Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation
2025 First Quarter Newsletter
Working together for a better world
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Volunteers
After a busy end to 2024, we bid farewell to our Amigos Eye Care friends. Thanks to their efforts, over 300 people received eye care. Before they left, we visited our indigenous friends in Quitirrisi to share knowledge and culture with our visitors from the Pacific Northwest.
In January, we welcomed a powerful group of young women from Rutgers University. They built and delivered bunk beds and participated in youth development and food bank programs. They also had the chance to learn about our Model of Development.
Gregerly, an individual research volunteer from Belgium, joined us to gather data for his thesis on disparities in development in Costa Rica. We were happy to connect him with local communities and share our insights. We look forward to sharing the results of his research.
Our January clean-up and reorganization efforts in the La Carpio centers were a success. Volunteers from the University of Connecticut, Global College and the Lakshmi Rising yoga group helped us clean, sort, and hold garage sales. Thanks to them, the centers are now bright, functional spaces for sharing, learning, and caring.
Long-time individual volunteer Stana returned once again and made a huge impact. Her background in education supported our local teachers, and her organizational efforts helped all the centers look their best!
Also with the creativity of full time volunteer Steven we gave regular classes on self help health care to children, adults and elderly.
With the local police station in La Carpio, we worked to raise morale. Alongside volunteers from Pepperdine and the yoga group, we painted the holding cell, practiced yoga, and held space for conversation and healing.
Fleur, a Belgian architecture student, visited to learn more about indigenous architecture. She supported many of our programs and also helped welcome a group to Casa Quetzal.
USC brought joy during a pre-Easter egg hunt, where children painted eggs and experienced the unique magic of a CRHF Easter Bunny celebration!
Lakshmi Rising continues to support us with yoga retreat groups that understand the importance of collective well-being. Ubuntu: I am because we are.
Our chiropractor family friends returned to provide much-appreciated services to our La Carpio populations. They treated 60 patients a day over 5 days, offering care, relief, and connection. We’ve begun building a relationship for ongoing follow-up support with patients they saw last year, and we’re excited to welcome them—and more of their family and friends—again in the coming months.
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Programs
Montessori & Environment
Our Montessori program continues to thrive—providing a nurturing space for children to learn and grow. This quarter, we focused on environmental education, nature care, and science activities like experiments and theatre.
La Libertad
We were thrilled to welcome back the Alan Stevenson School from NYC for the 14th year! They repaired a road, engaged with our youth, and donated a laptop and projector.
The Saturday Program welcomed two amazing local Tica volunteers, Adriana and Allona, who helped with activities and got to know La Carpio. Adriana previously volunteered as an interpreter for the Amigos Eye Care team.
Thanks to a donation of clay from Kattia, the children made beautiful creations—everything from butterflies to cups!
Uvita Family Wellbeing Center
We continue to be challenged by the Uvita Family Wellbeing Center, and we continue to find creative and innovative solutions. We have now partnered with a local woman who is working on securing all the official permits to open the center as an after-school program. We’ve agreed that at least 20% of the students will receive scholarships based on community need. With this approach, the woman will develop a small business, and we can continue to support the youth who need it most. We hope to resume collaboration with volunteer groups in the area in the coming years.
Sports League
Our sports league now serves 150 youth and remains one of the strongest in the country. In a community where kindness can be misunderstood as weakness, our youth now have strong, positive role models and a healthy outlet.
Bunk Beds, a New Car & Evolving Needs
Our bunk bed program continues on an as-needed basis. As La Carpio progresses, the needs are shifting from basics like food and housing to more complex initiatives—job training, capacity building, empathy, and right action.
Thanks to our generous supporters, we purchased several mattresses and now have a modern, fuel-efficient CRHF vehicle to help with deliveries.
Food Program
The Auto Mercado Food Program continues to run 365 days a year. In 2024, we provided over one million food rations, ranging from simple sandwiches to full baskets.
To thank Auto Mercado, we created a collage of gratitude from our beneficiaries.
Global Connections through Montessori
Our Montessori kids received a heartfelt surprise: 100 cards of love were created for children in the U.S. who lost their homes in hurricanes and fires. These cards will accompany stuffed animal comfort toys heading to Tennessee, North Carolina, and California.
And our kids received their own stuffed animals as a beautiful gesture of kindness returned.
Centro Modelo
With help from Lakshmi Rising, Stana, Global College, and others, we reorganized and beautified Centro Modelo. We also welcomed a new teacher, Gloria, who is stepping in as Marisol pursues her next adventure.
Computer Lab
Responding to evolving community needs, we’re launching a new tech education initiative. With ten donated refurbished computers on the way, we’ll offer weekly lessons in typing, Microsoft Office, and even basic website building.
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Indigenous Connections
In partnership with Bob, Noel, and others, we visited Amubri with book donations for Noemi—continuing a relationship that began with Gail’s Peace Corps work in 1979.
Fleur’s architecture journey continued with a visit to Leonel and Jenny of the Cabécar community. They are building an arts and crafts store with local redwood in front of the Lucas Drummond Cultural Center, which CRHF helped build in memory of Lucas.
We’re excited to support this initiative and look forward to sending visitors.
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Casa Quetzal
Casa Quetzal continues to evolve naturally. We’re preparing the land to welcome future groups, while focusing on sharing indigenous knowledge and collaborating with our Huetar neighbors.
During spring break, we hosted groups from Georgia State University and North Florida State University. They studied topics such as indigenous education, sustainability, and rights.
We’ve also welcomed individual volunteers like Fleur and Stana, all of whom agree: Casa Quetzal is a sacred space for reflection, healing, and community.
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Highlights & Happenings
• We finalized our 2024 Year-End Report and “2024 in Numbers”—check them out on our website clicking here.
• We joined the Women’s March on March 8th representing La Carpio.
• Gail participated in the Wells Mountain Initiative board meeting. WMI continues to support CRHF through 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship—without charging fees.
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Collaborators
Our incredible team continues to shine:
• Fatima and Angelica provide outstanding care and tutoring in Montessori.
• Doña Antonia keeps everyone well-fed with nutritious meals.
• The food bank crew—Ana, Harold, Milagro, Alcides, and a growing young team—are thriving in their micro-enterprise model.
• Our new Centro Modelo teacher is building her capacity while honoring the work Marisol left behind.
• The La Libertad program remains strong, offering after-school support and weekend activities.
Gail and Francisco continue to handle administration and fundraising.
Due to continued support of our major donors we continue to provide hunger preventión, rent relief, schooling, counseling and small business support for single mothers, special needs children, refugees, elderly and unemployed men.
Together, we honor our diverse backgrounds and beliefs in our shared mission to build a better world.
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Looking Ahead
Casa Quetzal is becoming the retreat and conference center Gail envisioned—offering a place to heal, grow, and collaborate.
We’re excited to keep growing in La Carpio and beyond. We’ll continue to support indigenous communities through education, health, culture, and economic opportunity.
Next month in May, we will be hosting our Annual Fundraiser Gala. We would like to invite everyone to join us on Sunday May 11th at the Hotel Marriott in San Antonio de Belen. The hotel has been a supporter of the CRHF from the days of the Street Kids program, where they offered many their first jobs in the kitchens and others.
Thank You for Sharing Our Dream! We can’t wait to see what the rest of 2025 brings.
