Knowledge Mobilization in Action

One of the main research methods utilized by the Heart of Gold Project is participatory observation research. During the pilot tour the team of student researchers participate as if they are “real” tourists experiencing all aspects of the tour as FAALS intends to offer. Behind the scenes, the researchers are paying close attention to every detail from homestay arrangements to activities to guiding techniques, and critically assessing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Once the tour is complete the researchers gather for an intensive debrief session to share thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and perspectives. This is one area where the value of having a diverse team of researchers really shines through.  While many ideas overlap there are many important subtleties that each individual detects as a result of their unique perspective, cultural background, education, etc.

After all thought are shared and the debrief draws to a close, a brief sense of relief and accomplishment washes over the group – we’ve completed the task we set out to do! But have we really? Not quite. All of these ideas and data are not going to achieve anything floating around in our heads or stuck between the pages of our notebooks. We need to share the information with the people that need it most and can transform the information into an action plan. This step is referred to as knowledge mobilization (KM) and is arguably one of the most important and challenging aspects of conducting successful research.

 

In this case, the FAALS members were the primary group with whom we intended to share the results of our research. When determining the most effective approach to KM the group considered several factors such as language/cultural barriers to overcome, literacy levels, and access to technology. During the research design phase, we decided that we would present our findings in a brief report using simple language and highlighting our main ideas using bullet points. The report was written in English, translated to Spanish by the researchers, and then proofread by a local to ensure the translations were accurate. By creating a report, the families would have a tangible document they could use as reference as they continue to move forward with the development of the trail.

 

Another strategy employed to enhance KM was a capacity building workshop with FAALS that featured several components to share our findings and recommendations. We facilitated a world café style activity where FAALS participants were separated into their respective communities and were asked to critically reflect on several categories: accommodation, transportation, guiding, trails, and tourist safety. This activity promoted collaboration and critical thinking among the FAALS families and highlighted the fact they possess a great deal of knowledge within themselves. We (the researchers) are here to empower and support, not to be “the experts” and tell them what to do and how to do it. Afterwards we shared some of our main points and suggestions with the families and encouraged them to create a one-year action plan with due dates and coordinators to implement the ideas generated during the workshop. As always it is up to FAALS to decide how they will use our ideas and recommendations. For me personally, one of the most satisfying parts of returning to volunteer on the project a second time was to see all the progress that had been made as a result of some of our the work we did the previous year.

Written by: Nichola Evernden

It’s not over yet…

By Jonny Bierman

A little over a year ago, I approached our professor David Robinson, about the opportunity to join The Heart of Gold Project in 2013. What I knew was that the project worked with farming communities and that they were developing an Eco-Trail to bring more income in to these places. My thought was that this would be the perfect opportunity for me to get experience developing a tourism product, as this is something I would like to explore in the future for a career. What I didn’t know was that this experience would be life altering, perspective changing and mind blowing. I didn’t know that the families I met and stayed with would be like my own. I didn’t know that no matter how basic the living, the experience would always be heightened by the contributions and collaboration with the communities and families and that this would change the way I saw tourism as an industry, and the way I perform as a traveller.

This experience has been so much more then helping communities develop a tourism product. In fact, I got so caught up in the experiences of living with the families, helping out around the house, and working with the other students like a family and as a community, I completely forgot that the reason I wanted to join the project was to help establish the tourism product. It was not until we started the actual Eco-Trail and evaluating it as we went along, that I remembered the original reason I wanted to join. 

I could divide this experience in two sections: 1) Homestay family engagement and relationship building, and 2) The actual evaluation, experience and recommendations of the Eco-Trail. Prior to starting and after the tour itself, I lived with homestay families and they welcomed me in their houses as if I was one of their own kids. The experiences were enriching and soul-filling and I valued this relationship building and cross-cultural interaction on a very personal level.

We left the first homestay after 12 days and officially started The Eco-Trail on May 14^th. Dave gave each of us a little booklet to carry with us during the trial so that we could write down things we noticed; we did this so that after the tour we could have a debrief and eventually update a report on what needed to be worked on for the tour to be sold to actual tourists. Eventually, I hope to start up my own international adventure travel company and this part of the Heart of Gold experience was useful for me as I was able to evaluate things that went well and things that didn’t; things that needed improvement, and things that I would expect to see done or done differently as a full-paying tourist. Many times during the tour I thought how awesome of experience I was getting being able to evaluate a tour before I start up one of my own. If I end up starting up my own company, I will probably take the experience and learning of the pilot Eco-Trail and do a pilot tour of my own, and give my “tourists” a book to evaluate it as we go along. That was real industry experience that I know will benefit me in the future. On the tour we had a fiesta where all the families came together with us and put on a “wedding” where Kassandra was the bride. This night was a defining moment for me during the tour, as I realized the level of commitment and collaboration between the families. It was amazing to see everyone come together for a celebration. We had a moment to say something in front of everyone and most people got little teary eyed. It was a moving and amazing moment of the trip.

