VOLUNTEER CLEANUP FESTIVAL WITH CEPIA

Our fun CEPIA volunteer group at the start of the clean-up.

Kip, Brian and other volunteers pose in front of
what we were told is the oldest building in Huacas.

It's been a while since we've done a good trash clean up. At least a month or so. We were really beginning to miss it (no, really!)

And then we saw a flyer for the "Festival de Limpieza" seeking volunteers to help clean-up a sleepy town just outside of Tamarindo called Huacas. Yes!

A group of enterprising kids decided their town had a serious trash issue. Together with CEPIA, an impressive local nonprofit that helps area youth and their families, the kids designed flyers and organized the town-wide clean-up to help beautify the city before the its annual festival and bull-riding tournament. 

Liz, Brian and our little helper Joel.

We grabbed our friend Brian and headed out early on a Saturday morning. But, not before the fantastic folks at Villa Amarilla, who supported the Festival de Limpieza last year, outfitted us with some great t-shirts! Thanks, Cinde and TJ!

In true Costa Rican fashion, the clean-up started on "Tica time," about an hour and a half late. The delay gave us a chance to meet the kids who participate with CEPIA, as well as get to know a group of San Diego State University students who were volunteering with CEPIA for the summer. 

As we milled about tapping our watches and waiting to get started, one SDSU student explained that when the volunteers leave in a week, it will be up to the older youth in the CEPIA program to continue the projects they've all been working on, and they wanted to be sure the youth were ready to lead the events. 

As we would soon learn, the kids are more than ready.

Kip and Liz show the group our mad clean-up skills.

Just like a Tica clock, when they were ready, the older kids took charge, putting us into groups armed with separately-marked bags meant for aluminum, plastic, and trash. We each went our separate ways, led by a designated guide who knew the town and our planned route. 

We walked along the main road as hands waved from passing cars. We crossed streams and passed under bridges. We even dodged cowboys on horseback and the herd of young cows they were leading. 

Between the 30+ volunteers, we scoured the entire city cleaning streets and litter-pocked parks. It was great to see the difference the group had made. And it was even better to watch the young boys and girls take control and work together to make such a big difference in their little town. 

Thanks to Super Compro for donating the bags and rubber gloves for the clean-up!

Joel shows off the flyer for the upcoming festival.

 Joel helps Kip clean up a field.

A big thanks to the students of CEPIA for organizing the Festival de Limpieza clean up. We had a great time meeting all of you!

The happy clean-up crew showing off our garbage next to the park sign that says "Don't
throw trash here. We  take care of Huacas."