- Community Development ·
Help Us Fund our Eco School in Costa Rica
Funding an Eco-School to drive change in Costa Rica, providing education to over 50 primary school students
- Costa Rica
- hello@actionchange.org
Project Summary
Project Challenge
Project Solution
Impact
Reports
Project Summary
Education is a key player in tackling poverty and boosting the socio-economic standing of people in society, however, many children don’t have access to quality education either due to a lack of funding or the fact that they start work young to try and earn an income for their families. Our goal with this project is to empower children to stay in school by providing a safe space and quality learning materials to boost their education and increase opportunities later in life.
Project Challenge
Our project believes that no child should miss out on an education. The aim of this project is to tackle the unfortunate statistic that 1 in 4 children in Costa Rica lives below the poverty line, and this means that these children often don’t have access to clean water and sanitation, quality healthcare and education. We aim to break the cycle of poverty by providing access to quality education, we hope to encourage children to stay in school and provide them with a safe space to learn so they have better future prospects.
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. There is a major need for quality schooling that children in all areas can access which is why the need for this project is so great. We aim to equip schools with quality learning materials to boost their impact and reach more children.
Project Solution
Donations and gifts to this project will assist and directly fund local students and equipment for our early childhood development centre and local community schools. Quality educational resources will mean that children from all areas and income brackets will have access to quality education and hopefully be excited to continue learning and stay in school. The solution is to break the poverty cycle with education. Which will offer students opportunities and access to higher education and employment in the future.
Impact
This is a long term project with high impact as we will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. We have the longer-term aim of the community assisting the program without the need for outside donations as this promotes sustainability whilst empowering the locals to take control of their children’s education.
Reports
Project Report | Jun 8, 2026
What is Happening in Costa Rica
By Donna | School Teache
Hello Supporters, Donors and Friends,
Can you believe we’re half way through the year? It is officially the wet season here in Costa Rica, which means life is beautifully green, hot, and full of energy!
We know the current global climate is tough, creating a bit of a catch-22 for us. As life gets harder financially, more families are pushed into hardship, meaning the demand for our free education and daily meals has skyrocketed just as general fundraising takes a quiet turn. We have stripped our costs right back to the absolute bare bones, but our outlook remains fiercely positive because of your incredible support!
Our eco-school is one of just two in the entire community. This area began as a traditional fishing and cattle farming village where education was never a focus, often leaving families behind. Today, you are helping us provide a life-changing education to children who are the very first members of their families to ever go to school!
Every time you donate, we instantly restock our shelves with food and stationery. Thanks to you, we provide breakfast, lunch, and fruit snacks daily, alongside a rich program of gardening, arts, and painting.
Over the last 15 years, an amazing 306 people have raised over $31,000 for our school. Today, we have just one single monthly donor on the books. While that one donation gives us focus, our biggest challenge is budget. We want to ask: Can we completely re-stock this rainy season?
Imagine if just a few of our past supporters set up a small regular gift of $5 a month. It would completely change our world and allow us to plan ahead. If you can’t donate monthly, you can be a total hero for free just by sharing our link with your network!
To wrap up with a massive thank you, please save the date for the Global Giving July Bonus Day on July 15th! All donations of $100 and over will receive a fantastic match of additional funding from their bonus pot. It is the perfect lifeline to help us stock our shelves for the rainy season.
We could not open our doors without you. Thank you for being such a bright light!
With sunshine and endless gratitude,
The Costa Rica Eco-School Team
Project Report | Feb 4, 2026We need books to learn
By Shayle Havemann | Project leader
Introduction 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. There is a major need for quality schooling that children in all areas can access which is why the need for this project is so great. We aim to equip schools with quality learning materials to boost their impact and reach more children. Report This is a long term project with high impact as we will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. We have the longer-term aim of the community assisting the program without the need for outside donations as this promotes sustainability whilst empowering the locals to take control of their children’s education. A donation of $25 provides a child with one years education supplies Thank you for your support______________________________________________
Sunshine, Smiles & Sustainability
By Rebekah | Volunteer Teacher – November 2025
Smiles All Around As We Learn Eco Style
Hola Our Sunny Donors and Supporters From All Around the World,
When we look around our little school in Cobano these days, it’s hard not to smile. So much has changed—and so much of that change began with the belief and support you showed us.
