Giving the gift of education, giving the gift of life, giving the gift of opportunity! Your generous donations enable us to develop our watershed regeneration projects, across Education, Permaculture, Marine Conservation, Water Health, and Reforestation, working alongside the community to achieve a greater impact in this beautiful ecosystem.
Our Strategy
As part of our core value of Promoting Meaningful Community, we have evolved a strategy for engaging people in our surrounding area. This strategy is based on three pillars: Education, Health and Economic Development. Since Playa Viva is built on the estuary that is formed by the Juluchuca River, we have a commitment to the town of Juluchuca but also all the way up the watershed of the Juluchuca River through three other communities. We work with local leaders and stakeholders to develop programs that benefit these communities so that as Playa Viva grows and prospers, the communities in our local watershed do as well.
Education
Education is the key to social change. Each week we work with over 120 kids in four communities ranging from kindergarten to high school. Our program includes:
- English classes during the school day at six different schools as well as evening English classes for adults and children in Juluchuca
- Juluchuca Limpio, our environmental education and recycling project
- Art classes and community beautification
- Animal welfare activities, including a spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats
Health
Our health and nutrition program focuses on holistic health for both adults and children. This includes mental, emotional, physical, and social health. Our program includes:
- Healthy cooking classes each month in conjunction with La Casita EcoVegana
- Youth sports, including the formation of a youth soccer league with training sessions four times a week in three communities
- Access to water by sponsoring the construction of a well for families in need
Economic Empowerment
At Playa Viva, we hire the majority of our staff from Juluchuca and its surrounding villages. We buy local salt, eggs, milk, cheese, seasonal produce, coffee and chocolate directly from the farmers in these villages.
To empower youth, we participate in two mentorship and training programs:
- Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro, run by the federal government, which provides stipends for 15 young people to complete year-long apprenticeships at Playa Viva
- A high school training program in which three students complete a 220-hour internship at Playa Viva each season
Pack for a Purpose
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for the projects we support in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our projects.
Donate
Please consider supporting our community impact programs. Each donation of $25 is enough to spay or neuter a dog in town, or to purchase materials for four new recycling bins. Through our Adopt a Student Program you can sponsor the education of a child in need for $30 a month. You can also aid our turtle conservation efforts at La Tortuga Viva by Adopting a Nest for just $45.
Please follow this link to make a donation via our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation, meaning any donation for US citizens tax deductible. Thank you!
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