I want to highlight the work of two women here in Costa Rica. 

Leticia began a small NGO in a town in the resort area of Guanacaste (not far from the Nicaraguan border). She’s been doing excellent work the past few years with delinquent teenagers and local women, focused on vocational training and opening future options that were unavailable to them before. She has a small thrift store with donated goods, after-school care and other programs that she runs on a shoestring budget.

Leonor is working in an area near Turrialba, an agricultural region that also caters to tourists from cruise ships that stop in Limon. She recently left a well-paying job here in San Jose, prompted in part by the plight of refugees from Nicaragua.

In case you’re unaware, Nicaragua is in melt-down with demonstrations, strikes and Ortega’s refusal to abdicate. He is encouraging the ongoing murder of peaceful demonstrators. Many shops are empty, so food is scarce; large resorts have closed, usually in areas where they employ 200-1000+ local people. Thus, unemployment, especially in already poor areas, is increasing rapidly. It’s a desperate situation with no sign of relief in the future. This has led to a large influx of Nicaraguan immigrants into Costa Rica.

Both of these women have begun efforts to provide housing, health care, work and education to these refugees. They’re creating networks of care from their personal contacts. It’s like a phone tree—-they know someone who knows another someone and another until there’s a web of doctors, teachers, people with space in their houses or money or food or whatever is needed. One refugee fled without adequate medication for a chronic illness, and a doctor was found who could provide it. Children are getting instruction that will keep their education on track. Families are finding a safe space to recuperate before returning – and it appears that many have a vision they’ll be able to go home. 

We celebrate ordinary people making extraordinary interventions!