Newsletter April – June 2023

I am the answer!

Reaching more than 200 boys and girls in Guanacaste, in Playa Grande, Matapalo, La Garita, Cartagena, Linderos, Trapiche, Llanito, and Brasilito, the program ‘I am the answer,’ in collaboration with the GAIA Foundation of Costa Rica for the second consecutive year, aims to educate second-grade children in the development of healthy, sustainable, and conscious lifestyles. In the first module, the children learn to understand their emotions, thoughts, and bodies. Through songs, games, and art therapy, as well as mindful movements and breathing exercises, they find inner peace and relax their bodies. The children have also received classes on personal care and conscious, healthy eating. They learn the importance of rest and recreation and seek spaces of connection with nature that provide well-being, peace, and harmony, as well as initiate the creation of the Healthy Life Guide.

Additionally, as part of our collective alliances, we participated in the Flamingo 2023 Environmental Fair, with the attendance of 30 Planet Guardians from the communities of Playa Potrero and Trapiche. They enjoyed activities such as beach clean-ups, talks by environmental organizations and Costa Rican firefighters, tours to the mangrove, as well as art and yoga classes and mindfulness sessions for boys and girls.

We extend our thanks to volunteers Alexia Huysmans, Genoveva, Sofi, and Nina Dejans for their support in the ‘I am the answer’ classes during these months.

We are also grateful to Hotel Cala Luna for donating 30 reusable bottles to reduce plastic consumption in the children from the schools of Playa Grande and Trapiche. Furthermore, we thank the board game and biodiversity initiative, Estampida, which donated 10 games to be distributed in the schools of the program. This educational game focuses on National Parks and the conservation of flora and fauna, among other topics that we will be working on in the third module on Sustainable Living.

Extracurricular Sports Classes

During the month of May, the new swimming program began in alliance with Vamos Youth and the VOLO foundation, which aims to reduce the rate of drowning in the coastal communities of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. Over 10 consecutive weeks, 210 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 12 have the opportunity to go to the pool once a week. Thanks to La Paz school for lending their pool.
Connect Ocean continues to support with their swimming program. A big thank you for all their support throughout this year, as well as to CRIA and the Sailing Center for lending their pool facilities.
The young surf beginners continue to learn the techniques to practice surfing, thanks the Iguana Surf School.

We congratulate Valeska Moya and Iker Moreno for their participation in the Pacific circuit and their excellent results. Go ahead Surf 4 Youth team, and thanks to our coach Juan Carlos Naranjo!

We express our gratitude to the volunteers Leo Almanza and Andrea Mesa, as well as to Jimena Gonzales Cerdas, Melissa Cerdas, Louis Charles Hamelin, and Jaen for their dedicated efforts. Our thanks also go to Escuela La Paz for allowing us to use their pool facilities.

On April 27th, the Integral Soccer School was invited to educational workshops focused on information and prevention regarding drug and alcohol use. We are thrilled to be part of the team supporting 30 boys and girls from the Paraíso community. We hope to continue supporting the team and promoting exercise as a healthy lifestyle.

Throughout the quarter, Hero Academy continues to donate their time and classes to 45 boys and girls on a weekly basis.

In recent months, the girls have been working on various techniques that contemporary dance offers, including body expression, floorwork, and classical ballet at the ELEVATE academy. We express our gratitude to Gaby Abarca and her team for these wonderful classes.

Happy Feet Skateboarding: We can see that the students who continue with the classes are progressing and advancing significantly. The most exciting part is witnessing the boys and girls facing their fears. With the help and encouragement of the instructors, they do things in the park that they never thought they could do. We are proud to see the skaters not only trying the smaller ramps but also the medium-high ones! Even though some of them were scared of the height, they managed to conquer their fears successfully. This experience brings them joy and confidence to face their fears in other aspects of life. We are also delighted to announce that 90% of the students participating in CEPIA’s classes now have their own skateboards!

Camp in Paraíso

On July 3rd and 4th, the community of Paraíso was filled with colors and fun during a holiday camp. We had the opportunity to dance, play, paint, create crafts, engage in sports, make new friends, learn, and put values like love, respect, and friendship into practice. The theme of the camp was the care and protection of sea turtles, emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment. The event saw the enthusiastic participation of 80 boys and girls, who enjoyed a delicious snack at the end of the activities.

We are incredibly happy and grateful to all the volunteers who made this possible, the staff at ADI for their support, the mothers of the community, the nursing student team from the Latin University of Santa Cruz, the participation of the youth group from CEPIA and their teacher Karla Marin, the volunteers Delores Millhouse and her children, Monica Rosales, and Yariela Abarca for the decorations, Sary Barrantes, Kristin Coffey, and Yorhanny Pizarro.

