CHILD NUTRITION CENTERS
Los Diques de Cartago
The Luz de Nuevo Dia (Light of a New Day) church
implements a Nutrition Program for 55 children
between the ages of 5 and 13. The program is
located on the banks of the “Reventado” river and is
led by Pastor Victor Alvarado.
Maria Eugenia Porras and three other women of the church serve lunch twice a week. The Diques community is located in an area that was devastated by the eruption of the Irazu Volcano. The area is considered uninhabitable, but, because of the great need for housing, many families have squatted on this land. This precarious barrio has many social problems including drug addiction, alcoholism, and unemployment. The lunch program is just one response to the multiple needs of the population.
El Pesebre de Pavas
To the west of San Jose, in the
marginal urban area of Pavas,
there is a nutrition center at the"El Pesebre"
(The Manger) mission. Virgina Gomez,
wife of pastor Rodrigo Cascante, is
in charge of serving 65 children from
the church and community twice a
week. The project also seeks to reach the
children's mothers with the Gospel.
Cristo es Rey, Guido 3 (Christ is King)
The urban barrio of Guido 3 is located in what was once a squatter community. Little by little it has become an urban neighborhood, though it is still marginal. This center, open twice a week, serves food to 79 children of the church and surrounding community. Maria Elena Mora Solis leads the center.
Manantial de Vida Mission
Five years ago, in the county of Alajuelita to the south of San Jose, the Manantial de Vida Mission began serving some 40 children. Pastor Roberto Hurtado continues to lead this effort for children primarily from the marginal urban neighborhood of Juan Pablo II. The center also facilitates workshops on drawing and painting by a professional artist. The center has enabled both the church and the children to have a deeper relationship with the parents.
El Carmen de Tres Rios
To the northeast of San Jose, the La Paz de Dios (Peace of God) Mission serves 30 children from the precarious barrio of Las Brisas. The center is open twice a week and is working on a plan that will enable it to double the number of children it serves.
Las Perlitas Day Care Center
The Community Christian Church in Higuito de Desamparados, San Jose, is the site of the Las PerlitasDayCareCenter. This center is for children whose parents work outside the home. The center provides the children breakfast, lunch and snack. The daily program includes educational activities, recreation, and spiritual guidance. There is also family counseling for the parents. This center is coordinated with the government social assistance program. There are presently 13 people working at the center under the leadership of Patricia Mesa.
US Contact: Stan de Voogd • 319 Camden Street • San Antonio, Texas • 78215
Phone/Fax 210-299-5011• Email: devoogd@swbell.net
Costa Rica Contact: Rev. Elizabeth Delgado • Apartado 1473-1002, Paseo de los Estudiantes • San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 011-506-225-0442
Fax:011-506-
225-4058 Email: fiecos@racsa.co.cr |
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ECO # 048001
© Costa Rican Presbyterian Church (IEPC), 2005
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