A matching grant from the Rotary Foundation will help finance new computers for a girls school in suburban San Jose, Costa Rica
The grant was sought by the Rotary Clubs of Portland Pearl, in Oregon, and Belen, in Costa Rica; it is the second project the two clubs have spearheaded at Educational Project Suri, an all-girls school in the community of Pavas.
International Service Director and President-elect Lou Radja made the announcement in April to his fellow Pearl Rotarians. Total project cost for computer equipment and furniture to build a lab is $18,465. PPRC contributed $,2,000 and Belen $200. Partners in District 5100 were the Rotary Clubs of Portland (downtown) and Tigurd. The Rotary Foundation’s matching grant approval brought a commitment of $8,065.
“We are very fond of this project because of our great relationship with the Belen Club,” said Radja.
“Members of Pearl Rotary (including then-President Don Barney) visited our partners in Costa Rica over two years ago for our first successful matching grant which brought a state of the art kitchen at the Suri school. The project helps impoverished women in the Pavas area develop culinary skills and start small businesses. We also visited the very room that will, as a result of this new grant, be be equipped with computers.”
Pearl’s international service committee is now finishing the collection of commitments, with an eye to a June completion.
Added Radja: “We are very excited about this project and look forward to another visit by Pearl Rotarians and our partnering clubs with our friends in the Belen club.