ABOUT US
Our Founders
Where passion and dedication meet...
Since our first conversations about the need in Brasilito in 2022, the team at ACCAI has worked tirelessly to promote our cause. We are fortunate to have volunteers and staff from all walks of life who bring our unique expertise and resources into everything we do. This is what enables us to achieve our goals more efficiantly. While there is always more that can be done, there is no doubt that we are making a significant impact. We don’t measure our success through just facts and figures, but through happy faces and heartwarming feedback.
Erika Araya
Cofunder and Academic Director
Originally from San Jose and currently living in Potrero. She has been working as an English teacher for children for 15 years in the area of Potrero, Brasilito and Huacas. Her profession and passion is teaching. Teaching is more than a job for her. She loves contact with people. It fills her with joy when she can teach someone and she can see in their eyes and their smile that they understand the lesson.
Erika co-founded ACCAI along with Karen, because her heart was heavy seeing so many children of Brasilito academically behind and with no access to the same "privileges" (basics) that other school districts offer. The teens had nothing to help them expand their minds. She knew they needed help to get them academically caught up and would love to see the teens of Brasilito graduate from High School and ready to enter a university or trade school.
She is passionate about life and she is fully involved in all she does. She loves spending time with her family, including her fur family.
Karen Cerdas
Cofunder and Director of Social Programs and Community Service
Karen is costarrican, she lived most of her life in Cartago, but now lives permanently in Guanacaste. She has a degree in Social Work, graduated from the University of Costa Rica, has more than 20 years of work with social programs and community welfare. She is the co-founder of ACCAI, the idea together with her partner Erika, was born because they observed the need to support young people who really want to improve themselves through education, but sometimes they abandon their dreams, because they do not receive enough support and help on their way. Her passion is that through her work, she can get people to find in them the ability to achieve better opportunities in life. She likes to share, listen and support people to improve the environment in which they live, since she considers that it is a human right that people have the tools to improve their quality of life.
Meet the Team
Math Teacher
Federico Robledo
He is from Mexico City. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, a Master’s degree in
Educational Science, and a second Bachelor’s degree in Environment Engineering.
He got involved with ACCAI because he believes God has blessed us with the calling to be a blessing for all. Federico started teaching at 18 years old. He was given the opportunity to teach at a school for children with learning differences and he enjoyed it greatly. His passion is teaching.
He wants you to know, “There is nothing impossible only mathematical and statistical continued improvement.”
He enjoys going to Carpe Diem.
Head English Teacher
EJ Avey
She is originally from Canada. She lived in the United States for 25 years. In 2018 she moved to Costa Rica. Her profession is a Registered Nurse.
She is thankful to have been given the opportunity to be involved in ACCAI as the Head Teacher in the English Program. She wants to see the Youth of Brasilito grow toward a productive future. Before ACCAI she had volunteered in other educational programs in Brasilito. EJ enjoys watching the energy these young people have for life.
She likes to cook, bake, read, and paint.
Pickleball Teacher
Kathie Roberts
She grew up in the Bronx, New York. She joined the military, which allowed her to live in many places around the world. For 17 years she lived in Aiken South Carolina as the owner of a Horse Ranch. Her professions included being a Federal agent in charge of Special Operations, and a firearms instructor. Kathie’s passion is teaching people the love of Pickleball. She desires to grow the sport and form an Olympic Team. She joined ACCAI to introduce Pickleball and instill a passion for the sport. She has a love for animals big or small, land or sea. She says “ I seem very strict on the outside. I am soft on the inside, I just don’t show it.”
English Teacher
Tammy Walker
She is originally from Iowa. Her adult life was mostly spent in Colorado. She relocated to Costa Rica in 2020.
Tammy had a career in Employee Benefits. She did underwriting for 10 years and 15 years as a Benefits Consultant. She decided she wanted a career change. She became a Realtor for 8 years. She is now retired.
She became a part of ACCAI because she believes in the work it has been created and continues to create. She has a passion to see the Youth empowered to achieve their dreams. She sees teaching as a way to birth a desire in the Youth to succeed in their education. Tammy loves the outdoors! From hiking to horses, from beaches to mountains, she will take outside activities over inside activities. She is thankful for the life God has given her.
English Teacher
Yakira Mandi
She was born in Israel, raised in The United States
Her professions have included management in the Hospitality Industry, and currently a Spiritual
Advisor, and Counseling/Freedom Wayshower specializing in Women who have been through
trafficking, domestic violence, and other forms of trauma.
Yakira met Erika and Karen in 2020. She volunteered to help with their English classes to the kids and community events. She came back in 2021 to volunteer again. Erika and Karen sparked a passion in her, to be a part of making a difference in the children’s lives. When they created ACCAI she was excited for another opportunity to teach, and be a part of a wonderful team who has a passion to see the Youth excel in life in every area.
She loves to put a smile on another person’s face. She goes where ever God sends her to bring His love and kindness.
She loves to paint, write, and do creative projects.