We spoke with Odir, the head of the family in Costa Rica, regarding the bathroom you built them. They wanted us to tell you that they are so EXTREMELY thankful for the generosity of Global Need, and the bathroom has served the family well. They know that it would not have been possible without you. We thank you as well.

Ted and Graciela Quiocho - Missionaries to Costa Rica

Global Need's “Global Impact” initiated a work in Costa Rica this year following a devastating earthquake registering 6.5 and leaving 128,000 people homeless. The epicenter was located in central Costa Rica just north of the capital, San Jose. Mudslides followed rendering most of the land uninhabitable and shelters unsafe.

Donated tents provided shelter for residents while volunteers built makeshift outdoor kitchens for cooking rice and beans. The government assisted with relocation of many families to outlying villages where they would begin their lives with nothing but each other.

“Global Now” the disaster relief entity of Global Impact sent a team of six workers to the small village of Rio Frio to assist earthquake victims arriving there.  The team first established a relationship with two local missionaries dedicated to that village and then with the affected families, assessing and prioritizing their needs.  

Some families were living communally one lot with one outhouse. Global Need's “Global Now” provided materials to construct a freestanding bathroom with plumbing and a septic field. The team focus was training the men to design a working septic system that could be reproduced by other families, on other lots, in the village and teaching the construction techniques to build safe structures.  

Other team members from Global Need's “Global Now” worked in the village school with the local children teaching character education. The staff of the school built and maintains a greenhouse on the school property. Many varieties of fruits and vegetables are grown and harvested for children’s lunches. Juice is extracted from fruits each day providing much-needed vitamins. Team members assisted the children of the school with a new recycling project. A local businessman receives many shipments of boxes each day. He saves the boxes and delivers them to the schoolyard where the children flatten, stack, and recycle them. The money earned for this returns to the school to purchase items for the classrooms.

Through the relationships built in this village, Global Need's  “Global Impact” has the opportunity to continue providing training and resources to the residents while they rebuild their lives.  Long-term success will be achieved when residents combine training with the resources they already have, resulting in a better quality of life.