This past quarter felt like a turning point. One of those moments where everything starts to shift from “what could be” to “what’s really happening.”
The new water tank is in and working beautifully. It may not be the flashiest update, but ask any of the students trying to rinse paintbrushes or tend to the garden after science class, and you’ll get a big, grateful grin. Clean, reliable water has changed the rhythm of our days, making everything smoother, safer, and more sustainable.
Inside the classrooms, the learning materials we added earlier this year have brought a whole new energy (so generously donated by you!). The eco-workbooks and bilingual books are being passed around like treasures, and our teachers are beaming about how curious and confident the students are becoming. There’s a hum in the air now—of questions, discoveries, and budding ideas.
Even the mural outside the school—our beloved Mother Earth—got a little freshening up. Some new details, a few touch-ups, and suddenly it feels like a whole new chapter. The wall has always represented our community spirit, and it felt right to give it some love as we step into this next phase.
Because while we’ve come so far, we know there’s still more to do and the fact we can continue to improve while still making sure every child gets breakfast, lunch and fruit snack every day as well as a full day of lifechanging quality edication – all because of your and your incredible support!
More garden beds to build. More family eco-nights to host. More spaces to create for the kind of learning that sticks—not just in the mind, but in the heart. We’re deep in conversations now about expanding our environmental education club, adding rainwater workshops, and strengthening the way we bring parents into the learning process.
It’s exciting. A little daunting. But mostly, it’s inspiring. Because if we’ve seen anything over the last few months, it’s this: when a community comes together, incredible things happen.
And you’ve been such a big part of that.
So from all of us here in Cobano—teachers, students, and yes, even the wildly enthusiastic cucumber vine taking over the garden—we send you our thanks, our pride, and our shared hope for what comes next.
With sunshine and appreciation,
Education is a key player in tackling poverty and boosting the socio-economic standing of people in society, however, many children don’t have access to quality education either due to a lack of funding or the fact that they start work young to try and earn an income for their families. Our goal with this project is to empower children to stay in school by providing a safe space and quality learning materials to boost their education and increase opportunities later in life.
Our project believes that no child should miss out on an education. The aim of this project is to tackle the unfortunate statistic that 1 in 4 children in Costa Rica lives below the poverty line, and this means that these children often don’t have access to clean water and sanitation, quality healthcare and education. We aim to break the cycle of poverty by providing access to quality education, we hope to encourage children to stay in school and provide them with a safe space to learn so they have better future prospects.
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. There is a major need for quality schooling that children in all areas can access which is why the need for this project is so great. We aim to equip schools with quality learning materials to boost their impact and reach more children.
Donations and gifts to this project will assist and directly fund local students and equipment for our early childhood development centre and local community schools. Quality educational resources will mean that children from all areas and income brackets will have access to quality education and hopefully be excited to continue learning and stay in school. The solution is to break the poverty cycle with education. Which will offer students opportunities and access to higher education and employment in the future.
This is a long term project with high impact as we will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. We have the longer-term aim of the community assisting the program without the need for outside donations as this promotes sustainability whilst empowering the locals to take control of their children’s education.
Project Report | Jun 8, 2026
What is Happening in Costa Rica
By Donna | School Teache
Hello Supporters, Donors and Friends,
Can you believe we’re half way through the year? It is officially the wet season here in Costa Rica, which means life is beautifully green, hot, and full of energy!
We know the current global climate is tough, creating a bit of a catch-22 for us. As life gets harder financially, more families are pushed into hardship, meaning the demand for our free education and daily meals has skyrocketed just as general fundraising takes a quiet turn. We have stripped our costs right back to the absolute bare bones, but our outlook remains fiercely positive because of your incredible support!
