La Paz Community School is a private preschool, primary and secondary school in Guanacaste, Costa Rica that educates over 130 children from ages 3 through 18 years old. Scholarships are offered to local Costa Rican children so that they can receive the same quality of education as those paying tuition. Unfortunately in our area, most children don’t remain in school past the fifth grade. The children attending La Paz are staying in school and working towards becoming future leaders in their communities. They are bi-lingual, bi-cultural, and confident about their choices for their future.
As it stands now, when businesses look for leaders they tend to recruit in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, because there are no rural children with the same type of schooling. The idea of the scholarship program is to develop the local children into the next generation of leaders within their own communities.
General School Supplies:
Book Bags, Chalk, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Erasers, Glue Sticks, Handheld Pencil Sharpeners, Markers, Pencils, Pencil Cases/Bags, Pens, Rulers, and Solar Calculators
Craft Scissors and Watercolor Brushes and Paints
(English and Spanish) Dictionaries
(English and Spanish) Age Appropriate Story Books and Language/Grammar
Re-usable Water Bottles
New or Gently Used Children’s Shoes, Khaki Shorts, Sneakers/Trainers, and Swimsuits
Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.
Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.