THE GIRLS HOME IN CARTAGO, COSTA RICA
The Girls Home serves girls (3–13 years old) from challenging home situations in Cartago, Costa Rica.
Education, tuition assistance, and basic household necessities are provided.
Thirty girls are receiving subsistence and education in a secure and nurturing setting at the Girls Home.
For girls who have experienced abuse or find it difficult to live with their family because of specific circumstances, this is a safe haven. It’s possible that their family members or caregivers have comparable backgrounds. The Madre Albertina order of nuns are in charge of it. They offer workshops for the parents to assist them with better childcare in addition to teaching the girls how to work toward a better future. The majority of their home life consists of chores, poor quality food, and unfair treatment. It lacks the fundamental stimuli that all girls require as they grow up.
HISTORY
Madre Albertina was the niece of the 1st constitutional president in Nicaragua and the order has been running for nearly 20 years. She was an inspiration in her approach and unfaltering desire to help the poor. The order has set up projects all over Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
RACHEL COLLINGWOOD
Rachel Collingwood first learned of the home for girls in 2003 whilst reading a travel guide. She spent two years trying to locate them as they were not on the map and finally made contact and visited them in 2005.
Then followed yearly trips of volunteering and helping the nuns; which led to officially setting up the charity in 2010. Rachel is now the Director, Trustee and close friend to the home, visiting annually.
The other trustees are Andrew Sutton, Ian Benson, and Trevor Lake.
WHAT WE DO
The girls can join the project at any age between the ages of three and thirteen, and they can continue until they are eighteen, when their schooling is finished. Afterwards there are grants available to attend a university.
The girls at the project adhere to a set structure. The nuns teach them basic life skills, such as cooking, laundry, and sewing, so they can take care of themselves. The girls appreciate the stability and security the project provides, and they receive firm but kind treatment from the nuns.
After we construct the new venue, the girls will have a lot more chances to pursue their interests, such as yoga, dancing, music lessons, and computer tutoring. We are currently constrained by space.
Through a variety of age-appropriate therapies, such as massage and nursery rhymes, the psychologist works one-on-one with each girl to evaluate their circumstances and assist with any trauma issues.
For the purpose of documenting and mediating between the girls and their families, a social worker is present.
The Girls Home has limited funding and relies on a variety of donors and donations to stay open. Funding is urgently needed in order that the home can expand and provide more amenities for more girls.
The nuns serve as mothers, teachers, diplomats, and housekeepers in addition to being religious leaders. Our project’s goal is to educate and protect these girls so they can have a chance of a better life in the years to come.