This blog is to document our adventures with the camera in Costa Rica. None of us are professional photographers so don’t ask us about F-stops and lenses, we hope you just enjoy the photos and information here. The following photos were shot by my sister Carol. thanks!
We were in the pool watching as a storm headed our way when we saw this rainbow. Wow!
The Colors of Lake Arenal
The lodge where we stayed at Arenal provided a great view of not only the Arenal Volcano but also of the lake, farm lands, and forests below our hotel, and an even better place for taking photos! http://www.arenal.net/hotel/linda-vista-del-norte.htm
Sunset on Arenal Volcano
If you want to take a trip to Volcan Arenal and want to get a chance to see the lava flow, be sure to check the Arenal Area map, http://www.arenal.net/arenal-costa-rica-map.htm for the direction of the lava flow and the hotels that are in view range. The volcano often puts on a good show at night.
The Aprodisa Recycling Center in Atenas, Costa Rica has been operating
for 19 years. As if providing extensive recycling facilities to the
outlying community was not enough, they also have been providing
valuable assistance to people with disabilities. Their program favors
the employment of people with disabilities and provides them with
fulfilling work for a monthly compensation.
Aprodesa Recycling Center Front Entrance
Their Mission Statement is : To take the national policies regarding special education together
with family, community and business inclusion, to ensure that all
actions developed are properly planned for the achievement of the
objectives which promote the maximum life skills development and
interests of people with disabilities in the Canton of Atenas.
Disabled workers making clothes pins
The Center employs about 60 people and provides each employee with two
meals and a snack daily in addition to practical skills training. They
are involved in the Center’s recycling project which rescues raw
materials for companies such as Kimberly Clark (paper), the National
Brewery (aluminum and plastic) and Vicesa (glass) as well as the
plastic recycling project of making and selling clothes pins, a
valuable necessity in Costa Rica.
The clothes pin jig
Another project in which the participants engage is their vegetable
nursery project. They are involved in growing and selling local
vegetable and herb plants that are in high demand in the area such as:
sweet peppers, tomatoes, celery and cilantro. They have just begun
this project and are happy with their results. They are looking to
expand this venture.
Small green house planting bed
starting seedlings for future sale
Aprodisa teaches life skills such as cooking and home economics as
well as industrial arts. In the classroom/kitchen, cooking classes are
given. They also have an area for making piñatas and repairing
miscellaneous items for resale. These items include everything from
household and office electronics to broken vases. The project is
valuable to the participants and the community alike because it helps
the participants to become more self sufficient and at the same time
provides several needed services for the community.
Classroom/kitchen
Unfortunately we may be loosing this valuable asset to all of Costa
Rica. This Center is being forced to relocate in 3 months due to new
zoning laws and they need financial assistance to do so. They are
accepting donations for this move. Their Bank account is with Banco
Nacional and the account number is 100-1-0210002867-9. They also need
volunteers to help out with various projects, they can be reached at
2446-8088 or aprodisacr@gmail.com Adrian Herrera is the administrator
and Rosa Maria Jimenez is the assistant administrator.
Items to be repaired
This Center does so many good things for so many people in Costa Rica.
Let’s help them to stay in business and continue in their efforts.
Everyone has heard how beautiful it is in Costa Rica. While living or
visiting here, you can actually do some things to contribute to its
never ending beauty and Recycling is among the easiest.
Recycling Cardboard and Cartons
Coming from a suburban town in the US, recycling was definitely
available… by car, but it took about 20-30 minutes to get there. If
you wanted curbside pickup in my neighborhood you had to pay $40 a
month. Here in Atenas, Costa Rica at The Aprodisa Recycling Center,
recycling could not be easier. There are small bins in the park in the
center of town that allow you to recycle plastic, paper and aluminum.
If you have more than a few items, you just need to walk a few blocks
further down the road to the recycling center where they can assist
you with just about anything else. If you are used to curbside pick up
they also provide something almost like that. In each neighborhood
they have a pickup route on certain days of the week, so you don’t
really even have to leave your cozy home to recycle!
Aprodisa Recycling center
This recycling center which has been in operation for 19 years,
provides a valuable service in keeping the outlying areas clean and
neat and keeping landfills from filling up. They accept all metals,
glass, plastic, paper and even electronics.
Another valuable service this center provides is for the community
itself. They make it their goal to employ persons with disabilities.
These employees are able to enjoy gainful employment while working in
a positive and up building atmosphere.
If you are like us and enjoy taking your reusable bags to the grocery
stores, saving plastic and recycling your household garbage things can
remain exactly the same when you come to Costa Rica.
Bottles on their way to be recycled
The Aprodisa Recycling Center is having to move from their current
location due to new zoning regulations. They are currently looking for
a new location and need our help. Our next article will explain more
about what they do, why they need our help and what we all can do to
keep our recycling center running… Stay tuned!
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