Why Service Learning in
Costa Rica?
"Service-learning" is a form of experiential education in
which students engage in activities that address human
and community needs together with structured
opportunities intentionally designed to promote student
learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are
key concepts of service-learning.”
(Jacoby, B. (1996) Service-Learning and Higher Education)
Procedure
 Prepare in class before hand
 Cultural awareness
 What to expect
 Community capitals
 Establish relaxed rapport
 Use methods of RRA to study the community capitals
 Empower locals
 Reflect before, during and after the experience
Primeras Impresiones
(en en el camino a Guadalupe)
(on the way to Guadalupe)
Natural Capital
Methods:
 Participatory mapping
 Transect Walks
 Secondary sources
 different animal species
 extent of the rainforest
 affect of seasons on agriculture
Results:
 Coast line
 Tropical Climate
 Primary Rain Forrest
 Corcovado National Park





140 mammal species
400 bird species
116 amphibian species
40 fish species
500 tree species
 Rincon River
 Guaymi Indian Reservation
Human Capital
 Key informants
 Do it yourself (excursions)
 Semi-structured interviews
 Observation
Results:



Merlyn's

architectural skills

business knowledge (workshops)
Education

Formal: primary, secondary, University

Lacking motivation, pregnancy
Skills


Crop cultivation, observed skills form parents, social skills
Labor

Tourism, eco-lodge spill over

Agriculture: oil palm, harvesting, food production

Mining

Construction
Social Capital
Methods:
 Participatory mapping (homes)
 Do it your self method
 We also used the do it your self method
 Bridging and bonding factors
Results:
 Town festival
 Soccer tournament (bridging and bonding)
 Recreational games, significance of horses
 Extremely accepting
 Gossip & Scandal
 Community members’ lack of ambition (priorities lie
elsewhere)
Built Capital
Methods:
 Participatory mapping
 House materials, property maintenance, community
centers
 Transect walks
 commodities
 Secondary sources
 Exact layout
Results:


State monopolies

Extensive road system (new road system to Guadalupe)

Municipalities

93% of the electricity in Costa Rica is generated with renewable resources
Guadalupe

Soccer field

House materials (tin roof, cement foundation)

School (NGO’s)

Community center

Medical center

Town store

Church

Commodities (electricity, TV,
Un reproche poco relajado y construyó la
observación de capital
(A little relaxed reproach and built capital observation)
Cultural Capital
Methods:
 Key informants (Personal priorities)
 Semi structured interviews (time spent..)
 Religion, food, family structures
 Do it yourself
 engaging
Results:
 “Pura Vida”
 Fútbol

Leisure, good life and beautiful surroundings
 Roman Catholic (Spanish influence)
 Male dominated
 Food
 Spanish, American, Caribbean influence
 Gallo pinto, plantains, ceviche, fresh
 Music
 Community center
 Salsa, meringue, and reggae
Financial Capital
Methods:
 Key informants (job types)
 Secondary sources (money in local economy)
 Participatory mapping (reflected investment sources)
Indicators:
 Transportation
 House maintenance
 Community facilities
 Personal appearance
Results:
 GDP for Costa Rica is $38.27 billion
 Agriculture 6.5%
 Industry and commerce 25.5%
 Tourism and services 68%
 Guadalupe
 Tourism: eco-lodges, souvenirs
 Agriculture
Political Capital
Methods:
 Semi structured interviews
 Local government
 Groups of decision makers
 Secondary sources
 Local, state, federal
Results:
 Nation: democratic republic
 Supreme electoral tribunal
 7 provinces
 Puntarenas (Osa Peninsula)
 Guadalupe: Puntarenas province.
 Key informants (decision making power)
 Groups, Merlyn, Daniela
Nuestras reflexiones durante el servicio
(Our reflections during service- learning experience)
Challenges We Faced:
 Communication
 Especially while establishing RR
 Rushing
 Strained/ forced relationships
 Block natural flow of information
 Biases
 Single view of society (season and people)
 Urge towards formalism
Reflection
Process:
¿Qué hemos aprendido acerca de
nosotros mismos?
Being eager with good intentions is
not enough
Cultural Awareness is KEY
Reflection was the best way to learn
Channeling frustration
Privilege Acknowledgement
Flexibility, Adaptability, and being
comfortable
(What have we learned about ourselves?)
What we have learned
about the academic
topic itself:
Can’t be rushed
Education and Empowerment
No formula
Importance of thorough reflection
Crucial aspects of different methods
Nothing exists in isolation
What we learned
about the community
of Guadalupe:
They were open to our help and
presence
Appreciated life
Unity
Social Issues of
the Region:
When priority is given to one capital
(social) others lack (built/financial)
Youngsters move to city
School has not expanded
Image Source: http://www.washjeff.edu/content.aspx?section=3641&menu_id=709&crumb=652&id=5485
Impact We Have Made in the Community:
 Exposure
 Shown the relevance of ecotourism
 Motivated people to stay in the community
 Realization of the beauty/importance of their region
 Motivation to pursue more education to better their
community
What we will do differently next time:

Do more extensive research

Be “On the ground” for a longer period of time

Establish a better relaxed rapport

Be more fluent in Spanish

Provide strategies of empowerment

More community engagement

Be able to leave them with ways to continue to better their development

Leave the community with skills to continue their efforts toward sustainability
Capital Natural de discusión, la
experiencia post-servicio
(Natural Capital discussion, post-service learning experience)