Day 3: Mon., August 1, 2011

 

After breakfast at Earth University, the youth group returned to the U.S., and the adults boarded the bus to travel to the Episcopal Diocesan House in San Jose, where we would be staying for the next five days.  After dropping off our bags and greeting an excited Bishop Hector Monterroso, we drove to Barrio Cuba, one of the more dangerous barrios, to see the progress made at Hogar Escuela, a school serving as a model for the new Hogar Escuela in Heredia (currently under construction and one of our projects this week). 

Hogar Escuela – Barrio Cuba is open 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., providing daycare and after-school care for 125 students ranging from infants to 12-year-olds.  Younger children attend the entire time, while older children attend public school in San Jose and come directly to Hogar Escuela where they can have access to tutors, meals, and a safe place to play until their parents take them home.  In some cases, the school provides the only meals the children will have all day.  There is a fee for children to attend this program, but the government provides some assistance for each child, and the school uses a sliding scale to assist those most in need (90% of the families) so that some only pay $1 per month.  Given that single mothers only receive $300 per month from the government, and housing can cost more than $100 per month, Hogar Escuela’s assistance is a blessing to the community. 

Playground at Hogar Escuela - Barrio Cuba

Costa Rican children are required to attend school through the 9^th grade, while 10^th and 11^th grades are optional.  Children who don’t drop out after 9^th grade continue through the remaining grades to take college placement tests to be considered for university enrollment, though university spots are limited according to the government’s need for specific areas of study.  Hogar Escuela does not currently offer programming for children after 6^th grade, so some students intentionally fail their classes to remain in the program, demonstrating the desperate need in this community for more safe and nurturing places like Hogar Escuela.  To address this growing need, the school has plans for future development, adding more classrooms and expanding to include students in grades 7 – 9.

Chapel at Hogar Escuela - Barrio Cuba

In addition to providing a safe haven and education for the children in the area, Hogar Escuela provides training for single mothers so that they have marketable skills allowing them to enter the workforce and better support their families.  Thanks to the new computer lab, parents can develop computer skills and work as call center support staff.  The school is excited about their progress and development, and their transformation in the past six years gives hope for the work beginning in Heredia.

After touring the school, learning more about the programming and future development, and eating lunch, the adults travelled to the site of the future Hogar Escuela – Heredia where we’d be working over the next several days.  



This school is located in an area behind a shopping mall previously known as a refuge for squatters and makeshift homes.  Currently, the school is covered by a sheet metal roof, has a dirt floor, and has concrete walls forming a sanctuary/worship space, several bathrooms, a kitchen, and several classrooms that will have access to gardens/playground areas. Some of the concrete walls are sanded and sealed with a bright white coat, while many others are a stark gray in contrast, waiting to be finished.  St. Mark’s will be spackling, sanding, and sealing the remaining concrete walls.  

Hector Monterroso walked everyone through the existing structure and explained the anticipated layout of classrooms and playgrounds and the options for future expansion as the school’s needs grow (additional ground-level classrooms, adding another story, etc.).  The bishop hopes to have 200 children attend upon completion.  Despite the rain, mud and intimidating size of the project, the group was energized about upcoming work after seeing the great progress and witnessing the development of Hogar Escuela – Barrio Cuba.

We left the worksite and, after an hour of shopping in a San Jose marketplace, returned to Diocesan House for dinner, Compline, pows and wows, and games and reading during free time.  The adults enjoyed learning more about the work and exciting plans for the children in San Jose, as well as talking to Bishop Monterroso and learning more about his home, work and hopes for the diocese.