- Education & Enterprise ·
Upskill a Community to Fight Poverty in Costa Rica
Working with the local educational institutions to improve the resources available to the local community students.
- Mal Pas, Costa Rica
- hello@actionchange.org
Project Summary
Project Challenge
Project Solution
Impact
Reports
Project Summary
We provide educational resources for local students and families. We also facilitate an inclusive, non-profit, bilingual, sustainable preschool program called ‘Only Love’ and support a non-profit, bilingual, sustainable school called ‘Futuro Verde’.
Project Challenge
Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are some of the fastest growing areas for tourism in Costa Rica. This creates a massive need for bilingual and sustainable education. The towns are growing fast and the population is swelling beyond the capacity of local schools. This makes placement at schools limited and the need for education reinforcement and options necessary.
Project Solution
We will assist local students and families with resources, scholarships and financial aid through our bilingual preschool program ‘Only Love’ and bilingual education from 1-12th grade at ‘Futuro Verde’. We will also host service projects and promote sustainability.
Impact
The project will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. With the longer term aim of the community assisting the program without the need of outside donations.
Reports
Project Report | Jun 9, 2026
July is Our Kick Off For Part 2 of 2026
By Debs Brown | Project Leader
Dear Our Global Family,
El Cocal is located close to the tourism hub of Manuel Antonio. This drives the cost of living right up and has a huge impact on already marginalised communities. High levels of immigration result in huge cultural differences and high unemployment, substance abuse and general despondency. This is a hard place to live, most often especially for children. Limited funding for schools means schools are only open for half days, and there are very few safe spaces for both children and adults to gather, play and learn.
Government funding is limited and doesn’t help our community, so we focus on empowering and supporting our community of El Cocal to tackle social and economic challenges and help implement solutions, designed by them. Solutions include infrastructure, minority inclusion, alternative income generation, education, healthy habits and conservation, all of which protect lives.
And you have been an absolute lifeline for us! Thanks to your beautiful support, we recently celebrated having 83 children enrolled in our education and aftercare programs, 22 women completing skills training workshops, and 36 families receiving regular support through food packages. Because of you, 100% of our programs are led by community members who are trained and empowered to drive lasting change from within.
Lately, we have just been keeping alive! We have been working hard behind the scenes, and we are so happy to say we have successfully stocked the shelves and have enough food to keep things running until the 13th of July.
Right now, our wonderful women are taking a well-deserved break while we focus on raising some more vital funds. We would absolutely love to kick-start this incredible project at full power again this July and August, but we can’t do it without our amazing community of supporters.
Without your donations and our support, many of these families would be homeless, unemployed and hungry. Education and support are the ultimate keys to breaking the cycle of poverty, and we want to keep providing that framework to allow the local community to grow and become self-sustainable.
Every little bit makes a massive difference to a child’s life here in Costa Rica. A donation of $20 provides one child with a healthy breakfast for a whole month, and $25 feeds a child for a month!
Let’s take action and change these lives together. Thank you so much for walking this journey with us and for choosing to care. Every single step forward is because of you!
With so much love and gratitude,
Project Report | Feb 4, 2026
Please put food in our tummies
By shayle Havemann | Project leader
Introduction El Cocal is located close to the tourism hub of Manuel Antonio. This drives the cost of living up & has a huge impact on already marginalised communities. High levels of immigration result in huge cultural differences and high unemployment, substance abuse and general despondency. This is a hard place to live, most often especially for children. Limited funding for schools means school are only open for 1/2 days. There are very few safe spaces for both children and adults to gather, play & learn Report The most important part of this project is awareness and empowering our local community members to tackle the issues. With their passion, we provide the framework and support and work closely with them to tackle the issues. By providing them with the training and vital funding to build the infrastructure in the community we allow them to promote a sustainable future that includes local income generation and increased access to quality education. A donation of £25 feeds a child for a month__________________________________________________
83 Children. 22 Women. 1 Powerful Community
By Debbie | Community Teacher
Dear Our Global Family,
In the heart of Costa Rica, on a small island community called El Cocal, big changes are happening — thanks to you.
El Cocal faces overwhelming odds: 70% of residents live below the poverty line. Many families survive on under $2 a day. Schools run only half-days, and most adults lack access to steady jobs, healthcare, or formal education.
But your support has been a lifeline. And we’re proud to share that in just the last few months:
83 children are now enrolled in our community-led education and aftercare support programs — more than double last year’s number.
22 women have completed skills training workshops in sewing, cooking, and micro-entrepreneurship — and 7 have already started small income-generating projects.
36 families are receiving regular support through food packages, tutoring, and emotional care from our local outreach team.
100% of our programs are now led by community members, trained and empowered to drive lasting change from within.
The most powerful number, though? 1 community rising together. El Cocal isn’t just surviving anymore — it’s beginning to thrive.
