTA trains companies and institutions in implementing inclusive hiring strategies that reduce job access gaps for LGBTIQ+ migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
It's not a generic awareness workshop; we start from a specific diagnosis and build a real action plan.
What does the training for companies include?
The business offer is built from the specific needs of each organization. The available modules include:
Diagnosis
Assessment of the current state of diversity and inclusion practices in the company.
Identification of specific barriers faced by LGBTIQ+ migrants in the hiring process and job retention.
Training
Fundamental concepts about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Context of forced LGBTIQ+ migration in Central America. Costa Rican legal framework regarding workplace non-discrimination.
Action plan
Joint design of concrete strategies for recruiting, selecting, and retaining diverse talent.
Adaptation of internal protocols for safer and more inclusive work environments, Connection with IRCA CASABIERTA for reference on occupational profiles of the migrant LGBTIQ+ population.
Follow-up
Trained companies have access to follow-up support for implementing their action plan. IRCA CASABIERTA works as a bridge between the company and the migrant LGBTIQ+ population, referencing job profiles that match the hiring needs identified.
Why train with IRCA CASABIERTA?
IRCA CASABIERTA is not an external diversity consultancy. It is the organization that works directly with the LGBTIQ+ migrant population in Costa Rica, which means:
Firsthand knowledge about the real barriers this population faces in the Costa Rican labor market.
Ability to refer real occupational profiles of the migrant LGBTIQ+ population to companies that implement inclusive hiring.
Over a decade of experience working with partner companies, verifiable practice.
Training based on technical evidence and lived experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions from the LGBTIQ+ migrant population
| Where and how can I validate my elementary and high school diplomas? |
| The recognition of primary and secondary school diplomas is done through the Ministry of Public Education (MEP). The process has specific requirements that vary depending on the country of origin and the type of document. The Training team guides you on the steps to follow and which documents to handle. Refugees and asylum seekers have access to this process. |
| When will there be new trainings and on what topics? |
| It's the most frequently asked question. Calls are posted on social media (@ircacasabierta) and on our WhatsApp channel. To stay updated, follow IRCA CASABIERTA on social media or contact us directly at info.irca1@gmail.com to sign up and get notifications when new activities are available. |
| What are my labor rights in Costa Rica? |
| In Costa Rica, anyone with a valid work permit has the right to a minimum wage, an 8-hour workday (up to 10 hours for overtime), social security (CCSS), a year-end bonus, vacation, and severance pay in case of dismissal. The Labor Code prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and nationality. The ITDP program includes a complete module on labor rights. |
| What do I do if I'm discriminated against at work because of my identity or nationality? |
| You have the right to report to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) and the Judiciary. The Training and Social Oversight team guides you on the specific reporting routes, how to document the situation, and what to expect from the process. You don’t have to face it alone. |
| Does my document allow me to open a bank account to receive my salary? |
| It depends on the type of document and the bank. Some banks and financial cooperatives allow opening accounts with a valid work permit or a refugee applicant card. The Training team guides you on which options are available based on your specific immigration situation. |
| Where can I study English or take additional courses? |
| IRCA CASABIERTA has active agreements with SICSA, IPEA, CENSA, Banking Academy, among others, that offer English courses and complementary technical training. The team guides you on the options available depending on your immigration status and goals. You can also access online training platforms from the Chavela Vargas Room with technical support. |
| What activities or training does IRCA CASABIERTA have this month? |
| Workshop calls are posted on social media (@ircacasabierta) and through channel of WhatsApp. You can also check directly with the team through WhatsApp or contact form. The calls are open to people with an active record in the organization. |
Questions from companies and institutions
Does the training have a cost for our company? |
Yes. Trainings for companies and institutions have a minimum donation of $200 or its equivalent in-kind. The process varies depending on the organization: it can be directed to specific teams, committees, general staff, or leadership positions. The funds go directly to financing free services for the LGBTIQ+ population in human mobility that we serve. |
Can you certify the training process for our company? |
Currently, a thank-you email is sent at the end. An institutional participation certificate is being implemented to support the partnership and serve as input for project funding management. The format and scope of the certificate are defined according to the specific process designed for each organization. |
Can you refer migrant people from the LGBTIQ+ community for hiring? |
Yes. One of the results of the partnership with trained companies is the referral of occupational profiles of the migrant LGBTIQ+ population. Companies that implement inclusive hiring and work with IRCA CASABIERTA have access to a network of people with job profiles built through the ITDP program. |
What languages do you offer corporate training in? |
Training for companies and institutions is offered in Spanish and English. To set up your preferred language, get in touch with the team directly. |
Training works with the whole house
Socio-educational processes are more effective when they are connected with the other services of IRCA CASABIERTA.
