Developing Costa Rican Squatter's Settlements

We launched into this year expectant for big things to happen. We are in a new time of growth, gaining ground, and going deeper. 

Across our city, we have this big dream to help young people reach their dreams, grow as leaders, and transform hurting communities. So, we set out this year with big goals-to reach more young people, to bring others (many others) into the mission, to grow in the places we are and into new cities where we are not (yet!).

And though there are certainly big battles we face, we are not without hope, our driving force. As we go out into hurting neighborhoods, the numbers of young people in vulnerable situations are shocking. Yet, we continue to find the impact of Walkthroughs and small groups and meaningful relationships. Every day, we consistently encounter God's help in both the practical and the spiritual. 

Our mission is a big one, and so our hope must be, too. We are excited for what this year will bring and grateful for all you do as part of the BWAB Community. There are many opportunities for all of us to grow, gain ground, and go deeper this year. We look forward to going out to impact our communities together. 

Last year we met Olid, a local optomotrist and long time friend of the owner of our foundation office building. He had commented to his friend that he wanted to do something to give back to his community but he wasn’t exactly sure how. Italo has known us for several years and put him in touch with our team. We began with Dr. Olid by diagnosing and giving glasses to selected kids in the community that we knew needed them, which was a great help.

This year, he wanted to serve the community of Los Cuadros, where we have worked for over 10 years, in an even bigger way. Last month we concluded the second session of a campaign open to the entire community where they were able to come to our house, no matter to what degree of visual imparement, and receive a vision exam and glasses for 20000 Costa Rican colones (aproximately $40usd), about a third or fourth of the normal cost. For many people, simply having the access in their own neighborhood to this service impulsed them to care for their visión, and making the cost accesible was a huge blessing and lifted a barrier as to why most hadn’t done so before. On top of that, the individuals that received care were invited to also make a small donation to the foundation, which every person did because they were reminded that where there is provision from God, they also must return the blessing.

Through one person’s call to love his community, Dr. Olid cared for 23 individuals who were in turn also inspired to donate to the foundation for us to continue our work launching youth as changemakers, mobilizing cities, transforming neighborhoods.

Not all of us work in healthcare, but each of us have something special we can share with exponential potential. Tutoring, mentoring, giving financially, or leadership development are a just a few of the ways you can be a part of Love Your City as it grows to reach one young person to the next to the next hundred.