Girls Club

Currently, a safe space for empowerment and prevention of gender-based violence is being offered in the following communities: Brasilito, Paso Hondo, Hernandez, El Llano, Portegolpe, Hatillo, Lorena, Guapote, Paraiso, Río Seco, Las Delicias, Matapalo, and Cartagena.

We extend our gratitude to the Foundation “Dibujando un Mañana,” Flamingo Realty, Reserva Conchal, and Kahuna Foundation for their support!

Within the clubs, we would like to highlight some important dates. On April 15th, the graduation of the girls’ club in San José de Pinilla took place. We are thankful to Hotel Cala Luna for their hospitality in hosting the event. The girls enjoyed the pool and a delicious lunch during the celebration.

On June 24th, the graduation of the girls’ club in the community of Paso Hondo was held. We express our appreciation to Hotel Playa Negra and its staff for providing their facilities for the enjoyable event and for their attentiveness throughout.

Professional Training and Employability

From April to June, the Adult Professional Training program has started 5 courses, including Food Handling and Basic English facilitated by teachers from CEPIA, as well as Basic English and Whale and Dolphin Watching and Conservation facilitated by the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) {National Learning Institute}.

During these three months, 7 courses have been successfully completed. We are filled with joy and satisfaction to see our students successfully finish their courses, knowing that reaching this point requires great effort and sacrifice.

In the Employability area, we maintain a WhatsApp group where job vacancies are shared daily. Every time we conduct an employability session, we offer access to this group, so that individuals can start their job search with their newly updated resumes.

We express our gratitude to the donors and volunteers for being fundamental parts of the program. Special mention to John & Donna Sommer and Ted Alexander, Richard Ramírez, Debi Hoffmann, Linnea Husser, Karen Sheppard, Tracey Fowler, Lavonne Blanco, the Degaris family, and Sarah Desmet.

We applaud the dedication and effort of the teachers from CEPIA and INA.

Lastly, we want to thank the organizations and companies that have made the program’s actions possible in the last three months: the Integral Development Association of Huacas, Lexis Language School, and Tamarindo Church.

Strengthening Families in Vulnerable Conditions

Social worker Ana Patricia conducted 3 home visits with the aim of understanding situations of vulnerability and social risk. The CEPIA team managed 46 donations of food and clothing packages, as well as 38 donations of household items, which were donated to CEPIA for families living in extreme poverty. They also processed 18 referrals to IMAS (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social) and requested state insurance through C.C.S.S. (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social). Additionally, they arranged for the donation and delivery of splints to a child. Moreover, they requested timely ophthalmology care for 2 minors.

The Comprehensive Daycare Center for Children (CIDAI)

The CIDAI program provides services to 107 minors, offering educational, psychological, health, art, and recreational support. All attendees enjoy continuous assistance from Monday to Friday, with a schedule from 7 am to 4 pm. Boys, girls, and children aged 2 to 17, attended the program to receive comprehensive care, allowing their guardians to work with peace of mind, as the 107 minors are in a safe place.

During the month of April, a general drill is conducted where the entire program participates, emphasizing the safety of the minors. Additionally, each group undertakes different projects, such as agriculture, dinosaurs, ocean animals, and the water cycle, with each theme being elaborated and selected by the children themselves.

Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting the teachers, and the nursing school of the Universidad Latina also contributes by taking care of the children’s health, monitoring each minor’s well-being closely.

The caregivers express their thoughts:
“For me, the program they offer is very comprehensive.”
“It has helped my child a lot.”

Gratitude is extended to the volunteers Sophia Scholleof and Nina Dejans for their support during these months. Thanks are also given to the drivers, Juan Molina and Juan José, who transport each child from their homes to the center daily. Special appreciation goes to our psychologist Eleana Alcocer Ramírez for supporting the needs of each child. Thanks are also given to our colleagues in special recreational subjects: Mikaela Riveiro and Belquis Gutiérrez, and a special thank you to the teachers who provide daily support: Karla Marín Rodríguez, Heyling Larios Fonseca, Mary Paz Gutiérrez Gillen, Joselyn Mendoza Mendoza, Natasha Guerrero Rosales, Graciela Gómez Guevara, and Ana Laura Zelaya Salazar.

The social worker conducted 15 home visits to assess the family dynamics for new enrollments in the program. Four socio-educational workshops were organized for the children in the program. Additionally, three crisis interventions were carried out, helping the minors identify their emotions and work towards better emotional management.

