The Education Committee was formed to further educational opportunities and provide assistance for people of all ages in the San Ramón area through volunteerism, local fundraising, and partnerships with local educational organizations and business partnerships.

Major Programs

English Conversation Club

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The English Conversation Club was established in 2012 to serve two community needs:
  1. Provide a place for people to practice conversational English with native English speakers.
  2. Fund a student scholarship program for local students.
The Club provides beginner through advanced-level English students with the opportunity to practice English skills in conversation groups led by volunteer native English speakers. This quarterly eight-week program generates income to support the Scholarship Program, provides financial support for the UCR Museo Regional de San Ramón, and offers cultural exchange opportunities for more than 30 ex-pats who lead sessions for local Ramonenses. Many CAA members and non-members who participate as session leaders find the experience to be extremely rewarding, and make new friends within the San Ramon community.

The English Conversation maintains its own “Closed” Facebook page for club members and leaders-facilitators.

So far in 2015 the club has attracted over 250 participants in three 8 week sessions.

Student Scholarship Program

The CAA Student Scholarship Program was developed in 2012 and initiated in 2013. Criteria for selection are: 1.) The student must not be receiving any other form of financial aid and, 2.) “Absent financial assistance to the family, the candidate student would have difficulty completing his/her education, or reach their academic potential”. Awards are issued at the beginning of each semester and are in the form of vouchers redeemable only for shoes, uniforms and school supplies through partnering merchants that offer discounted pricing. The program has grown from 8 students in 2013 to 13 in 2014, 25 students for 2015 and 28 in 2016.


Youth Leadership Program

Youth Leadership Session: This exciting new initiative kicked off its first two sessions with 22 youth identified by the colegio as exhibiting leadership abilities.   This initiative was organized by Johanna Fernández Gómez and Fernanda Rojas.  They connected with Olga Azofeifa, who has a tremendous background in leadership training, to be the instructor. Olga recently retired from Walmart SA as their head of Latin American training.  Of the 22 starting the sessions, 17 earned certificates of completion.  The next steps for them will be a follow up meeting at which they will be identifying potential community projects which they might organize or be involved in.  Our thanks to Johanna and Fernanda for their leadership on this initiative!

Education = Hope

The CAA Education Committee partners with  Education = Hope, a 501c3 not for profit located in Fort Mills, South Carolina.   e = H has has a parallel mission of providing education to children in the Americas and Africa.   Its website is http://educationequalshope.org/ or click the button below.

Spanish Conversation Group

This program, now in its 3rd year,  provides ex-pats in the area with an opportunity to practice their Spanish under the guidance of experience local Spanish language teachers.  In 2015, over 60 participants got to practice Spanish and further their efforts and integrating into our local adoptive community.


Affiliations

  • University of Costa Rica-Sede Occidente, San Ramon
  • University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC)
  • Costa Rica Ministry of Education (MEP) Regional Office
  • Museo Regonial de San Ramón (part of the University of Costa Rica)
  • Centro Cultural
  • Peace Corps
  • Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), the national apprenticeship institute which offers English courses in San Ramón, and for which the Education Committee provides classroom native English volunteers.
  • Local businesses which provide discounted school supplies/uniforms through the scholarship award voucher redemption program including El Mercadito/Nueva Merdcadito de San Ramon, Zapatos de San Ramon and Tienda 5th Avenue.
  • e=h,  Education equals Hope, a 501c3 organization located in Fort Mills, South Carolina

Committee Members


                            David Scott                          Elizabeth Mora                Andrea Carter                Linda McAnally                        Fernanda Rojas
                            Scott McAnally, Chair           Johanna Fernandez       Gayle Sommers            Ana Doris Guzmán Mora         Ricardo Garcia
                            Mariana Latham                    Lynette Lewis                 John Paul Lewis           Dianne Fischer
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