Friends of Nosara
The Friends of Nosara is a U.S. based not-for-profit corporation. It was created to support activities that improve the quality of life in Nosara.These activities include, but are not limited to, projects and programs related to culture, education & training, the environment, public health & safety, and civic life. The Friends of Nosara offers a means by which the expatriate community of Nosara, and tourists who visit, can thank the Costa Ricans of the community for the openness and warmth with which they have been welcomed to Nosara. 100% Of your donation goes to the cause you choose. There are no salaried employees, all are volunteers. Please make your check payable to "Friends of Nosara". It can be given in person to Bobbi Johnson, Beverly Kitson, Pamela Lancaster or Paula White.
or simply mailed to:
Friends of Nosara,
c/o Michael V. Olson, Treasurer
2 Louisiana Ave., #1G
Bronxville, NY 10708
*If your contribution is meant for a specific organization, please annotate in the memo area of your check. See Above for complete list of organizations which can receive donations through Friends of Nosara.
Here's a great way to use your credit card (and maybe accumulate flying miles!) to make your tax-free donation. You can contribute by using your credit card via Paypal, the secure Internet payment system used by ebay sellers, etc. All you need to do this is to have your credit card and our email address: friendsofnosara@luna-de-papel.com
FUCAN Trade School
Apdo. 17, Bocas de Nosara, Nicoya GTE, Costa Rica
FUCAN, a total non-profit and legally incorporated organization, was created in 1996 by a group of Nosara citizens to provide technical training for the people of Nosara; people who would normally find possibilities to study totally shut or scarce. The concept of helping young people find work at skilled jobs for decent wages rather than having only the option of laboring in the fields with a machete became a passion with long-time resident Ricky Johnson. He joined local efforts to start the school and threw his energy into raising money to make it a reality. He secured donations of welding equipment and machinery from abroad, as well as cash contributions from foreigners living in Nosara.
The lot that houses FUCAN was donated by the Nosara city development agency and its' building was constructed by students with donated materials. Although the National Training Institute (INA) provides instructors and the necessary equipment for each course, FUCAN depends on subsidies and donations for operating and maintenance expenses.
FUCAN has provided courses in sewing, welding, electrical & plumbing installation, mechanical drawing, cooking, & more. Many of these courses are seven hours a day, five days a week for up to three months.
Before Ricky passed away he was able to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his efforts change people's lives. The resulting employment of skilled young people aids all in the community by helping prevent drug & alcohol abuse, crime, and prostitution.
For those who wish to cooperate in supporting the training of youths in the community, FUCAN has an account with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, #3682-7 or U.S. tax-deductible contributions can be made through "Friends of Nosara", specify "FUCAN".
Nosara Civic Association (NCA)
Apdo. I-5233, Bocas de Nosara, Niocya, GTE., Costa Rica
Our community is essentially a small town and the Nosara Civic Association (NCA) serves as our administrative body. The NCA is a Costa Rican chartered non-profit association dedicated to orderly growth, consistent with maintaining intact the natural beauty of this area. This is done in accordance with the wishes of the association's general assembly and the laws of Cost Rica.
The NCA has been spectacularly successful in maintaining its primary mandate of protecting the flora and fauna of the area from squatters, hunters, jade diggers, poachers and commercial exploitation.
By dedicating the entire beachfront to the government as a wildlife preserve, local residents have taken a huge step toward protecting Beaches of Nosara's unique ecological identity. At present the NCA is working in close cooperation with the village association to resolve concerns.
Public libraries are a rarity in Costa Rica, but thanks to the hard work of Beverly Kitson & other volunteers
Nosara has a library that not only provides books & periodicals, but also:
*aids students in the GED program, providing books, meeting space and some teaching by volunteers;
*participates in community activities, particularly those supporting better health & security to the community;
*sponsors special Saturday morning programs for children with video movies and story-time;
*provides a television & VCR with a collection of educational videos for teachers to use as a learning aid;
*helps local residents prepare letters, using word-processing equipment;
*has English language and computer courses.
The library's services are for local people, foreign transplants and our many visitors. The library intends to provide Internet service to the community and foreign visitors so they can check their email. If you are a resident, citizen, or visitor alike- you can obtain a library card here and borrow from the large selection of books. Also, the library provides special conversation sessions with local volunteers to teach Spanish to foreign residents.
