RipJack Inn
Project
CEPIA (Culture, Education and Psychology for Infants and Adolescents) is a Costa Rican non-profit organization that seeks to promote culture, health, sports and education for children and teenagers from low-income families in the coastal communities of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Needs
General School Supplies:
Book Bags, *Chalk, College-Ruled Paper, Colored Construction Paper, Colored Pencils, Compasses, Crayons, Dry-Erase Markers, Erasers, Glue Sticks, Handheld Pencil Sharpeners, Markers, Pencils, Pencil Cases/Bags, Pens, Protractors, Rulers, Solar Calculators, Solar Lantern Lights, and Wide-Ruled Paper
Reference Materials:
(English and Spanish) Dictionaries and Age Appropriate Encyclopedias on CD
Flash Cards:
(English and Spanish) Alphabet, Math, and Word
Laminated Wall Charts:
(English and Spanish) Human Body, Language, Math, Science, and World Maps
Text/Reading Books:
(English and Spanish) Age-Appropriate Story Books, *Biology, *General Science, *Health, *Language/Grammar, and *Math
Art Supplies:
Acrylic Brushes and Paints, Beads for Bead Work, Buttons, Craft Glue, Craft Scissors, Earring Hooks, Fashion Magazines, Gage Wire, Sewing Needles, Thread, Watercolor Brushes and Paints, and Wire Cutters
Computer Hardware/Software:
*Working Laptops
Educational Games/Toys:
Bananagrams, Chess Sets, Connect Four, Puzzles, Scrabble, and Stuffed Animals/Soft Toys
Music Instruments:
Castanets, Cymbals, Guiros, Guitars, Harmonicas/Kazoos, Maracas, Recorders, Tambourines, Triangles, and Xylophones
Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Frisbees, Inflation Pumps, Jump Ropes, Netball/Basketballs, Soccer Balls, *Team Uniforms/Kits for Soccer, Tennis Balls, and Whistles
Clothing/Shoes:
*New or Gently Used Children’s Clothing and Shoes
First Aid/Health:
Antibiotic Ointment and Band-Aids
Office Supplies:
Markers, Pencils, Pens, Printer Paper, Rulers, Scissors, Solar Calculators, and Staplers
Gardening:
Gardening Gloves
Health/Personal Grooming:
Bars of Soap, Deodorant, Hair Brushes, Multivitamin Tablets, *Sanitary Napkins, Shampoos, *Tampons, *Toothbrushes, and *Toothpaste
Initiatives Supported
Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.
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.
