Costa Rica

Sandwiched between two oceans and 800 miles of coast line, the Costa Rican people live a comparatively comfortable lifestyle. The national motto of “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life” encapsulates the tendency of Costa Rican Ticos and Ticas to be lighthearted, accommodating, and genuine. The nation is often referred to as the region’s developmental success story due to its high standard of living, 96% literacy rate, and environmental initiatives. 

This prosperity has attracted people from all over the world to visit the country as tourists or expatriates looking to settle in the tropics. The steady economic expansion has also attracted populations from the more turbulent neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Panama. Some of these immigrants can be described as economic refugees but many of them have abandoned their assets, families, and entire lives to avoid violence and political persecution.

Since these people and their families are undocumented, they are often forced to live in poverty. Having nowhere else to turn, these refugees form makeshift communities, referred to as slums, and begin to rely on each other for survival. Slum life fosters social illnesses like crime, drug use, and illiteracy but history has shown that with some help, these populations integrate and become significant contributors to their new home. Each summer, GoBeyond students embark on high school community service trips to Costa Rica so they can lend a hand to these populations and explore the magnificence of their country.