Hello,
I am a resident here, living in Costa Rica for 3 years originally from the U.K. I live about 2 hours away from the Boruca Indian reservation. I have been looking for an opportunity to help some people here to better their lives. Together with the blessing of a local hero who had been reforesting since the 1970s and knows the lay of the land, I have decided to help the Borucas. I am volunteering my time to help these sweet hard working artisans, helping describe their products better, get them some more business, promote their tours and to help them to improve their lives.
Some Borucas are very torn to move to the big city San Jose to make money. Many Costa Ricans think that life might be better in the city. They might earn more money but living in this breathtaking hillside with nature is so much safer and healthier for them. We would like to help them and do what we can so they are not forced to move away from their home and their culture to find work.
I am helping them with labeling and descriptive information sheets for their artisan products, as well as business cards to enable better contact. and now with building this website. I am not benefiting financially in any way, but I am benefitting spiritually and linguistically in Spanish!
They are very grateful for the help and realise the uniqueness of their products and how the special aspects of their one-of-a-kind products needs to be emphasized.
This website will be getting better and better with more photos, more translation and personalised artist profiles as I find time to create more pages. So please come visit here again soon….. In the meantime please go visit the Borucans and enjoy what we have here so far!
Regards,
Lara Mueller
For comments on the website or advice on how you can help! My e-mail is: puravidachiquita@gmail.com
Boruca wish list
If you would like to help the Borucans directly why not consider granting them a wish? The following needs will help them to better their businesses, community and stimulate local tourism.
Marina's group- La Flor wish for:
* A café so that we can provide food and drinks for the visitors that come up here on a day trip and visit the museum. They have a building right next door but they need the tables, chairs, front of house equipment and then also back of house, all necessary kitchen supplies to build a café.
* A sewing machine, ideally a strong industrial one to sew through the thick woven bags. They only have one working model right now and so sewing (therefore production) is limited due to one person being able to sew.
* Educational materials and books for the children in school.
Lourdes's group- So Cagru wish for:
* Pillows, mattresses, towels and sheets for entertaining more tourism in their hospitality program.
* A tourist van to bring tours of people up to Boruca.
* I also noticed that they need some more plates, bowls, glasses and silverware for their restaurant.
For any items on the wish list - we don't necessarily need financial donation; used donated items would be welcomed!