And while we still face urgent challenges, your impact proves that hope is stronger than hardship.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. Every step forward is because of people like you who choose to care. We look forward to connecting with you all again very soon!
Debbie
We provide educational resources for local students and families. We also facilitate an inclusive, non-profit, bilingual, sustainable preschool program called ‘Only Love’ and support a non-profit, bilingual, sustainable school called ‘Futuro Verde’.
Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are some of the fastest growing areas for tourism in Costa Rica. This creates a massive need for bilingual and sustainable education. The towns are growing fast and the population is swelling beyond the capacity of local schools. This makes placement at schools limited and the need for education reinforcement and options necessary.
We will assist local students and families with resources, scholarships and financial aid through our bilingual preschool program ‘Only Love’ and bilingual education from 1-12th grade at ‘Futuro Verde’. We will also host service projects and promote sustainability.
The project will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. With the longer term aim of the community assisting the program without the need of outside donations.
Project Report | Jun 9, 2026
July is Our Kick Off For Part 2 of 2026
By Debs Brown | Project Leader
Dear Our Global Family,
El Cocal is located close to the tourism hub of Manuel Antonio. This drives the cost of living right up and has a huge impact on already marginalised communities. High levels of immigration result in huge cultural differences and high unemployment, substance abuse and general despondency. This is a hard place to live, most often especially for children. Limited funding for schools means schools are only open for half days, and there are very few safe spaces for both children and adults to gather, play and learn.
Government funding is limited and doesn’t help our community, so we focus on empowering and supporting our community of El Cocal to tackle social and economic challenges and help implement solutions, designed by them. Solutions include infrastructure, minority inclusion, alternative income generation, education, healthy habits and conservation, all of which protect lives.
And you have been an absolute lifeline for us! Thanks to your beautiful support, we recently celebrated having 83 children enrolled in our education and aftercare programs, 22 women completing skills training workshops, and 36 families receiving regular support through food packages. Because of you, 100% of our programs are led by community members who are trained and empowered to drive lasting change from within.
Lately, we have just been keeping alive! We have been working hard behind the scenes, and we are so happy to say we have successfully stocked the shelves and have enough food to keep things running until the 13th of July.
Right now, our wonderful women are taking a well-deserved break while we focus on raising some more vital funds. We would absolutely love to kick-start this incredible project at full power again this July and August, but we can’t do it without our amazing community of supporters.
Without your donations and our support, many of these families would be homeless, unemployed and hungry. Education and support are the ultimate keys to breaking the cycle of poverty, and we want to keep providing that framework to allow the local community to grow and become self-sustainable.
Every little bit makes a massive difference to a child’s life here in Costa Rica. A donation of $20 provides one child with a healthy breakfast for a whole month, and $25 feeds a child for a month!
Let’s take action and change these lives together. Thank you so much for walking this journey with us and for choosing to care. Every single step forward is because of you!
With so much love and gratitude,
Project Report | Feb 4, 2026
Please put food in our tummies
By shayle Havemann | Project leader
Introduction El Cocal is located close to the tourism hub of Manuel Antonio. This drives the cost of living up & has a huge impact on already marginalised communities. High levels of immigration result in huge cultural differences and high unemployment, substance abuse and general despondency. This is a hard place to live, most often especially for children. Limited funding for schools means school are only open for 1/2 days. There are very few safe spaces for both children and adults to gather, play & learn Report The most important part of this project is awareness and empowering our local community members to tackle the issues. With their passion, we provide the framework and support and work closely with them to tackle the issues. By providing them with the training and vital funding to build the infrastructure in the community we allow them to promote a sustainable future that includes local income generation and increased access to quality education. A donation of £25 feeds a child for a month__________________________________________________
83 Children. 22 Women. 1 Powerful Community
By Debbie | Community Teacher
Dear Our Global Family,
In the heart of Costa Rica, on a small island community called El Cocal, big changes are happening — thanks to you.
El Cocal faces overwhelming odds: 70% of residents live below the poverty line. Many families survive on under $2 a day. Schools run only half-days, and most adults lack access to steady jobs, healthcare, or formal education.
But your support has been a lifeline. And we’re proud to share that in just the last few months:
83 children are now enrolled in our community-led education and aftercare support programs — more than double last year’s number.
22 women have completed skills training workshops in sewing, cooking, and micro-entrepreneurship — and 7 have already started small income-generating projects.
36 families are receiving regular support through food packages, tutoring, and emotional care from our local outreach team.
100% of our programs are now led by community members, trained and empowered to drive lasting change from within.
The most powerful number, though? 1 community rising together. El Cocal isn’t just surviving anymore — it’s beginning to thrive.
And while we still face urgent challenges, your impact proves that hope is stronger than hardship.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. Every step forward is because of people like you who choose to care. We look forward to connecting with you all again very soon!
Debbie
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