CEPIA is a costarican nationally accredited non-profit organization that since 2005 promotes culture, educational and labor opportunities, mental and physical health, participation and social cohesion of underprivileged children, teenagers, their families and adults in the coastal communities of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, to improve their quality of life.
CEPIA helps more than
850
children & adolescents
We are active in
8
Guanacaste communities
School supplies & uniforms for
230
kids living in poverty
After-school programs for
220
children and teenagers
Psychological counseling for
50
children at social risk
Become a volunteer
Please visit our Volunteer page to find out more about the volunteer programs and how you can give your contribution to these communities.
Guanacaste is the second poorest province of Costa Rica. Poverty reached 22% of all
households, 6% of them were extremely poor. Women are mostly single mothers with several children. Fathers mostly do not support the kids responsibly or have very low-income jobs. Women have often been victims of violence in their lives, as well as their children. Some children have been neglected emotionally, socially or suffered malnutrition in childhood. Too many girls have been abused or are touched inappropriately and 25% of teenage girls are pregnant. 40% of youth don’t finish high school.
We cover 24 communities within our area of influence: from Potrero along the coast to San José de Pinilla in the south, and from 27 de Abril to Cartagena east.
How We Help
CEPIA helps children by offering them educational opportunities such as informatics, reading, math, English, social skills, sports, arts and more. We also provide nutritional support, legal support, medical and psychological care, as well as working with their parents.