Costa Rica: Community Action Alliance

Costa Rica: Community Action Alliance

Give the Gift of Education to Children in Costa Rica.

Since 2015, Education Equals Hope has partnered with Community Action Alliance, CAA, located in San Ramon, Costa Rica, to help educate children in the San Ramon area. CAA has operated this volunteer-run scholarship program since 2013.

Children from poverty-stricken families are required to have school supplies, special uniforms and shoes in order to attend free public school in Costa Rica. The goal is to support 20 to 25 public school students until high school graduation and prepare them for university entrance exams, and to support 1 or 2 university social worker students in the San Ramon area who serve as program administrative interns.

In 2022, the youngest students from the original class of elementary students graduated high school; in total, 38 of our students will have graduated high school by December 2024. Also, three university scholarship program interns have earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work and have also gained administration, problem-recognition, and intervention skills. And, at least 10 high school students have been accepted for university studies with financial aid.

With your help, we can continue to raise the $20,000 -$24,000 required each year to keep these students on their paths to graduate high school, and improve the lives of their families.

Challenge:
Approximately 20% of Costa Rican families are living in poverty in 2024. In San Ramon, the majority of these families are parented by single mothers or guardians. Many of these women are non-documented Nicaraguan or Central American immigrants and therefore are not eligible for government assistance to buy the school supplies, uniforms, and shoes necessary for their children to take advantage of the free public education system. However, over half of our scholarship students are Costa Rican citizens also living in poverty. Survey results indicate that 20% of these households have children aged 7-10 who are not in school.

Solution:
This project provides school supplies, uniforms, and shoes for up to 25 financially needy but academically motivated and successful children in San Ramon. Assistance is provided through vouchers (not cash) redeemable for approved school supplies and uniforms at partnering retail stores that offer discounted pricing. We also provide, as necessary, food assistance, psychological counseling, specialized medical, eye exams-glasses, math tutoring and university entrance exam prep courses, career counseling, and in 2024, we provided donated laptops - computer instruction, and basic dental care.
Satisfactory academic scores, attendance, and teacher nominations are necessary for multi-year eligibility. Our goal is to help these students complete high school, and for those academically eligible, to help them apply for university or technical school and gain financial aid. The students are monitored and mentored by social workers and CAA volunteers.

Long-Term Impact:
Education offers an opportunity for children to escape a lifetime of poverty, drugs, gang violence, and crime. Almost all of the children supported are from single parent or foster home environments living at or near the poverty line. Education in Costa Rica is optional after sixth grade; and it is clear that these students would not be able to attend high school without financial assistance. It is important to provide continuing annual assistance until the students in the program can graduate high school, go to work or university, and begin to break the cycle of poverty within these families.

We believe that an investment in a child’s education is a lifetime gift. Please join us in the fight to change lives through education, one student at a time!