MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN COSTA RICA

Coming to the Assistance of the Orphanage 

When a sister Rotary Club in Costa Rica (Cartago-La Fortuna) identified an urgent need to help youth orphans in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, the Rotary Club of Nipissing took up the challenge. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we were able to partner with the Rotary Club of Kanata to host a ‘virtual garage sale’. Through online sales, supported by physically distanced product delivery, the clubs were able to raise nearly $5,000 to assist with the essential nutrition needs at the orphanage. Here are some photos of the food supplied, and of the orphans creating a “thank you” plaque for our Rotary Club. 

Our Rotary Club is now working with th Rotary Club of Cartago-La Fortuna, Canadore College in North Bay, and Universidad Castro Carazo in Costa Rica to organize a unique student exchange program that will allow under-represented and Indigenous students to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Through this program, Canadian and Costa Rican students would enjoy a 2-week cultural experience in the other country while earning post-secondary credits. The entire cultural and educational experience has been designed with the help of Rotarians, and the Rotary Club in the host country will mentor the students throughout the entire experience. We expect this experience to be available in March of 2022. The Rotary Club of Nipissing was able to secure funds to develop the program.