Category: Costa Rica

Ashley in front of her home in Costa Rica.

Central America, Community, Costa Rica, Sponsor a child, Unbound

Apr 3 2015

One step forward, never one backwards

Ashley in front of her home in Costa Rica.

“Do you feel poor?”

That’s how Henry Flores, director of the Unbound communications center in El Salvador, began his conversation with Ashley, a sponsored 15 year old from Costa Rica.

A difficult question to ask; an even tougher one to answer.

How could a teenager living in a poor community behind one of the largest shopping malls in the area, where she and her mother, Juana, can only see the walls that hide their reality from the beauty and fantasy of the department stores, answer a question like that?

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Sponsor Jennifer Afflerbach, center, with her sponsored friend Bryan and his mother, Sirlen, on a 2012 Costa Rica awareness trip.

awareness trips, Central America, Costa Rica, Sponsor a child, Unbound

Mar 27 2015

A vision of courage

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Sponsor Jennifer Afflerbach, center, with her sponsored friend Bryan and his mother, Sirlen, on a 2012 Costa Rica awareness trip.

By Jennifer Afflerbach, Unbound sponsor

Eight simple words of encouragement: “I can tell you are a good mother.”

That’s what I wrote to Sirlen, the mother of Bryan, the child I sponsor in Costa Rica. Little did I know what a profound effect it would have on her — and on me.

“Thank you for saying that,” she wrote back. “Your letter brought tears to my eyes.”

And her letter brought tears to mine, as I envisioned this strong, courageous mother of four children under the age of 8 being buoyed by such a small gesture on my part.

I knew I had to meet this woman. So I went on an awareness trip to Costa Rica the next year. When we met face to face, it was as if we were old friends — we connected instantly.

And my instinct had been right — she is a very good mother.

After the visit, when I wrote and inquired about their long journey home on mountainous roads, she replied that the trip wasn’t the most difficult part, the goodbye was.

Again, she brought tears to my eyes.

Sponsorship may cost $30 a month, but you can’t put a price tag on the relationship.

Start the journey of sponsorship today.

Central America, Costa Rica, Education, Sponsor a child, Unbound

Jan 28 2015

‘It’s hard because it’s worth it’

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Diego, a sponsored youth and scholarship recipient in Costa Rica.

Diego faced many challenges when he decided to go to college and study teaching. Classes were far from home, and transportation costs as well as food and education fees began to add up. Although difficult, Diego stuck with it.

“I kept telling myself, ‘this is hard because it is worth it. It will be fruitful someday,'” Diego said.

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Central America, Costa Rica, Economic Self-Sufficiency, Sponsor an aging friend, Unbound

Dec 15 2014

‘Money goes away. Encouragement fills my spirit’

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Luis Enrique shows off piñatas he made for birthday parties to celebrate other sponsored members.

By Alley Stonestreet, bilingual communications manager

Meet Luis Enrique from Costa Rica, better known as Don Quique.

An active man with a big heart, Don Quique is a former construction worker and father of four adult children and grandchildren. He spends his days cultivating his garden with natural fertilizers and making piñatas that he donates to Unbound for birthday parties.

You could say Don Quique isn’t your typical sponsored friend. He’s neither a child nor an elderly man, but he is sponsored. Why?

Unbound does not limit itself when it comes to helping people in the communities we serve. We invite people of goodwill to be part of the Unbound program. This includes those who find themselves in need of assistance because of a disability — physical, mental or otherwise — regardless of their age.

And Don Quique needed that support.

After a brain tumor, two aneurysms and complications from surgery, Don Quique lost his sight several years ago.

He discovered Unbound through one of his grandchildren.

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awareness trips, Central America, Costa Rica, Sponsor a child

Oct 10 2014

Communities of joy abound in Costa Rica

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: Nicole (left) with Dylan, his mom, Evelyn, and his baby brother, Anderson.

: Linda and Nicole Miller outside the program office in Costa Rica.

By Nicole Miller, support specialist for Unbound

Recently Nicole Miller traveled to Costa Rica on an awareness trip. Nicole has worked for Unbound for 10 years, and this was her first time visiting an Unbound program office. She shared with us her experiences during the trip.

Read about Nicole’s experience

Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, South America, Sponsor a child

Jul 21 2014

Happy Hammock Day!

