Nothing is Impossible reads the new hand painted sign as you enter the grounds of the Puerto Viejo Grade School.
Looking around one begins to believe this phrase.
More than 120 students and 15 teachers from three high schools from the USA came together to work with the fourth, fifth and sixth graders and their teachers, along with more than 25 parents from the school and about 10 other adults from the area. Coordinating this fabulous effort are a few super-heros from Costa Rican Adventures.
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Over the course of 4 days, after months and months of planning. This strong group accomplished feats that have been troubling the school for years:
- The water system got fixed so that sinks, the kitchen, and the bathrooms have reliable supply of water.
- A new classroom will be nearly completed for the 1st graders–the wood from this classroom was donated from sustainably harvested trees!
- A system of ditches was dug so that school grounds drain and the students won’t have to worry about the problems accompanying standing water
- The tables and chairs of the classrooms were sanded and re-painted–some even mosaiced
- Shelves were built
- Benches were constructed
Inspirational and educational signs appear all over the school grounds: Nothing is Impossible, Knowledge is Power, Work Hard! and messages of friendship, compassion, and protecting the planet.
Funds to do all of this great work were provided by the particpants from these three schools in the USA (Episocpal in PA, KIP from CA, and RISE from NJ), Costa Rican Adventures, one student who participated in a Costa Rican Adventures trip last year did a big fundraiser in her home school in San Fransisco and donated all of the funds! Loco Natural Restaurant had a fund raiser and many businesses from the Puerto Viejo area donated, local parents and neighbors donated time and materials.
Juntos tenemos la fuerza!
There is still work to be done. Contact the following to see how you can help continue the renewal of the Puerto Viejo School:
Brian Benson: [email protected]
Susana Schik: [email protected]
Read more on this project through their blog.