This past February, Intercultura's students and staff collaborated in the collecting of rubber boots and school supplies for the children of Talamanca, Costa Rica. Talamanca, is in the southern-most region the country, bordering Panama. If you have visited Costa Rica, chances are you were in Talamanca. Puerto Viejo and Cahuita are popular tourist destinations in the region, famous for their Caribbean charm, national parks, and beautiful beaches.
What most visitors do not see during their visits to the region are the indigenous settlements there. Talamanca has a population of over 37,000 people (most of them indigenous peoples or people of black African decent) and is by far the most neglected region by the Costa Rican government. There are hardly public roads, schools and no public hospital for the people there who live in Talamanca.
Getting to school often requires students to walk many kilometers on muddy, poorly kept roads and many children in the area lack the economic resources to purchase boots or shoes needed to walk these long difficult distances. Once at school, basic supplies are lacking. Pens, pencils, notebooks, backpacks and other materials are often just not accessible. This year, however, thanks to the hard work of John Brenes, Mauricio Sandoval, Mariela Ramirez, Carolina Lizano, Silvia Calvo and the donations from number of Costa Rican schools and businesses (including a number of students and staff from Intercultura), some of the school children in Talamanca have new boots and supplies for this 2008 school year.
To see pictures of the children with their new supplies please click on the link below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22048685@N06
Municipalidad de Talamanca letter.
Read letter