Seeds of Hope

Hola everyone!

We're back safe and sound from our trip now (although we're all walking zombies today due to our overnight flight!). But we still have more updates to share about the work we did on our trip!

We had a wonderful time working with Seeds of Hope!

Meeting with PCV Jessica 
On Thursday, we met with Jessica Skeesick, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Parrita, CR, who took time out of her busy schedule to meet with us and explain the story of how SOH got started and her work with them. We learned from Jessica about the work that she personally does with Seeds of Hope. For example, she is currently teaching a gender and sexuality course that touches on many topics like puberty, sexual abuse, and healthy relationships.

Sadly, we weren't able to meet up with Penny Williams, the SOH founder. However, Jessica did a great job sharing the SOH story with us in her absence. Here is a short version of the SOH story, taken from their website:

In November 2011, Penny Williams was in Costa Rica on a bridge over the Tarcoles River with two students from San Diego. Previously, she brought mission teams to Costa Rica with the sole intent of restoration such as revamping an elementary school playground in a low income area and the pediatric ward of the Quepos Hospital. She and the students (both girls) were scouting for their next project later that year. They had heard a little about Human Trafficking, so it was on their radar. They stopped to pray and asked God to "open and close doors" and to show them quickly what to do for their next project. Two American men in their late sixties were on the bridge looking down at the crocodiles and began a casual conversation. They openly shared that they were from Denver, Colorado, and that they were on a sex vacation. Penny quickly realized that this was a Divine Encounter and asked many questions. The men revealed that they had been with girls from Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic and Netherlands that week while in Costa Rica. They shared details on where to find girls, the prices, and even the fact that many of the girls were under age. The conversation was random and surreal.

Later that week in a meeting with the Dr. Aldo, the head of the Quepos Hospital Pediatric ward, The Chief of the OIJ (The Costa Rican FBI), the Director of PANI (Child Protective Services) and the Minister of Health, Penny presented them with the idea of opening a shelter for girls who have been sexually exploited. The officials concurred that, if children were rescued, no housing, programs or shelters were available in Costa Rica.  The best they could do was to take them to the hospital for one or two days, and then they had to return them to the streets. The officials encouraged Penny to move forward with this project. They promised to support her in this endeavor and have followed through with their commitment.

Seeds of Hope has now obtained licenses from these agencies. We will duplicate The Clubhouse Program and will work to equip others to do the same.
Costa Rica has become the hub of child prostitution for the Western Hemisphere. A destination where poverty meets tourism; Costa Rica is a perfect breeding ground for sexual exploitation of minors.

Penny has now managed to open clubhouses across the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, in Dominicalita, Parrita, Jacó, Tarcoles, and Palomo. The SOH program has also expanded to include programs for both boys (Roots of Hope) and girls (Seeds of Hope). The Clubhouses offer classes on weeknights and weekends on topics ranging from job skills (like woodworking, hair cutting, etc., to give the students alternative ways to make money other than sex work); art therapy; English; jewelry making; Bible classes; Yoga; etc. These classes give these kids a safe space with adults they can trust and form relationships with and they serve as a strong preventative measure by giving the students a safe way to make money.

Finally, SOH also does advocacy work with the government to improve the legal situations of victims and to advocate for better protection of victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Observing SOH Clubhouses in Parrita

On Saturday, we had the chance to visit both SOH Clubhouses in Parrita, a short half-hour bus ride away from our host town of Quepos. After the bus ride, we took a cab to the edge of Parrita, to a neighborhood called Reformadoras, a low-income, government housing barrio. There, we were welcomed to the girls' clubhouse by about 15 friendly, welcoming girls and their leaders Laura (the clubhouse director), Rachel, and Jessica (our PCV guide!). We had a great time painting driftwood from the beach with the girls. The driftwood will be taken back to the states and sold as decorative artwork, with the proceeds funding SOH and the girls.

Some of our creations

Lauren, Victoria, and our host mom Isa painting with the girls

The road to the girls' clubhouse outside Parrita 

 Next, we got to go visit the boys' clubhouse, Roots of Hope, just around the corner. The boys were holding a spay and neuter campaign for local families to have their pets fixed for free. This is an amazing effort for them to make in CR, as stray dogs are a huge, heartbreaking problem (see Kim's last post!).


Girls' Clubhouse Party on Sunday

On Sunday, we had the chance to sponsor a party for the girls in Parrita. The girls earn points for attending class each day, and they are able to save up their points to go on a field trip or to a party. This week, we were in charge of the party! We came prepared with lots of snacks, games, music, and prizes, and had an overall great experience with the girls! We were definitely sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the day!

Translation: "Welcome to Seeds of Hope"

Beautiful mural in the girls' clubhouse

We had an awesome time hanging out with the SOH girls and are so grateful to them for letting us visit and be a part of their circle this week! Thank you so much, SOH!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for one final post about our work in San José with Face of Justice and our own very surreal experience with some real, live sex tourists on our last night in CR!

Pura vida,
Rachel