By Alejandra Monge | Executive Director
This bridge will save lives and will make possible to kids to make to high school. The construction of a suspension bridge that allows people and vehicles such as motorcycles to cross the Drake Bay river safely, will allow both access to basic services and better enable the development of these rural communities in disadvantaged situations. The Corcovado Foundation both our environmental education and seaturtle conservation programs are based in these communities.
La Peninsula de Osa, is Costa Rica’s last frontier. Its isolation and its remoteness has also help protect the amazing natural resources of the area from large investors. However, its remoteness and its isolation has also proven to be a huge challenge for those that live in these communities. The lack of services such as education, health, communications and transportation trial those that live in the area. Without minimum socioeconomic conditions, local populations have no option that use and abuse their natural surrounding for subsistence.
One of the big challenges they face is the Drake Bay river. This river is located between the communities of Progreso and Agujitas and it lacks a bridge. During most of the rainy season the water level of this rivers makes impossible the passage of people and vehicles leaving El Progreso completely isolated.
All the communities in the Drake Bay District need to cross this river. This river stands between them and basic services such as the health clinic and the high school. In addition, many people from that area must make their way every day in order to make it to work, most of the employment opportunities are located in Drake Bay. The people from Los Angeles must go daily to El Progreso to purchase food where the nearest grocery store is located. In addition, all communities in the interior such as Rincon de San Josecito, Caletas, Los Planes, Agujitas must cross this river, since the only road that connects these communities crosses this river. Therefore, all these communities are isolated during the winter, without the possibility of having an exit way by land. If the people are forced to leave by road their only possibility then is going out by sea, on a boat having to cross the mouth of the Sierpe River, which is extremely dangerous. This river has claimed the life of more than 80 people in Drake Bay. Babies are born on boats, when their moms were trying to make it to the hospital and civilization.
Therefore, the construction of a suspension bridge that allows people and vehicles such as motorcycles to cross that river safely, will allow both access to basic services and better enable the development of these rural communities in disadvantaged situations.
With funding from the Interamerican foundation, our organization was able to contribute with $10,000 USD in materials, the community will donate their time and labor for an approximate of $15,000 USD, but we still need $15,000 USD more in materials. You can take advantage of this Globalgiving bonus rewards day, which starts tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. Costa Rica time or 9:00 am EDT. Donations thru globalgiving are tax deductible in the United States and tomorrow they will be match 40% while funds remain.
By Francisco Delgado and Alejandra Monge | Directors
By Alejandra Monge | Executive Director
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