August Foundation Report

Abriendo Mentes: The foundation got off to an excellent start this the year by accomplishing its first of three goals by painting the Playa Portrero Community Center during the last week of June.  With the help of more than 40 volunteers and community members, along with ten gallons of paint donated by Unique Adventures Costa Rica, everyone was able to get the job done. You can watch the whole thing transpire by checking out their videos on www.youtube.com/watch?v=KibhNuyTvo4&feature+email. The final two goals of the foundation are to provide student material packets and an experiential learning field trip to the Rincón de la Vieja volcano this month. Interested parties (including information about U.S. tax-deductible contributions) can contact Lee Meredith and Drew Ragland at opening.minds.project@gmail.com .

CEPIA:  This educational foundation opened its library in Huacas last month across from Restaurante Guaymi. The store is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. They also worked with the children of Villareal about concerns of health issues and the environmental protection of the area by cleaning up the garbage and litter. The students were also educated in how to identify recyclable items. A representative also participated in a symposium in Liberia for the protection of children, including defense of children’s rights in areas such as health, education and comprehensive care. They also held a cinema night and acting classes at the Matapalo Salon Comunal. For more information, check out their site at www.cepiacostrica.org .

Amigos de la Educacion: Suzie Lawson, one of the founders of this admirable foundation, sent this astonishing news clip: Costa Rica’s international reputation as a functional and stable democracy, whose educational and health standards are outshone only by the kindness and caring nature of its people, is decaying on a moment-to-moment basis as the state of Costa Rica’s educational system erodes. In the 1980’s, the government’s perennial public deficit led to pressure from international lenders to decrease spending. Education took the hardest hit. As the government began to enact policies towards holding down teacher salaries and funding for school’s basic needs, the level of education provided for students plummeted as did the capacity of students to achieve the country’s set academic standards. As the pattern of young people receiving less educational development continues to collide with the trend of weakening families and increased adolescent involvement in high-risk behaviors and their results, Costa Rica will face a significant national decline. Amigos’ aspirations are to keep this from happening. Interested parties can contact them by calling 2653-0270 or emailing amigoseducacioncr@gmail.com

Tamarindo Recycles:  This organization recently apologized for giving misinformation about payments for picking up trash for property owners . They erroneously reported that this payment is included in the property tax when, in reality, it needs to be paid by trimesters at the Rentas department at the Municipalidad in Santa Cruz. If your property is already in their system, you can call 2680-0101, ext. 201, and ask for Letitia to find out what your four month fee will be. If you are not in their system, you need to take a copy of your property’s plano catastro  for them to calculate the fee for the Rentas department.

Beach Community Church:  The church hosted a mission team from Auburn Grace Fellowship in California. While here, they completed the painting of the school and salon in el Llanito that the church started last December. Pastor Lyle Watson tells me that the church has also launched a website for those looking for information and church news and updates: www.costaricachurch.com and they have also started hosting a Sports Night for kids of all ages at La Paz Gym every Tuesday and Friday night. For more info, contact Scott Huggins at romans623llc@yahoo.com.