Costa Rica
Costa Rica benefits from the tourism industry and is more stable than many neighboring countries, however, there remains large gaps between the rich and the poor. Costa Rica has had many migrants come from other countries and the majority of these ended up in shantytowns that struggle with poverty, crime, drugs, violence, gangs, and poor family conditions. A large portion of the population is nominal Roman Catholic. It is in this context that our partner, Education Plus, ministers.
- Christian After-School Programs
Education Plus
This project operates in four shantytowns in San Jose, Costa Rica. Education Plus (EP) works with children and young people at high social risk to help prevent them from dropping out of school, while presenting them with a Gospel message. In the communities where Education Plus works, there are a high number of drug-related murders every year. EP is a vitally important ministry that encourages a refreshingly different lifestyle than what is displayed in the communities that the children live in. The EP staff builds relationships with the children and families and offers them a message of hope through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over 450 children and their families are helped every year, by God’s grace, to create a different story than the typical life of drop out, crime, and drugs that is all too common in these communities. EP provides weekly Bible classes, tutoring, school supplies, family visits, soccer academies, and a week-long summer camp for their beneficiaries. The director of this project, Juan Ramirez, is an elder in a local Reformed church. Word & Deed provides support for 6 staff members and a tutor as well as some program expenses. We recently helped them purchase the facility that they were renting. They now have a permanent home in which to operate and hope to expand vocational training opportunities for young people in the shantytowns.