CEPIA programs:

After-school program: children and teenagers are taught weekly by volunteers and staff in 17
villages: English, computer instruction, arts and crafts, swimming, martial arts, surfing, soccer,
dance, yoga, kids club, girls’ club etc. Weekly a total of 500 children benefit of these classes. In
January and in July Summer Camp is organized for 100 children daily.

Early Intervention center: 35 children age 6-13 living in high-risk situations (extreme
poverty, family conflicts, violent neighborhood etc.) are receiving daily integrated support
(emotional, academic, physical-nutritional) at the center between 7am and 5pm outside their 4
hour time spend in public school. Program financed by PANI (national Child Protection agency)

Psychology and Education: CEPIA staff provides weekly psychological and educational
counseling to children that were referred by teachers, parents and others. Our professionals
offer support to victims of sexual abuse, physical and emotional maltreatment, and commercial
sexual exploitation, through 800 sessions a year. Volunteers and staff also organize workshops
about gender violence, bullying, drug addiction and alcoholism, sexual education etc. for
hundreds of youngsters.

Youth enterpreneurs and creatives: High-risk youth (teenagers excluded from school, living
in the street, in poverty, prostitution, pregnancy, with family problems) participate weekly in a
program that consists of English classes, Computer instruction, cultural activities, volunteering,
teamwork, psychological counseling, educational and material support. Every year 20 teenagers
participate in this intensive program to promote their empowerment and autonomy in the
future. The teens that finished the program return mostly to formal education or trainings. In

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total 120 young people receive today follow-up from CEPIA staff, which means our staff and
volunteers have strong knowledge about the challenges teens face and the individual and social
dynamics of this generational group.

Care for children in poverty: volunteers and staff visit families that ask for help. 11 mothers
and their children living in extreme poverty have been selected yearly to participate in the
integrated women’s empowerment program: receive weekly support (food, clothes, furniture,
school necessities, etc.), participate in trainings, workshops and volunteering, meet monthly. In
addition, the participants are helped in finding a job and in seeking governmental help of
housing, medical care, etc. At Christmas 160 families receive food, toys, school supplies and
school uniforms.

Professional Trainings and continuous education: CEPIA offers trainings and courses to
600 people (older than 15), such as beauty care, English, yoga, cooking, surf instructors,
bartending, pool maintenance, entrepreneurship, administrative assistant, etc. Some of these
trainings are developed in collaboration with National Apprentice Institute (INA). At night the
community center is used by the program Open Education (6th till 11th grade) of the Ministry of
Education.

Day Care: CEPIA opened a day care in the Community Center where infants, whose mothers
have a low income and work or study, receive preschool education. Beneficiaries: 30 boys and
girls between 2 and 6 years, from 7am - 4pm. Financed by PANI and IMAS.

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Health and physical therapy: A therapist provides physical therapy to 11 children and youth
with disabilities weekly. Furthermore, they work with voluntary doctors for medical care of
minors and poor people. I addition they attach great value to healthy food and physical activity.

Scholarships: CEPIA offers every year a Package of school supplies and school uniform to 650
children and teenagers. Some children receive a scholarship for school, high school or even
university thanks the individual donors.

Environment: CEPIA realizes projects of reforestation and cleaning of schools, beaches and
streets in collaboration with other organizations, businesses and public institutes.
Environmental education, recycling and environmental friendly actions are part of every day life
at CEPIA and part of every activity, course or project.

Culture and Community: Monthly Movie nights and educational talks for the community
(about environment, education of children, etc.) to improve education and social cohesion.

Library & Smart Community center: The library in the CEPIA center daily lends books and
didactic materials as well as computers for free use.

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Legal orientation: Consultants for public law are offered to issues of labor rights, women's
rights and property procedures including legal advice.
Social business: The community center incorporates social companies within the community
center, as mechanisms of self-financing and vocational training centers for participants and
beneficiaries.
- Mini Shop CEPIA: Second-hand clothes of the womens group
- CEPIA Restaurant: authentic dining experience in Guanacaste
- Going Local: authentic volunteer experience for tourists, tour of the Comunity of Huacas,
Cultural Community tour by young adults of the village

Partners & Associations in close collaboration:

Governmental:

- PANI (National Organization on Infancy): CEPIA identifies and accompanies

children and their families in the process of information, counseling and reporting abuse
and violence. In addition, CEPIA finances some necessities of the shelter in Santa Cruz.
- Ministry of Public Education (MEP): CEPIA received permission to work in the
schools and with the teachers. CEPIA also works with the MEP to improve teacher’s
trainings and basic and higher education.
- Associations of Integral Development (ADI): CEPIA collaborates with the
association of every village to improve health conditions and infrastructure for children
and teenagers.
- Public Force: CEPIA and the Public Force of the villages collaborate in situations of
violence, crisis, and school desertion. CEPIA organizes trainings for officials from the
Public Force.
- INA: collaborations on matters of education and professional formation for teenagers
and adults.
- Ministerio de Ciencia, tecnología y telecomunicaciones
- National Women’s Institute (INAMU)
- Ministerio de Salud, CCSS & Clínicas EBAIS (Health Ministry)
- UNED (Distance UniversITY)
- Ministerio de Justicia y Paz
- Ministerio de seguridad, OIJ
- Ministerio de Bienestar social y familia; IMAS (Instituto mixto de ayuda social)
- IAFA
- Universidad Libre de Costa Rica
- Cuerpo de Paz / Peacecorps USA
- Consul de Nicaragua (en Liberia)

Civil Society:

- Asoc. Banco de Alimentos

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 - Centro Civico para la paz, Santa Cruz
- Fundación Acción Joven
- Fundación CRUSA International
- CRIA
- Asoc Abriendo Mentes
- Escuela comunal La Paz
- Colegio católico Huacas
- Do it Foundation
- Asociacion Salvemonos
- Nutrivida
- Fundación CALI
- Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation;
- Fundacion Futuro Brillante
Private companies donating technical training in projects: CEK; Neptuno surf school, Kelly's;
Frijoles Locos, Witchs Rock surf camp; Beach side clinic, Optica Huacas; Hospital Clinica San
Rafael Arcangel; Movistar; Hotel Luna llena; TIDE academy; Colores del Pacifico; AVOTZ;
Oceanconnect diving center, Hotel Westin, Hotel Selina, etc.