Psychological Care for Children in Coastal Communities

During the months of April to June, the work on community psychology continued, with outreach to 23 educational centers in CEPIA’s area of influence, reaching and impacting 393 minors and 71 adults, for a total of 464 individuals. Preventive topics covered included violence prevention (including bullying), positive discipline for parents, emotional management, and self-care. All of this was made possible thanks to our psychologists at CEPIA.

In the external psychological service, 34 new individuals and their families were assisted. The most frequent reasons for consultation in this population were behavioral disorders in 10 individuals, grief in 6, depressive symptoms in 4, and child sexual abuse in 3 cases, with 11 other reasons cited. The prevalence of behavior difficulties in minors reflects the need to address topics such as positive discipline in parents or caregivers.

Planning and preparations have been underway in recent months for the opening of a psychoeducational group therapy, aiming to impact 45 individuals in the next semester, including adults and young people from CEPIA’s area of influence. The topics covered will include emotional management and positive discipline.

In the area of holistic therapies (therapeutic yoga) for young and adult individuals, 7 people were reached in April, led by our instructor, Cathy Vanhabost.

Feedback from teachers about the workshops (workshop evaluation) included comments such as:
“The methodology and impact on the children.”
“How to teach and educate with affection and care.”
“The methodology and performance of the professionals leading the workshop.”
“The integration activities.”
“The entire workshop was very interesting.”
“The explanations about violence in the workshop.”
“Communication from the children and the participation of parents.”
“The impact of the workshop allowed them to connect with their emotions and understand what violence is.”
“Episodes of confrontation decreased.”
“The concept of Bullying and violence was very clear to the students, and the experience of role-playing allowed them to interpret the concepts and differentiate between each one.”
“Understanding the concept of violence in different contexts within and outside the educational center.”
“The use of breathing techniques was very positive. Excellent work!”
“The knowledge about the types of violence and their solutions.”
“Knowing how to handle each problem in the Educational Center led to a change in the students’ attitudes.”

Psychological Care for Minors in the CIDAI Program

In coordination with the National Childhood Welfare Board (PANI), one case of alleged sexual abuse and parental negligence has been addressed through family intervention, utilizing psychoeducation and positive discipline. Throughout the year, 63 minors have received psychological care, with 39 currently undergoing active psychological processes in June. Each user has a personalized psychotherapeutic plan, defining the type of intervention, such as brief psychotherapy, crisis intervention, or systemic family therapy, based on their initial symptoms or reason for consultation.

During this year, 28 assessment and profile interviews have been conducted for children, adolescents, and their parents or guardians entering the CIDAI program. This has allowed for the evaluation of risk and protective factors in each case, as well as the development of a clear psychological profile, enabling relevant recommendations for each teacher responsible for the care and direct attention in the Comprehensive Daycare Center.

To enhance the approach to cases in the CIDAI program, interdisciplinary work has been undertaken in 14 cases. Legal, social work, teaching, and psychological perspectives have been integrated, improving the quality of service provided to children, adolescents, and their families in the CIDAI program.

A total of 12 psychoeducational workshops have been conducted for children and adolescents in the CIDAI Comprehensive Daycare Center. These workshops covered various topics, including sexual abuse prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, emotional management, connecting with inner strength, the power of breathing, and storytelling on the theme of “friendship.” For parents and guardians, 3 workshops on criminal matters related to domestic violence, child support, the law on improper relationships, self-care, and personal hygiene were carried out. These psychoeducational workshops were made possible thanks to the voluntary collaboration of nursing students from the Universidad Latina, Lic. Carlos Ugalde Boniche, law student Rosberling Rodríguez Valerín, and Licda. Raquel Aguilar.

As a result of these workshops, parents are making statements:

“I learned about child support, as some mothers think they can take care of the children on their own, but the kids have the right to receive child support.”
“I now know about the rights of children in case of divorce or separation from their parents.”
“These workshops helped me distinguish what constitutes abuse towards women.”

Vida Mujer

The Vida Mujer Project continues to support women who have already received an IUD through our initiative and also provides more women with the option of having a high-quality, long-term contraceptive method. We had a successful clinic in San José, in collaboration with Chepe Se Baña, serving almost 30 women from the city who are in need. The clinic was supported by the expertise of gynecologist Dr. Alejandra Barboza Castro and Dr. Jorge Sagot Salgado. Additionally, we had a group of medical students from the University of Costa Rica and the United States assisting during the clinic.

They assisted with admissions, pregnancy tests, and maintaining the medical instruments’ cleanliness. We couldn’t help so many women without the support of all our donors, especially DkT LATAM, who not only help us obtain the IUDs but also provide educational sessions to inform women about possible risks and side effects involved before receiving an IUD.

