The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Campaign to Outfit Needy Schools:
‘No to Exploitation, Yes to Education'
By Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net

If every child went to school instead of working, and if no child were exploited, either sexually or in the workplace, but studied instead, they still may not have books to read, uniforms to wear, or room to learn in public schools, according to children's rights advocates.

“No to exploitation, yes to education,” says one of the postcards sold around the capital to raise money for needy schools.

The Costa Rican branch of International Children's Defense (DNI), which has looked at exploitation through the sometimes dingy lens of the public education system, yesterday began a money-raising campaign to outfit schools that are most in need.

About half of Costa Rica's schools have only one teacher and one classroom for all the children of all the ages they serve, according to DNI. Throughout the country, access to education and the materials needed for learning is skimpy.

In response, together with the Child Welfare Office (PANI) and private businesses, DNI began its “No to Exploitation, Yes to Education” campaign of postcard sales and donations to give children a reason stay in school.

“We believe the right to education is a fundamental right,” said Iván Rodriguez, member of DNI's board of directors, at the kickoff for the campaign yesterday in the Multiplaza del Este mall in Zapote, east of San José. He said problems that affront children, especially in rural or impoverished urban communities, include bad roads, a lack of affordable transportation, dilapidated schools and no money for uniforms or supplies.

To raise money, postcards will be on sale around the capital – at 2x1 Pizza restaurants, the American Mall in San Pedro, east of San José, Multiplaza del Este, the Plaza Colonial shopping center in Escazú, west of San José, and Opticas Munkel eyeglass stores.

The postcards are reprints of drawings by Costa Rican children. Organizers are asking for a donation for each card, rather than a fixed price.

At the launching ceremony of the campaign, nearly 300 children listened to the words of Rosalía Gil, Minister of Child Welfare, and later saw the movie National Treasure in the mall's Cinemark Theater.

“This is special because the cards were made by children like you,” Gil told the audience of mostly children and some international DNI volunteers and representatives of the national media.

“There are always people who need a little more than what they have,” she said. “There are many children who are being exploited instead of going to school.”

Marco Villeda, general manager of Comunicación Internacional, said his company and other sponsors paid nearly ¢1.3 million ($2,800) to print the cards.

Donations to the campaign can be deposited into DNI's account at Banco Nacional, 077 0000157-6.