Breaking poverty cycle through education

Lifting Hands believes that education is one of the most powerful ways to break cycles of poverty. In 2026, we continued providing safe, consistent, and opportunity-rich after-school programming for children and adolescents in two communities in Costa Rica: Bajo de los Anonos in San José and Los Diques in Cartago. Together, our centers serve more than 330 children and youth directly with more than 500 weekly program engagements.

For many participating families, Lifting Hands is not simply an after-school activity; it is a stable space where children can learn, be supported emotionally, build confidence, and imagine a future beyond the limitations they may face today. Our educational model goes beyond academic tutoring.

We work to strengthen the whole child through four connected areas:

- Academic support and learning reinforcement

- Emotional health and social-emotional skills

- Exposure to technology, languages, arts, sports, and leadership Mentorship and future-oriented guidance for adolescents

During this period, children participated in tutoring, English and French classes, technology experiences including LEGO, Arduino, and digital skills, music, art, cooking, sports, and emotional wellbeing workshops. Our EmocionArte program provides structured workshops for children ages 4–10, helping them identify emotions, communicate safely, strengthen empathy, and develop healthy coping skills. For older participants, we continue investing in mentorship, vocational orientation, leadership opportunities, and support for students in upper secondary school and recent graduates.

These efforts are designed to help young people stay connected to education, make informed decisions about their futures, and access opportunities that may otherwise feel out of reach. The impact of this work is seen in the daily growth of the children we serve: a child who begins to participate after being withdrawn, a student who receives help to keep up academically, a teenager who starts to see university or employment as possible, or a family that finds a trusted network of support. By addressing both learning and wellbeing, we help remove barriers that often keep children from succeeding in school and later in life.

Your support through GlobalGiving makes these opportunities possible. Every contribution helps provide educational materials, trained facilitators, safe learning spaces, enrichment activities, mentorship, and consistent care for children and youth in communities facing significant economic and social challenges. Thank you for standing with Lifting Hands and for believing that when children are given support, encouragement, and meaningful opportunities to learn, they can create a different future for themselves, their families, and their communities.