Costa Rica
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Costa Rica
Costa Rica

"Our visit to the San Francisco School was memorable. We appreciate the importance of the attached farm and the computer lab for the children. We were impressed by the leadership of the principal and the enthusiasm of the children."

Juan Marianyi – Plainfield, Illinois

San Francisco School & Microfarm
San Josecito de Cutris School
Sonafluca School

Partner since: 2003
Total donated: $233,272

In 1869, Costa Rica became the first country in the world to make education both mandatory and free. Today, with a literacy rate of nearly 95%, it is the most literate country in Central America. Education remains a national priority. Efforts have been made to teach students English and to provide them with computer training, in order to keep them competitive in the international marketplace, and many villages have a library for continued learning.

San Francisco School & Microfarm:

Since we began partnering with the San Francisco School in 2003, our donations have provided the school with new classrooms, a computer room, new lighting, and air conditioning. A portion of our funding has also enabled us to purchase the land for a microfarm, build storage facilities, and plant crops. Under the outstanding leadership of the school's principal, Eulin Chacon, we have already made a tremendous difference. The microfarm not only feeds 184 students breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even dinner, but it also impacts the entire community with its surplus food supply and lifelong lessons in sustainable agriculture. "It's a dream come true," Eulin tells ua. "It's the best legacy for future generations."

When the project is complete, the microfarm will be fully equipped to sustain the community for generations to come—and in Costa Rica, this means more than just providing sustenance. It also means that children will learn how to succeed in a society that relies heavily on agriculture. Learn more about this project—and how you can support it.

San Josecito de Cutris School:

Before we began our partnership, there were no restrooms at the school, no wall to protect the children, no dining room, and no kitchen. Since 2003, our donations have enabled us to provide all of this for the school—as well as two classrooms, a presentation hall, sidewalks, and a fresh coat of paint.

The school principal, Gustavo Campos, has big dreams for the future—and he needs our support. He hopes to build a computer lab with 10 PCs, so that the entire community can benefit from computer lessons. In addition, he hopes to provide a net to protect the school at night, a roof over the sidewalks to protect the children from the elements, sound equipment for community celebrations, and a photocopy machine.

Sonafluca School:

The village of Sonafluca was once home to a large hacienda, where all of the residents worked to earn their living—and when the owner of the hacienda passed away, he left the land to the community. Today, every family in Sonafluca owns a small plot to farm, and while they are too poor to support themselves individually, they all work together in a communal fashion to support the village as a whole. The atmosphere in the community is akin to an extended family, and the people are extremely proud of what they've built with what little they have.

We have just begun our partnership with the Sonafluca School, which serves 209 students. Our first goal is to build a gymnasium for physical education classes and sporting events. In the future, we plan to accomplish several projects together, including a protective fence, a presentation hall, new library books, and a covered walkway to shield the children from sun and rain. We also plan to support a microfarm project, similar to the one we've successfully executed at the San Francisco School. In time, the school will plant crops and raise livestock to provide meals for the children.

In December of 2010, two generous travelers made donations of $8000, resulting in $16,000 for the Sonafluca School. At the travelers' requests, half of this will be used to fund the salary for a computer teacher, and the other half will be used to purchase iPads, which will be lent out to top performing students.

School in session:

Year-round, with vacation period from mid-December through the end of February

Gifts to bring if you're visiting:

  • Coloring books
  • Board games
  • Notebooks and sheet paper
  • Toothbrushes
  • Pencils