Project Launch:

A $500 grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids program in 2009 supported a four-day camp on a remote island in the northeast part of Costa Rica. Campamento Survivor, Colorado brought together high school dropouts, those thinking about dropping out of school and those in unstable family or social situation in a challenging environment in Caribe de Cariari to learn survival skills and gain lifelong knowledge about character and interpersonal relationships. Participants were split into tribes and spend most of the four days with their tribe, building group confidence and team spirit. Competitive activities and sporting events were organized, pitting tribes against each other to promote teamwork and social bonding among members of each tribe. In between competitions, tribes spent time discussing social issues with adult leaders, such as leadership, making good decisions, drug prevention, and health and gender issues, and answering questions youth had that they were unable to ask or get answered due to uncomfortable or unstable conditions at home, at school or in the community. The conditions of the camp were very basic, with participants sleeping in tents and boiling their own water, to encourage an appreciation of the natural environment as well as the development of life-skills. At camp, these at-risk youth who often find themselves in high risk situations at home and/or on the street began building a foundation of self-support, learned from each other and created social networks that can help them avoid risky situations in the future. Participants came away with new perspectives on issues directly affecting their lives and guidance that can continue to have a positive impact in the future. Project leaders indicated that participants expressed significant appreciation that U.S.-kids had cared enough to provide such a meaningful experience for them.