Day 6: Painting With Purpose🌷

Today, we had the opportunity to visit the Cañitas school in Monteverde, and get to know their children as we participated in a beautiful painting activity together. We painted the front fence of the school altogether after being placed into small groups and each given our tasks! I was lucky enough to meet four sweet boys, around the ages of 10-12 years old, who told me all about their lives as Costa Rican students! Then, the staff were sweet enough to give us a lovely snack and some time to get to play with all of the students. Some of us played fútbol with the children, and I, along with other peers, chatted with the children and played many games with them! We played Simon Says in Spanish and then they introduced us to a game called “Palmas” which was a mix of Ring Around the Rosie and Tag! I had so much fun, this was my absolute favorite!!! Afterward, we went back to painting and everyone’s creativity was unleashed! We were given the chance to paint the alphabet, numbers, and anything we wanted on the front walls of the fence! It was so fun and heartwarming to see children just being children and enjoying painting with us older kids. The students were some of the sweetest, smartest, and most polite children I have ever met and I am so thankful to have been able to make a positive impact in their community by doing something as easy and meaningful as painting their school. 

After completing this service activity, we had lunch and then attended the Cafe Monteverde coffee farm and sustainability education center. They spoke to us on the typical lifestyle of a Tico farmer and their devotion to Costa Rica. Ticos are very happy people, and during my time here I have been able to fully witness how humble they are and how much love they have for each other and for their country. One of the biggest values present in the life of a Tico is devotion to community. Our educator for the lecture today, Jessica, assured us that although Café Monteverde produces coffee, their main focus is always the community and the people that make the place. They are a company that is fully open to the community, open to serving and providing for everyone around them. Just as a way to showcase that, she spoke on the Monteverde Community Fund, a fundraiser they created in which they donate 1 dollar for every person that comes to Café Monteverde. Being a part of a community matters, and making efforts to sustain a strong bond between the people within a country is admirable. Having a strong community opens the door for innovation, because there is trust and care for those around you and the progress of the land you are sharing together.

As I played with the children and got to know them better, I couldn’t help but think about what my life would be like if I committed my life to this kind of work. I have always loved volunteering and making a change in someone’s life, no matter how small it may be. I also really like working with children. Today, a student in my group asked me if I could be their English teacher and it made my heart melt. 

Therefore, if I were the child of a Tico farmer, I would dedicate my life to the Costa Rican education system, and working with organizations that support children and give them everything they need in order to build a bright future for themselves. The students I met today were brilliant kids with the sweetest hearts, and I would love to dedicate my life to seeing them flourish into adventurous individuals who care deeply for their community.