ACCAI’s 2025 Journey Begins: Empowering Through Education and Collaboration

Welcome Back to ACCAI’s first blog of 2025!

After a well-deserved break, we're excited to return and continue our Community-Led Initiatives, which are rooted in the belief that education is a powerful tool for positive change. These projects, driven by the ideas, skills, and passions of our amazing team, are designed to address the specific needs of those directly affected. We’re committed to fostering solutions that come from within, empowering individuals to create lasting change through education and collaboration.

On January 11, five of our students began an exciting journey by starting an online English course that will run every Saturday throughout 2025, from 8 am to 12 pm! This incredible opportunity is made possible through our collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and the Centro Cultural Costarricense, who generously provided 25 scholarships to teenagers in our nearby communities. We’re thrilled that 5 of these scholarships were donated to ACCAI students, with 2 of them already being graduates who are now attending university.

We couldn't be more proud of our students and their dedication to personal growth and success. This is just the beginning, and we can't wait to see all they will achieve in 2025! 🎓.

We’re excited to share that on February 6th, ACCAI began offering English classes for adults in the beautiful community of Brasilito!

In a tourist-friendly area like ours, learning English is more important than ever, and we’re proud to have 22 eager students improving their communication skills. 🌍 The classes are held every Thursday from 5 to 7 pm, with two English groups to accommodate everyone. A special thank you to teachers Alexandra, Johanna, Cheri, Tracey and Chris for their dedication and incredible work in making this project possible! 🙏❤️ We can’t wait to see the progress of all our students as we continue learning and growing together! 💪📚

ACCAI's First Day of Tutoring: A Heartwarming Experience

We at ACCAI are thrilled to share some snapshots from our very first day of tutoring, which took place on Saturday, March 1st. It was a truly heartwarming and uplifting experience for our team as we had the opportunity to reconnect with our incredible students. The excitement and energy were palpable, and we couldn’t be prouder of how everything unfolded.

Our program welcomed a diverse group of students, ranging from our youngest learners in PreK all the way up to high schoolers. We are pleased to announce that we currently have 55 students from PreK to 6th grade and 29 high school students who are joining us every Saturday.

Our high school students attend tutoring sessions in math, English, and pickleball from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, engaging in focused and interactive lessons. Meanwhile, our PreK to 6th grade students are with us from 12:30 PM to 3:45 PM, where they participate in lessons tailored specifically to their grade levels, including math, English, and specialized activities like reading and writing for our first graders. We aim to create an engaging and educational environment where our students not only learn but also thrive.

In addition to our academic focus, we ensure that our students well-being is supported throughout the day. All of our students are provided with a snack, giving them the energy they need to stay engaged in their learning. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are also able to offer our high school students a nutritious lunch, which helps them recharge and fosters a sense of community within the program.

This enriching experience would not have been possible without the support of our lead teachers, our wonderful volunteers, and everyone who contributes to our feeding program. Your dedication and generosity make all the difference, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to making this program a success. It is because of you that we are able to offer these valuable educational opportunities to our students.

As we continue on this journey, we remain committed to providing a positive and impactful learning experience. We invite anyone interested in supporting our mission to reach out and get involved. Whether through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading the word, every bit of support helps us continue to make a difference in the lives of our students.

Thank you to everyone who has already been a part of this incredible journey. Your support is what fuels our passion to keep moving forward, and together, we can continue making an impact in our community. We look forward to many more Saturdays of learning, growth, and connection!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new sports initiative, offering our high school students the opportunity to explore and practice a variety of sports. A special thank you goes to Chris Welsh, whose expertise as a doctor brings invaluable knowledge to our program. Chris assists our students every Saturday, encouraging them to adopt healthier lifestyles and build strength. His professional insights, combined with the valuable workout equipment he provides, have greatly enhanced the quality of our sessions.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Victoria Bonilla from Costa Rica Health Coach, who offers an engaging and enjoyable Zumba class once a month. Both our students and staff have thoroughly enjoyed this fun and energizing experience.

Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Kathie Roberts for introducing pickleball every Saturday, and for continuously inviting new individuals to experience and support our program.