Our eco-school is one of just two in the entire community. This area began as a traditional fishing and cattle farming village where education was never a focus, often leaving families behind. Today, you are helping us provide a life-changing education to children who are the very first members of their families to ever go to school!
Every time you donate, we instantly restock our shelves with food and stationery. Thanks to you, we provide breakfast, lunch, and fruit snacks daily, alongside a rich program of gardening, arts, and painting.
Over the last 15 years, an amazing 306 people have raised over $31,000 for our school. Today, we have just one single monthly donor on the books. While that one donation gives us focus, our biggest challenge is budget. We want to ask: Can we completely re-stock this rainy season?
Imagine if just a few of our past supporters set up a small regular gift of $5 a month. It would completely change our world and allow us to plan ahead. If you can’t donate monthly, you can be a total hero for free just by sharing our link with your network!
To wrap up with a massive thank you, please save the date for the Global Giving July Bonus Day on July 15th! All donations of $100 and over will receive a fantastic match of additional funding from their bonus pot. It is the perfect lifeline to help us stock our shelves for the rainy season.
We could not open our doors without you. Thank you for being such a bright light!
With sunshine and endless gratitude,
The Costa Rica Eco-School Team
Project Report | Feb 4, 2026We need books to learn
By Shayle Havemann | Project leader
Introduction 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. There is a major need for quality schooling that children in all areas can access which is why the need for this project is so great. We aim to equip schools with quality learning materials to boost their impact and reach more children. Report This is a long term project with high impact as we will improve the economic and social situation of the local community through increased levels of education and access to the tourist trade. We have the longer-term aim of the community assisting the program without the need for outside donations as this promotes sustainability whilst empowering the locals to take control of their children’s education. A donation of $25 provides a child with one years education supplies Thank you for your support______________________________________________
Sunshine, Smiles & Sustainability
By Rebekah | Volunteer Teacher – November 2025
Smiles All Around As We Learn Eco Style
Hola Our Sunny Donors and Supporters From All Around the World,
When we look around our little school in Cobano these days, it’s hard not to smile. So much has changed—and so much of that change began with the belief and support you showed us.
This past quarter felt like a turning point. One of those moments where everything starts to shift from “what could be” to “what’s really happening.”
The new water tank is in and working beautifully. It may not be the flashiest update, but ask any of the students trying to rinse paintbrushes or tend to the garden after science class, and you’ll get a big, grateful grin. Clean, reliable water has changed the rhythm of our days, making everything smoother, safer, and more sustainable.
Inside the classrooms, the learning materials we added earlier this year have brought a whole new energy (so generously donated by you!). The eco-workbooks and bilingual books are being passed around like treasures, and our teachers are beaming about how curious and confident the students are becoming. There’s a hum in the air now—of questions, discoveries, and budding ideas.
Even the mural outside the school—our beloved Mother Earth—got a little freshening up. Some new details, a few touch-ups, and suddenly it feels like a whole new chapter. The wall has always represented our community spirit, and it felt right to give it some love as we step into this next phase.
Because while we’ve come so far, we know there’s still more to do and the fact we can continue to improve while still making sure every child gets breakfast, lunch and fruit snack every day as well as a full day of lifechanging quality edication – all because of your and your incredible support!
More garden beds to build. More family eco-nights to host. More spaces to create for the kind of learning that sticks—not just in the mind, but in the heart. We’re deep in conversations now about expanding our environmental education club, adding rainwater workshops, and strengthening the way we bring parents into the learning process.
It’s exciting. A little daunting. But mostly, it’s inspiring. Because if we’ve seen anything over the last few months, it’s this: when a community comes together, incredible things happen.
And you’ve been such a big part of that.
So from all of us here in Cobano—teachers, students, and yes, even the wildly enthusiastic cucumber vine taking over the garden—we send you our thanks, our pride, and our shared hope for what comes next.
With sunshine and appreciation,
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- Community Development ·