Creating Better Spaces for Children to Learn, Grow and Thrive in Costa Rica
A partnership between Rotary and SAWSO IN COSTA RICA is improving educational spaces, creating stronger opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.
For years, staff at CIDAI León XIII in San José, Costa Rica, worked around challenges that most schools shouldn't have to face. A leaking roof disrupted learning during heavy rains. Restroom facilities needed significant improvements. Teachers and caregivers did their best to create a safe, welcoming environment, but they knew their children deserved better.
Today, thanks to the generosity of the Brooklyn Rotary Club through SAWSO, that vision has become a reality.
A recently completed renovation project transformed key areas of the center, creating brighter, safer, and healthier spaces for more than 120 children who attend CIDAI León XIII. The improvements included new child-friendly restroom facilities, upgraded staff facilities, and a renovated classroom with a new roof, better lighting, and improved ventilation.
The changes are about much more than buildings. Children now learn and grow in classrooms designed to support their development. Teachers and caregivers can focus on providing quality education and care in a healthier, more functional environment. Parents have renewed confidence knowing their children are spending their days in a safe and welcoming place.
"This donation represents far more than financial support," said Arlen Coulson, Administrative Assistant at CIDAI León XIII. "It fulfilled a dream that had remained unrealized for more than six years. It provides safety for our children, better hygiene, peace of mind for our teachers and, most importantly, allows more children to remain in a safe, bright, and welcoming environment that promotes learning, growth, and development."
The impact extends beyond the classroom. More than 200 families in the León XIII community will benefit from these improvements for years to come, helping ensure children have a healthy foundation for learning, growth, and a brighter future.
Thank you to the Brooklyn Rotary Club for making this project possible and for investing in the children, families, and future of León XIII. Your generosity is creating lasting change where it matters most.