Expedition 13A: Our Incredible Community and Environmental Projects

Over the coming weeks we will be discussing in detail all of the projects Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua will be undertaking during expedition 13A; with information on why those specific projects are chosen and what we are hoping the outcomes will be. However for now we thought you would like to see a quick overview of everything we are doing and who from our incredible team of Project Managers have been allocated to which projects. 

Environmental Projects

Raleigh environmental projects aim to fulfil the UN Millenium Development Goal 7a; reducing loss of biodiversity. Hoping to ensure environmental sustainability through education of local society, protection and preserving natural habitats and resources and also important species of plants and animals.

Alpha 4: Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Holly, Marisa, Lou and Emma

Objectives: Maintaining and creating new trails in the park, increasing tourist numbers and ensuring income for the park and local economy.

Project Managers: Louise, Emma, Marisa and Holly

Project Partners: SINAC

Summary: Literally translated Carara means 'the park of the crocodiles', a beautiful National Park in the South of Costa Rica teaming with diverse species of animals. At the moment the park is suffering from illegal logging and also issues with their trails which flood easily. Raleigh will be helping to create a new trail in a less likely to flood area to try and increase tourist numbers. This increased income will mean more money to fund rangers which will hinder the illegal logging, ensure maintenance of the area and benefit protection of this incredible area for future generations.

Alpha 5: RNVS San Lucas Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Sally, Paul, Kate and Claire

Objectives: Environemental Protection Project - creating new trail, development of visitor centre.

Project Managers: Sally, Paul and Kate

Project Partners: SINAC

Summary: Once a prison, this island is now a wildlife refuge. High in biodiversity, the island suffers from poachers who arrive on a beach which at the moment is inaccessible for Rangers. Raleigh will be creating a trail which traverses the island, between two beaches, ensuring the rangers have easier access in order to patrol the refuge. Similar to Carara the project encompasses helping to develop visitor facilities, tourist monies ensure rangers income and maintenance of the parks.

Alpha 6: Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica

Zoe and Clive

Objectives: Environmental Sustainability Project - working alongside park rangers to maintain park infrastructure

Project Managers: Dr.Zoe and Clive

Summary: Cabo Blanco was set up in order to protect an area of rainforest which was under threat from illegal logging. This area of biodiversity has countless species of animals along it's stunning beaches and within the rainforest. Raleigh will be maintaining the trail network, painting parts of the ranger station and removing unwanted waste from beaches.

Community Projects
Basic Human Rights of education, access to safe clean water sources and disaster relief. 

Alpha 7: Matapalo/ Monte Frio, Achuapa, Nicaragua

Lena and Antonio

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal to improve the health of the community through education in water sanitation and installation of a gravity water feed.

Project Managers: Antonio and Dr.Lena

Project Partner: Multi-stakeholder partnership with the local community, Cooperativa Juan Francisco Paz Silva and Raleigh

Summary: Installing a gravity water feed to deliver clean and safe running water to 40 families close to the town of Achuapa, this area is one of the poorest and most remote areas of Nicaragua. Currently the local community use water from the local river which often dries up in the summer and comes from polluted water sources. 21% of the Nicaraguan population do not have access to a safe water source.

Alpha 8: Siares, San Ramon, Nicaragua

Denise, Dav and Marie

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal 2: Universal Primary Education, Alpha 8 will be building a pre-school, installing two latrines and a water standpipe.

Project Managers: Dr.Dav, Denise and Marie

Project Partners: A new Raleigh partner UCA San Ramon, an association of small coffee farming cooperatives and families living within the San Ramon area.

Summary: Recent statistics show that 22% of the population in Nicaragua are illiterate. These problems are most felt in rural areas such as San Ramon where half of the population in Nicaragua live. In Siares there is a primary school however the younger pre-school children are educated in the same room as the elder children, a lot of disruption occurs and parents have removed their children entirely due to this. Improved education facilities and the creation of a pre-school will hopefully help achieve universal education in this area.  Participation by the local community is integral and the team will be working on achieving this helping everyone to achieve the basic human right of education and the right to play for the area of Siares. 

Alpha 9: Conte Burika - La Carona

Helena, Shane and Katharine

Objectives: Health Improvement Project, building a health post. This project hopes to improve the overall health of the community in treating conditions from respiratory issues to malnutrition.

Project Managers: Dr.Katharine, Shane and Helena

Project Partners: Conte Burika Community

Summary: Situated in the remote Burika Peninsula, this much needed medical centre will be built in Alto Rio Claro in Conte Burika Indigenous Territory. The Ngobe (or Guaymi) Indigenous people who live there currently, are subsistence farmers who maintain the cultural traditions of their ancestors and the project aims to improve the health of the community. Currently, visiting doctors (who walk 5 hours along a beach to reach the community) provide medical care for the local people at impromptu clinics based in the local school or community centre which makes providing adequate care very difficult. 

Alpha 10: La Arenilla, Miraflor, Nicaragua

Angie, Victoria and Sacha

Objectives: creating sustainable housing using natural materials which ensures the local community can repair their properties themselves.

Project Managers: Sacha, Angie and Victoria

Project Partners: El Foro Miraflor - agricultural cooperatives whose members farm on the Miraflor Nature Reserve.

Summary: The Miraflor Reserve is 206sqkms of beautiful mountainous terrain with various different ecosystems such as tropical savannah, dry tropical forest and mountain cloud forest. This project will be undertaking building of sustainable housing, using natural materials local to the area and in partnership with the local community builders.