We hope to hold more clinics soon and have established a new relationship with a new gynecologist in Huacas. Thanks to all the volunteers who spend hours calling women: Jessica Barbara Brown, Pilar Cardoza, and nurse Karen Ortiz, who are always available for phone consultations. Special thanks to Costa Rican Trails for donating accommodation for the project coordinator, Geneva Garcia Ellen. And a big thank you to BLP Legal for providing legal advice and support with our consent and documentation.

Women Empowerment

Over the past 3 months, women have been trained in various topics to improve their self-esteem and self-awareness, with a focus on working with their bodies and understanding the body’s communication. A workshop on Natural Cosmetics was conducted, enabling them to practice self-care, boost their self-esteem, and share their learnings. They created their own products, which they can use at home with their family members, friends, etc. We extend our gratitude to volunteers Raquel Aguilar and Sarah De Smet for their support.

The work was complemented with a session on transforming emotions into body movement, conducted by instructor Metzi Hovenga, and an aerobic session with volunteer Mayra Cubero. Many of the women we work with need to strengthen their self-care practices, break sedentary habits, and address issues of depression and chronic health problems.

In the realm of personal development, we conducted workshops on “Planting our Intentions,” focusing on how our words and actions communicate our intentions, the influence of our thoughts, and how to become fertile ground for positive endeavors in our lives. We also had the opportunity to participate in the event “Me cuido por mi” organized by Voces Vitales and Reserva Conchal.

In the workshop “What I See When I See Myself,” we learned the importance of self-perception and valuing the perspectives of others, as well as their influence and the value we give them. As a closing activity for the quarter, we had a conversation with nursing students from University Latina about “Myths and Reality about Women’s Sexuality.”

We held 4 meetings with the women’s group facilitated by psychology students from UCR, addressing topics related to empowerment and self-care.

Additionally, we provided 2 individual socio-educational support sessions for the children of the program’s users.

Throughout the quarter, the women’s group received donations of vegetable packages, food items, and clothing, totaling 108 vegetable baskets, 30 basic food baskets, and 30 donations of footwear and clothing. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to support 4 entrepreneurs with resources to improve their ventures, which served as a wonderful motivation for each of them. We express our appreciation to our volunteers Stephanie Lippens, Nathalie Salazar, and Johanne Bade.

A new initiative is flourishing amidst the greenery of Finca La Senda Laberinto, where a group of women are learning about medicinal and edible plants. They participate in caring for the plants, learn about their healing effects, and explore the best methods to utilize their properties for improved health. The plants share their wisdom, offering the women a comforting environment in the midst of nature, surrounded by their peers. We are grateful to La Senda for this opportunity and our volunteer Vicktorija Zenkiva.

Psychology for Adults

During the months of April, May, and June of the current year, in the psychology department for the care of adults, we have focused on community work, visiting 19 schools to offer workshops for their population.

We provided 23 workshops where we worked on topics such as violence prevention for children, as well as positive discipline for mothers and fathers. Through these workshops, we were able to benefit 393 minors and 71 adults.

It is important to note that in the last three months, we have provided 163 psychotherapeutic sessions to mostly adult individuals, and some adolescents, from the three schools in the area of influence.

Integral and Cultural Education in Playa Brasilito

On June 21st, after months of planning and coordination among civil society actors, a new social welfare program focused on children commenced in the community of Playa Brasilito. This program aims to benefit the children with academic tutoring to reinforce their school studies, as well as extracurricular activities designed to promote music and sports.

We express our gratitude to the Integral Development Association of Playa Brasilito for their significant support and special attention given to this initiative.

Thanks to this association, the project has a physical space within the Community Training Center of Brasilito (former EBAIS), where boys and girls can safely participate in the various projects that will be carried out. Additionally, we are pleased to report that work on the music school project has been underway in recent weeks, focusing on the creation of the school band, a collaborative effort involving volunteers from the Good Vibes music school and with the endorsement of the Academic Director of Playa Brasilito School and the Parents’ Association.

Furthermore, academic tutoring has started for sixth-grade children, aiming to enhance their knowledge and prepare them for their upcoming transition to secondary school.

We are continuously seeking volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time and mentor the children in different disciplines. If you are interested, you can contact us at cepiaproyectobrasilito@gmail.com

Youth Group

During the months of April, May, and June, the youth group embarked on building new life experiences. This trimester began with the opportunity to spend a day in nature, surrounded by wildlife, and being responsible for themselves during a beach campout. This experience allowed them to develop teamwork and leadership skills.

