A Call to Action.

In the heart of San José, Costa Rica, lies a beacon of hope and opportunity: Centro de Desarrollo Integral (CDI).  

Every weekday after school, children from a poor neighborhood near downtown San Jose walk to a small rented facility near their homes. For the next couple of hours these kids receive homework help, play games, work on crafts, sing songs, eat a snack, and listen to Bible stories.

Our goal is to help these children get a better start in life than they would otherwise. We want them to excel in school, become men and women of strong character, and develop into committed followers of Jesus.

Education

Without adequate support, many of our children would face challenges in completing their schoolwork, which could lead to poor academic performance and limit their future opportunities. At CDI, we provide a safe and stimulating environment where children receive help with their assignments through personalized tutoring and supplementary activities that reinforce their learning.

Character

The environment that these kids grow up in does not encourage the development of strong character. Our staff models and encourages patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, and self-control. Parents report to us that their children are growing in these areas. And we see this as well.

Spiritual Growth

The spiritual growth of these children is an important part of our program. During our afternoons with the kids, we tell them stories and sing songs that help them know God, the life of Jesus, and the plan of salvation.

Progress

Every day, we witness success stories that demonstrate the positive impact of our work. Recently, “Valentina”, a 9-year-old girl struggling with math, has seen a significant improvement in her grades thanks to the help she receives at our center. Her self-esteem has grown, and she now feels motivated to continue learning and facing new challenges with confidence. Stories like Valentina’s reflect the real change happening thanks to the support of our sponsors.

You Can Help

It takes money to run CDI. We pay rent for the facility, pay staff salaries, and buy snacks and materials for the kids. The way we finance CDI is entirely through donations.

Here are some ways you can help:

1. Sponsor a child: Select one of our 30 children to sponsor with a monthly financial donation. By sponsoring a child you will get to know that child and vis versa.

2. General donation: Your donation can be either one time, monthly, quarterly or annually.

3. Volunteer: Spend a week or more with us. Your time and skills can make a significant difference. Whether helping with homework, organizing workshops, or simply being a mentor, your involvement is invaluable.

4. Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness. Sharing our cause on your social media and among your contacts can attract more people interested in supporting our project.

5. Prayer: Praying to God is essential for achieving our goals at CDI because it provides us with strength, wisdom, and direction in our mission.

Contact

Carlos Lagos at clagos.262@gmail.com

Photo 1: Valentina, 9-year-old, in one of our trips to visit San Jose‘s Airport Security.

Photo 2: Valentina’s most recent grade’s report card.