Costa Rica rural community support fund

Many coastal communities in Costa Rica continue to have the highest poverty numbers due to lack of investment by the Costa Rican government. Public safety, education, transportation, and healthcare are some of the services currently neglected in the Osa Peninsula in the southwest of Costa Rica. These communities have the lowest rate of development and the worst health indexes. Targeted improvements, such as improving school buildings, can go a long way. Children that attend schools in disrepair have lower attendance and worse grades[1]. Lower grades in school can contribute to lower self-confidence, and the lack of adequate education reduces access to future opportunities.  Together we can change this!  We can show the children of Osa Peninsula that we care, we can show them that we believe in them and they can, and will flourish with our support. We can be the spark.

The Osa Community Fund has allocated $38,000 USD dollars to community development ranging from funding micro projects to building drinking water systems in isolated communities. This project has helped many communities to greatly improve their quality of life.

Due of the nature of this funding The Corcovado Foundation does not charge one dollar for its administration. Not having overhead costs means a larger investment in the communities we serve.

This is our last year fundraising!  We need to raise $15,000 USD this month in order to get a matching donation from the Interamerican Foundation.

This will give the local communities at least $30,000 to invest in critical needs this year.  This is vital because this project is ending in June 2017. We will only have a year to allocate the money to the projects that will be the most effective in improving the life communities in the Osa Peninsula.  These communities desperately need investment in their future.

The Osa Community Fund was created by our organization with funding from the InterAmerican Foundation earmarked for community projects.  These monies will be given to grass roots groups after they have committed to match the value of the donation by providing man-hours, or similar inputs to the project. Communities are invited to participate and every year 4 or 5 projects receive $3000 USD in order to implement improvements for their communities.   If this effort is successful we will be providing funding to 10 projects altogether, which could build pedestrian bridges for rivers that today separate students from their schools, improve medical services, and fix school infrastructure.  We are uploading a pdf presentation that can better illustrate some of the community projects that have been financed in the past.   Take a look and pitch in.   You will truly make a difference in these communities.

[1] Durán-Narucki, V. (2008). School building condition, school attendance, and academic achievement in New York City public schools: A mediation model. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28, 278–286

• informe de labores (PDF)