The weekly classes in English, art, sports, computer skills, and swimming, which are part of the program, continued to be developed. The youth have shown progress in these classes and have discovered their abilities. Some of them have been able to engage in conversations in English and use computers for their assignments.

In addition to the regular classes, workshops were conducted on personal hygiene, psychoactive substances, and body myths by the Nursing group from the Universidad Latina. These workshops were complemented by sessions organized by CEPIA on topics like World Religions, Law on Improper Relationships, self-care, general knowledge, self-awareness, and strengthening support networks for the participating youth.

Thanks to the collaboration with the University of Costa Rica through the community outreach project of the Psychology program, some of the youth took part in a Life Skills camp for suicide prevention in the Puerto Soley area of La Cruz.

We are deeply grateful for the teamwork and dedication of the professionals and volunteers who support the youth group, including students from Universidad Latina and the University of Costa Rica, The Leaderback Thrust, and Yassine Khabou. We will continue to create opportunities and experiences that help these young boys and girls become entrepreneurs and creative individuals.

Read our annual work report and financial report for 2022!

Thank you to our donors!

OUR SPONSORS

Whale Donors

John & Donna Sommer
Redekop Family Endowment
Robert Smith
BOMBA Huacas
Las Ventanas de Playa Grande
Rocketgenius
Todd & Mary Heistand Family Foundation
Troper Wojcicki Foundation
Gig Kaplan
Reserva Conchal
Jon & Lisa Reichlin
Jodi Gallant & Stuart Sheldon
FRAME projects
Bart Van Vooren
Martyn & Debi Hoffmann
Daley Family Fund
Trish Diak
Ted Alexander
Arlene Kahn
Pavel and Kimberly Oliva Charitable Fund
Mariposa Homes
Huifen & Kirk Dunn
VOLO foundation
Automercado
Marlin del Rey
SYNLAW
Hyde Park School
Morris Family Charitable Foundation
James and Jean Scheman
Charleen Jordan
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Leigh & Sid Keay
Stichting Libeert
Nick, Jorge & Nicholas Alers
Hyde Park Schools
Junta de Protección Social, IMAS, PANI.

Thank you SHARKS

Martin Salerno, Henry Jessup and Sydney Smith, Super MASSAI, Hotel Gilded Iguana Nosara, JSM Santa Rosa, Jeffrey Christo, Brad Cooper, Tabitha Cromer, Bruce Reinhart, Marsha Brinson, William Willis, Geldstuck Robert Januikt, Ocean surf and sun Reality, Avery Vorwerk, ZEB Belgium, Chandra Champion, Stephane Boivin, Jill Knouse Yoga

We also thank

Justin Keltner, Pelle Liefting, stephanie lippens, Luc Aalmans, Diane Goulden, Melinda Kanter, My Abdellah Alaoui. Margo Wilson, Nicholas Lane, Robert Perkins, Livia Tortella, Flor y Bambu, Lynn Benediktsson, Kathleen Roberts

Thank you for your material donations:

Jorleny Patricia Quiros, Heilyng Larios Fonseca, Catarina Alisiani, Alejandra Parody, Dania Fallas Zuñiga, Katherin Guadamuz, John Duncan, Patricia Strus, Anny Brenes, Carolyn Mogavero, Dewer Yues, Sabrina Dawst, Lisa Hedges, Jeremy Rask, Kimberly Browell, Jennifer Corvette, Miguel Obando Lopez, Samantha Arburola Leon, Yuri Rodriguez Aleman, Wendy Cliflord, Agustina Errea Vidalle, Marcela Cabaleiro, Josseline Aguilar, Emily Griffith, Mariana Jimenez, Magdalena Lopez Moreno, Monica Hernandez Alvarado, Carlos Luis, Daniel Paro, Andrea Pizarro Gomez, Wendy cliiord, Witchs Rock, Dane Lucke, Norguin Lacayo, Zally Rodriguez, Alejandra Deparody, Yuri Aleman, Mark Lowe, Richard Natall, Amber Bashid, Cavallini, Debra B Marcos, Jason Abernety, Magdalena Lopez Moreno, Samantha Leon, Amber Rashid, Courtney Cambelt, Edgar Fernandez, Micaela Cauceiro, Ingrid Vallejos, Nicole Fritz, Sary Barrantes Guevara, Perri P, MarielaJimenez H, Alejandro Meza D, Angela Rodriguez, Wenceslao, Michelle Vargas, Stefany Rutkowski, Jeniffer Petrizzi, Jose Antonio Lopez, Kimberly Browell, Will Authy, Monica Hernandez, Nicole Inciarte.

Thank you to our volunteer Isabel Schraeder for working on the newsletter and translating work!