We are deeply grateful to all of you who, through your time, effort, and enthusiasm, have helped make this wonderful initiative a reality for our teens each week!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to several key supporters whose generous contributions have been vital in enhancing the educational experience for our students.

Thanks to Yakira, we have been able to provide scientific calculators to our students for the third consecutive year. This thoughtful donation has been instrumental in supporting our students' success in their math studies.

We are also deeply appreciative of La Marina, whose donation of school supplies allowed us to equip our students with the essential items they needed. This support has ensured that all of our students have access to the necessary materials for their learning.

Additionally, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Librería Expresiones Stationery Store for their generous donation toward the binding of our students' English books. Their contribution has been crucial in improving the durability of our educational materials, ensuring that our students can benefit from them for an extended period.

The valuable support of these organizations has played an essential role in improving the quality of education we provide, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued commitment to our mission.

A heartfelt thank you to Futuro Brillante for including ACCAI in such a meaningful event and for creating a space where women can come together to share and empower one another. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the workshop "Mujeres que Inspiran: Voces de Nuestra Comunidad | Conversatorio" on Saturday, March 29th. This event provided a powerful platform for inspiring conversations, and we are thankful for the chance to be involved.

This was the first field trip we took with the female students of our youth program, and it was an incredibly enriching experience. Our students enjoyed the event thoroughly and were deeply inspired by the powerful messages shared by the following incredible women:

• Mitzy Salazar, First Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Santa Cruz

• Shirley Molina, Head of the Department of Local Development and Support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MiPymes)

• Carolina Protti, Clinical Psychologist

These women shared their leadership, knowledge, and passion, offering invaluable insights that not only inspired but also motivated our students to embrace their own potential and strength.

Futuro Brillante’s dedication to personal development, well-being, and empowerment has created an invaluable space for growth, and we are excited to continue working together to offer more opportunities for learning and connection within our community. Together, we are stronger, and we look forward to future collaborations!

As we reflect on the incredible experiences we've shared at ACCAI in just one month, we are filled with gratitude for the tremendous support we've received and the powerful alliances we've built with other organizations. The growth and expansion of our tutoring program, the development of our sports initiative, and our recent field trip with the youth program are just a few examples of how we continue to create meaningful opportunities for our students.

We are deeply thankful to all of our partners, supporters and volunteers who have helped us provide essential resources, inspiring workshops, and enriching experiences for our community. These partnerships are truly invaluable, as they allow us to offer our students not only education but also encouragement, empowerment, and well-being.

At ACCAI, we believe in the power of collaboration, and we are fortunate to work alongside organizations and individuals who share our vision of a brighter, stronger future for the young people in our community. Your support, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply being part of our journey, makes all the difference. Together, we are building a network of care, growth, and empowerment that will continue to benefit our students and their families for years to come.

We are excited to keep moving forward, knowing that we are not alone in this mission. With each new partnership and every bit of support, we are strengthening the foundation for a community where every student has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed. Thank you for being an essential part of this incredible journey! We look forward to continuing to work together to create even more opportunities and make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.

A special thank you to all of our generous Meal Train donors:

Desiree

Alison Partsch

Restaurante Pleamar

EJ

Roger & Lisa

A huge Thank you to our lead teachers:

Chris Trandafir

David Cáceres

EJ Avey

Kristin Coffey

Kristen Everling

Alexandra Hill

Kathie Roberts

Chris Welsh

Cheri Barwinski

Liz Welsh

Many thanks go to our volunteers:

Tracey Billings

Chelsey Santry

Gina DeSanto

Melanie Bourdages

Melissa Albiani

Lori Rill

Joana Kuchta

Kelly Sturgeon

A special thank you to our valued supporters:

La Marina

Expresiones Stationary Store

And last but not least a Grateful recognition to our board members:

Marco A. Cruz: President

Christopher Welsh: Vice-president

Sharon Urbina: Secretary

Cesar Abarca: Treasurer

Sebastian Villa Gaviria: Vowel

Sarah Eliza Martin: Vowel

Silvia Cruz: Comptroller