Costa Rica

Lodging

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

Project #1

Hogarcito San Juan Bosco orphanage serves 17 children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years old.

La Fortuna Orphanage is known to the locals as Hogarcito San Bosco de la Fortuna.
This orphanage is the only one of its kind in the La Fortuna area and is a pioneer of this type of transitional home. This orphanage is where children are taken directly from bad home situations and given a safe place. The loving employees, director, psychologist and volunteers help fill this home with love and a feeling of well-being.
The orphanage is a sustainable home and the children learn how to grow food, care for and gather eggs from chickens, how to recycle and much more. The orphanage was started in 1999 and is overseen by a Board of Directors.

Mission Statement
To give the children their fundamental right as a human being to not be in a place of risk and to have a bright future. Our goal is to provide these children with the know how to become friendly, honest, and upstanding citizens of the future. The children are taught to respect each other, to respect the planet, ...We look at the orphanage not just as a shelter but as a new home and it does not matter if the child is here for a day, a month or a year...all these children deserve a better life!
The orphanage is a type of "half way" house for children that need to be removed from bad home situations. The children are brought here (this is why the location is undisclosed) and then they are nurtured, loved and even receive counseling. You will notice that there are not many photos of children on the website and that is for the safety of the children living here. All ages from new borns to age 10 are cared for here for as long as necessary.
The children are eventually found more permanent homes throughout Costa Rica.
The love & care the children receive at this place is crucial to the child's well being, future self-respect and confidence. If you have the opportunity to visit, you will see and feel how magical this place truly is!

Needs

School Supplies:
Age appropriate story books in Spanish, Alphabet flash cards in English, Alphabet flash cards in Spanish, Biology text books in Spanish, Book bags, Chalk, Colored construction paper, Colored pencils, Compasses, Craft scissors, Crayons, Dictionaries in Spanish, Encyclopedias in Spanish, Erasers, Exercise books in Spanish, General science text books in Spanish, Glue sticks, Hand held pencil sharpeners, Health text books in Spanish, Human body educational wall charts, Language/grammar text books in Spanish, Math educational wall charts, Math text books in Spanish, Markers, Notebooks, Pencils, Pencil cases/bags, Pens, Protractors, Rulers, Science educational wall charts in Spanish, Solar calculators, Watercolor paints, Watercolor paint brushes, Word flash cards in Spanish, World maps

Games/Toys:
Chess sets, Connect Four, Legos, Scrabble, Stuffed animals/soft toys, Puzzles

Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Frisbees, Garden tools, Jump rope, Netballs/basketballs, Soccer balls, Tennis balls, Torches/flashlights

Clothing:
New or gently used children's clothing, New or gently used children's shoes, Team uniforms/knits for soccer, Underwear

Linens:
Bath towels, Bed linens, Light blankets, Linen sets, Mosquito nets, Pillows

Health:
Band-Aids, Bars of soap, Combs, Deodorant, Hair brushes, Hair pins and elastic hair bands, Hand cream, Multivitamin tablets, Plastic gloves, Sanitary napkins, Shampoos, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Vaseline, Washing powder

Kitchen:
Bowls, Pans, Plastic serving bowls, Plastic serving cups, Plastic serving plates, Pots, Serving spoons, Spatulas