On the 10th day of our cultural immersion in Turrialba, Costa Rica, we collaborated with the stakeholders of a primary school called, “Escuela Santa Rosa”. Through this partnership, we began our community action project of painting the rusted fences and poles around the school to provide a safer learning environment for the children. Our lunch was in the school’s comedor (cafeteria), where we ate food normally served to the school children. We learned that schools provide free meals for students in Costa Rica. This practice began a long time ago when the country’s president decided to abolish the army and invest instead in free education and health care. The educational system here strongly promotes the health and well-being of students and their families.
We learned about the teamwork and effort that goes into maintaining a school for future generations. We felt that working at the school provides an example for the school children that we, as students like them, can contribute to their community. Even though we were seen as strangers, the schoolchildren and teachers welcomed us into their classrooms and environment. Although it was our first day working on the community action project, we found it to be less challenging than we imagined. As we worked throughout the day, the children inspired us to continue despite the heat.
Being “Liders del Dia” (Leaders of the Day) allowed us to delegate tasks to our group members despite an unusual schedule and to partake in a new learning experience. One of us learned that having a strong voice doesn’t always mean you have to project it out loud, it means you can communicate through your actions and impact on your community. Also, the other co-leader expanded their knowledge of what it means to be a voice for others.
Reflecting on the work that we have done so far motivated us to work harder for the next few days. As an environmentally sustainable orange character once said “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not” – (Dr. Suess’s The Lorax).
Your adventures never cease to amaze us! We could just imagine you all taking up brushes and going to town on that rusty school fence. What a noble act of service! We bet the kids at the school were excited to have you there. And having your lunch in the school’s comedor? Talk about immersion! We can only imagine what stories those cafeteria walls could tell.
The history of Costa Rica’s educational policies is fascinating! Free meals for students? An army traded for education and healthcare? Sounds like a fair trade to us! It’s incredible how much you can learn about a country’s values through its approach to education. We hope you all will take this lesson back home and continue to be advocates for education, health, and wellbeing.
As for being “Lideres del Dia,” we’re proud to hear how you embraced your roles. Leadership can indeed be quiet and action-oriented, and we’re glad you’re discovering that. The way you described the day, we could see you stepping into those leadership roles with grace, humility, and a dash of humor!
And we adore that you quoted The Lorax! It really is true: unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. So, keep caring and keep painting, because you are making a difference, and we’re laughing and cheering you on from here!
So glad you all are having fun while also helping the local community! Also, happy early birthday Kaitlyn!
I noticed how your interest in helping with the CAP kept you involved with working on the project even though it was a hot day. isn’t it great to be so involved with helping others that we are willing to work through the heat of the day? I am proud of all of you who were so happy to help. Good for you!!
Hey Emily this is Charlie I hope you are having a good time i’ll see you soon miss you
Fantastic job everyone! It is great to see that you pushed through in the heat to try and improve the safety of the school for the local students. I hope the paint will last for at least another year.
Thank you for the history lesson of how a long time ago, the president of Costa Rica decided to abolish the army and invest instead on improving the lives of their citizens through free education and healthcare. What a wonderful idea! It shows how their leaders actually care about the well-being of their people. I love that schools provide free meals for all students regardless of income level, unlike here in the states where lunches are not free for all students. In addition, the quality of lunch served looks very healthy. I wonder if meals are prepared fresh at the school site? Also, is college education free?