Mira Costa Rica Club helps people, trees and wildlife of Costa Rica

By Harrison Mayesh

Staff Writer

Hola y bienvenida a Mira Costa Rica Club! Junior President Ceca Radl and Junior Vice President Amelie Vergnolle partnered up and created Mira Costa Rica Club which helps three non-profit organizations based in Costa Rica.

The club raises money for The Esperanza School Project, Costas Verdes, and SIBU Refuge. The Esperanza School Project helps rebuild schools that are severely damaged by earthquakes, Costas Verdes is a reforestation organization that replants trees, and SIBU Refuge is mainly a monkey rehabilitation center for injured or abandoned monkeys and other wildlife.

“My connection to these projects are personal volunteer projects that I have been involved in for years,” Ceca Radl said. “Many of my friends have visited Costa Rica and are interested in giving back to this amazing community.”

Radl was inspired to start a club that could give back to a community in need. Therefore, she started Mira Costa Rica Club to raise money and product to help a various amount of organizations in Costa Rica.

“The goal is to make a difference in whatever way we can and help people, trees, and wildlife that need help,” Amelie Vergnolle said.

Vicki and Steve Coan run the non-profit SIBU Refuge Sanctuary that help rescue, rehabilitate, release, and protect Costa Rica’s wildlife. The sanctuary is mainly occupied by monkeys and some other wildlife that are inhabitants of Costa Rica. The Coans are thrilled that Mira Costa Rica Club is helping raise money for their organization.

“It’s really nice that Ceca is helping SIBU,” Vicki Coan said. “I have known her for many years now and I love when she comes to visit.”

Radl and her family have property in Nosara, Costa Rica. Radl has volunteered and helped at the SIBU Refuge Sanctuary and Costas Verdes personally during her visits to Costa Rica.

“We decided to start the club because Ceca’s family has property in Costa Rica and the experience of going there and experiencing everything is so different and wonderful and if the club can make things better for the country and for the people then that’s good enough,” Amelie Vergnolle said.

This is the first year Mira Costa Rica Club has been meeting on campus, the club meets every Thursday at lunch in English teacher Mr. Chow’s room who is the club advisor. The club is currently planning fundraisers that will occur throughout the school year, that will help raise money for organizations in Costa Rica.

“We want the whole school to get involved and we are planning on having different drives and fundraisers throughout the year,” Amelie Vergnolle said. “It would be wonderful if everyone would participate in some way.”

The purpose of Mira Costa Rica Club is to help organizations in need of resources, money, and etc. The club was established in September of 2015 and the club has already raised 800 dollars for three organizations based in Costa Rica.

“I believe that its a privilege to be able to help out wherever possible and it is so incredibly important for those who have so much to give back and make an impact wherever we can, no matter how small or large that impact may be,” Ceca Radl said. “Certain things that we have become accustomed to in our everyday lives others may not be so lucky as to have these things, and I believe that by helping places and others in need it helps us gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for things that we normally take for granite.”