La Carpio and San Jose

Where does city waste go? Who is impacted by waste management? What role does community building play?

On day two, our eager and energized group visited La Carpio, a marginalized rural area of Costa Rica with a large Nicaraguan population in the district of Uruca. After discussing the multifaceted Costa Rican history that continues to influence access to education, potable water, employment, and healthcare in low income communities surrounding the urban area, we showed up excited to listen, learn, and ask questions. Students prepared inquired about the relative rate of poverty, school system, ecological and social impacts of living near a landfill, and ways in which the community has overcome hardship over the years. The town was filled with distinct murals, smiling families, and dogs roaming around a community bound together by the landfill that moved next door in 2000. 

BACKGROUND: La Carpio was founded in 1993 and the name itself comes from the first person who built his home on the land, even without residence permits.

After touring the La Carpio with a local community member, we split into groups to learn about the history of the neighborhood and the foundation SIFAIS which clearly demonstrates resilience and compassion amidst difficult circumstances. We were greeted by the lead volunteer, Magdalena, as she described the multitude of programs offered at the SIFAIS community center which include music, art, foreign language, exercise, yoga, and educational classes for both children and adults. Moreover, SIFAIS offers training programs working towards empowering specifically women towards gaining socioeconomic mobility. While discussing the social implications of waste management for this quaint community, students began pondering how and if sustainability can work in communities already experiencing environmental injustice.

If you care to learn more about SIFAIS and its mission, check out their website https://www.sifais.org/.

​​Once wrapping up reflection and an assortment of questions, we headed to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

Sporting some Costa Rican pride in a primary market in the center of San Jose.

Here is a sneak peek of what the market was overflowing with today... fruits, veggies, meats, seafood, clothing, and everything you could imagine!

Stay tuned for our next big adventure: La Isla Chira!