Since the Library was formed, opening a new world to readers who formerly had no access to books, a literary club formed, sponsoring weekly book discussions.
Escuelita de Nosara
Apdo. 30-5233 Bocas de Nosara,
Nicoya, GTE. Costa Rica
La Escuelita (little school) was recently adopted by the Friends of Nosara as a worthwhile program to receive U.S. tax-free donations. The Escuelita's mission is to provide for the children of Nosara a quality education based on creativity, respect for themselves and others, and ecological consciousness. Their activities are varied, from after school programs & summer camp to field trips & language classes.
Escuelita de Nosara is grateful to receive donations of all kinds and amounts. However they also need materials for the after-school programs and summer camps and they are in desperate need of volunteers.
Projecto Ninos
011-506-2682-0963
Upstairs from Wanderlust Realty, Playa Guiones Mini-Mall
"100 years from now it will not matter, what type of car I drove, what kind of house
I lived in, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a better place
because I was important in the life of a child."
Our Story
Projecto Ninos is committed to the improvement of the local public school systems in the Costa Rican province of Nicoya. We are an incorporated non-profit foundation comprised of both local and foreign residents. Started as a grassroots organization in 2004, Projecto Ninos initially involved a dedicated core of volunteers who began collecting funds in local stores, restaurants, and hotels to improve the dilapidated conditions of the public schools. Currently more than fifty volunteers contribute time for administrative, maintenance and remodeling projects. Further developing ties with the local community, we hire local residents to provide services such as painting and landscaping. To date, one hundred percent of our donations have been dedicated to projects within the schools; we have no administrative or fund raising expenses. In addition some of our volunteers actively participate in the classroom education. We are based in the United States with a satellite office in Playa Guiones, Costa Rica.
Mission Statement
Projecto Ninos is a non-profit organization based in the United States. Our goal is to improve the quality of education in Costa Rica by developing strong educational programs that promote literacy, the arts, sciences and personal well being.
How can I help?
- Financial Support: Direct donations are able to made via their website. See above.
- Vacation Rentals: See their website for ways to either volunteer your vacation home here for auction or to purchase a vacation rental and proceeds go directly to the Project.
- Volunteer and Visit a School: All the information you need to contact us and set this up is on their website.
- School Supplies: Any school supplies you can bring and donate to any of the 6 schools in the program will go to good use and will be much appreciated!
El Refugio Animales de Nosara
aka "The Monkey Project"
011-506-2682-1010
Brenda and Vicki
In the last several years the Howler monkey population has decreased by more than 50%. In the last few weeks, more than 10 monkeys alone have died from electrocution just in Playas de Nosara, that we know about. Human development, and its impact on the environment, often has serious consequences.
The "Monkey Project" is an effort by Refugio Las Animales de Nosara to insure that the power lines and transformers are insulated or underground in Playa Guiones and Pelada. With all of the building and development, there have been many monkey deaths (and other animals) due to electrocution on uninsulated power lines. Their project is to collect donations from the community to insulate approximately 20 kilometers of electrical wire and 198 transformers. Each kilometer costs $398 to insulate and each transformer costs $250 to insulate. To date, 36 transformers have been insulated and 5 kilometers of electrical wire as well. The plan is to go section by section, insulating the wiring and transformers, preventing animal deaths significantly.
From the Hand-Out to Prospective Homeowners:
"We at Refugio Animales de Nosara would like to share this important message with you. As you become property owners and caretakers of this wonderful natural habitat, we ask that you make very conscious decisions for the envirnoment as you build and develop. All trees provide homes, food sources and foraging pathways through the canopy for many animals as well as provide cooling shade and prevent soil erosion during the riany season. When trees are cut severe consequences occur. Animals are foreced to the ground to look for food placing trhem in great danger and eventually they leave our beautiful area in a search of denser jungle. Help preserve our wildlife instead by thoughtful planning and by planting fruit trees and flowering trees such as almendro, balsam and cortez amarillo. "
If you'd like to donate to the Monkey Project, or the Refugio (a refuge for injured and orphaned wildlife), you may do so directly through Friends of Nosara (below, left), just note it's for the "Refugio Animales de Nosara".