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Tomorrow is Hammock Day, and to celebrate we want to share some great photos of sponsored kids, staff and sponsors enjoying hammocks around the world.

awareness trips, Central America, Costa Rica, Get involved, Sponsor a child, Sponsor an aging friend, Unbound

Sep 24 2013

Inspired to action: Sponsors become volunteers after awareness trip

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David and Judy Dames pose for a photo with their sponsored friends and their friends’ family members.

In March, David and Judy Dames stepped aboard a plane on their way to Costa Rica.

awareness trips, Bob's compass, Central America, Costa Rica

Aug 1 2013

Trip to Costa Rica touches the soul

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: Karen Allemang and CFCA sponsor Patrick Byrne help a mother plant corn in Pijije, Costa Rica.

: Meet Jose Daniel, a sponsored child from Costa Rica.

: Jose David, father of a sponsored child, explains his hydroponics effort to our group.

: CFCA sponsor Gerri Merkel receives Holy Communion at Sunday Mass in Parroquia Sabanilla in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

: CFCA sponsors Nancy Weins-Graf and Jim Graf dance at the CFCA center in Liberia, Costa Rica.

: Melissa says…”My dream is to be a good person.”

: CFCA sponsors with sponsored friends and their families visit the coffee fields in Alajuela Costa Rica, and witness greenery, friendship and gratitude.

: CFCA sponsor Diana Quintana, helps to put the final touches on a home repair for the family of a sponsored child in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

: CFCA scholars in Costa Rica.

: CFCA sponsor Selina Melancon plants a tree to help a family celebrate their home repairs in Pijije, Costa Rica.

: Rafael Villalobos, CFCA-Costa Rica coordinator (center) and CFCA sponsors help to paint a recently repaired home for a family in Pijije, Costa Rica.

: Rafael and his daughters, Alejandra (left) and Lucia, on the road by the sea in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

: Brian Kong and fellow sponsors help with project activities in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

: Everywhere we went, CFCA sponsor Johnnie Amaya (left) and Sophia Carmona (right) found children to carry.

: Sponsors leave their greetings on the “tree” in Pijije.

: Cristina Hentzen with our sponsored girl, also named Cristina.

“Bob’s Notes” are reports from CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who regularly accompanies awareness trip participants. You can see Bob’s full update on his Facebook page.

Photo credits for this report go to the CFCA-Costa Rica staff and Bob Hentzen.
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Central America, Costa Rica, Region, Sponsor a child, Unbound

Apr 30 2013

CFCA sponsor ‘sees courage and humanity’ on visit to Costa Rica

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: Natalie, right, with Lorena, her sponsored child in Costa Rica.

: Natalie with Lorena and her family.

Natalie Urban, a CFCA sponsor, was overjoyed to meet her sponsored child and family on a recent visit to Costa Rica. It was the first time her sponsored child had been to the country’s capital, San Jose!

awareness trips, Bob's compass, Central America, Costa Rica

Mar 25 2013

Trip to Costa Rica represents ‘a symbol of love’

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: Two sponsored children from left: Kristhel and Keilyn, who prefers to be called Gordita.

: Monse, a sponsored child in Costa Rica. We have walked with the people of beautiful Costa Rica since 1991.

: Rafael Villalobos, CFCA-Costa Rica project coordinator, walks with the sponsored children and their families in Pijije, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Sponsors Eric and Mary Baker brought soccer balls autographed by their St. Joseph parish community. In turn, the children from Costa Rica, returned two autographed soccer balls to the parish.

Sponsors Tara (left) and Susan (right) enjoy a dance with Tony and Mary in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Sponsored aging friends in Heredia, Costa Rica, cut loose dancing to ìCotton-Eyed Joe.î

Cristina (right) and Katherine who is sponsored by our son Jacob and daughter-in-law Hanna.

Sponsor Jose Velez and his sponsored child, Leito. Leito has had two operations for a brain tumor.

Lori and Jim Kapler with their sponsored child, Donovan. Donovan is first in his class at school.

Sponsors demonstrate a few dance steps for the sponsored children.

On our last afternoon in San Jose, Costa Rica, Rafael and his wife, Beatriz, dedicate a special song to Cristina.

“Bob’s notes” are reports from CFCA President Bob Hentzen, who regularly accompanies awareness trip participants. You can see Bob’s full update on his Facebook page.

Photo credits for this report go to Bob Hentzen.

It is a tremendous joy and privilege to be in Costa Rica with our sponsored friends and their families, colleagues and 31 enthusiastic sponsors. Read more

Around the world with Unbound