The experience was so enriching and life changing that I feel that my work is not done. As I write this post looking out the airplane window at the lands below and reflect on this incredible experience, it is hard to think that my work in Costa Rica is done. The positive change I contributed too cannot have a price put on it. I will be surprised if it doesn’t play a key role for the rest of my life. This experience was so enriching that I am already making plans to return next year. I think that if I don’t return, then I wont feel like my work was completed to its fullest potential. The families down there are like my own, and the communities welcome me as if I am a long-time resident. My heart is so full of positive energy and great vibes from the experience that I think I’ll find myself down there in the near future. 

The group with some of FAALS familiesThe “bride” and her wedding party

Collaboration Station- A Tour Debrief

By Jonny Bierman

Collaboration, not competition- some of David Robinson’s most famous words. The Heart of Gold Project Pilot Tour highlighted collaboration at its finest. Each community worked together to engage with the tourists through organized group activities, meals, and cross-cultural interactions; the culture was displayed in almost everything that we took part in. While on the tour, each group member had a tiny blue book and a pen that Dave had provided at the start. The task? To write down everything we observed from the good–to the bad–and the in between. The ultimate goal for this was to debrief in Manual Antonio at the end of the tour to assess what needed improvements and what was ready for the regular paying tourist. Ultimately the tour went smoothly and everyone was thoroughly impressed, but that being said, there is still much work to be done before the tour can be sold.

The 4.5 hour debrief in Manuel Antonio consisted of everyone voicing their opinion about the tour; many of us had the same things to say as the others as the obvious was pointed out, such as a fluently English speaking guide, and trail improvements. Ultimately this debrief between the “tourists” would lead to a SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats) meeting between the communities and us the following week. Throughout the debrief some voiced opinions that others had missed, which was great, because that meant we were all noticing different aspects of the tour. Food, hikes, activities, accommodation, transportation, guides and basically any aspect that one could think of that would be involved with a tour were talked about on a positive and critical level. The group recognized the amount of work put into this project and it was noticeable throughout the tour. This in turn showed the level of commitment, engagement and collaboration by the communities.

So back to the collaboration aspect- that’s what this entire tour, debrief and SWOT meeting was about. It was about the communities collaborating to provide the best possible outcomes for the tourists, it was about the tourists banding together to find the best opportunities and improvements for the communities, and it was about the tourists and the communities working together as a whole. As with any group project, competition will lead to conflicts and potentially failure, and this project was the exact opposite. Most everyone worked together and continues too, so that the bar is raised and everyone is reaching his or hers fullest potential to ensure the future success of the ‘Sky to Sea’ Eco-Trekking & Homestay Tour.   

The “Tourists” in Manuel Antonio

From Mountain Tops to Coffee Crops

At the end of our last day of hiking we trekked into the small village of Naranjillo and were greeted by fresh pipas (coconuts), friendly smiles, and chocolate bars on our pillows – these folks know how to make hikers happy! After starting our first day of hiking at an altitude of about 3500 meters, we arrived in Naranjillo at around 600 meters. We have traversed through several different microclimates and have experienced an incredible range of biodiversity on each leg of the hike. This last section feels very tropical with Tarzan-like vines hanging from the trees and impressive anthills alongside the trail, the jungle feels very alive on the way to Naranjillo.

This tiny, remote village nestled next to a river at the bottom of a valley surrounded by tropical plants and fresh fruit crops is a picturesque setting. But life in Naranjillo isn’t all a tropical paradise for the locals – with the nearest neighbouring community an hour and half away on a dirt road that often washes out during heavy rains, even going for groceries is a mission. Communication is also limited, with the only phone service to the town being two unreliable pay phones. The local elementary school has a grand total of four students, and older students must go elsewhere to get their secondary school education. At one point Naranjillo was a (relatively) busy little agricultural community, but with limited services and opportunities the town now sits empty with only a handful of families remaining. The community has refurbished one of the abandoned homes into a rustic, yet cozy homestay casa to house small groups of tourists. We were thrilled to have had the opportunity to help them paint the house and to be the first group to stay in the house. Because of Naranjillo’s remote location, the resident families work hard to grow much of their own food. In fact, all of the meals during our stay were made from locally grown organic food.

As rural areas undergo transformation, communities must adapt to the changing landscape and demographics. Some of the issues that affect communities undergoing outmigration are an aging population due to youth outmigration in particular as well as the presence of abandoned, derelict buildings. For a community that has undergone significant outmigration, building partnerships is one way to boost social and human capital. The residents of Naranjillo have reached out to form these partnerships through the Heart of Gold Project by joining with the other FAALS families to help diversify the Los Santos region. In this way, FAALS has recognized that what they can offer to tourists is greatly enhanced by working together and showcasing the unique aspects of each community and each family.

The Heart of Gold Project also seeks to empower the youth in the community through the scholarship program. The hope is that the young adults from the communities that receive scholarships to study English in Canada will be able to return home and strengthen their own communities by contributing their English skills and broadened cultural perspective to the project. Giving young people roles and responsibilities in their home communities adds to their sense of place attachment and community pride, and will hopefully help maintain the integrity of the region.

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Written by: Nichola Evernden

Providencia´s Glimpse of hidden treasures

The first official day of the tour took off with a bang! The group congregated outside Adriannas Cabinas, Santa Maria de Dota early morning and got acquainted during the car ride. The group consisted of 4 Tourism VIU students, 2 graduated VIU students, a BC lawyer, American Journalist/Rain Forest Alliance member/bird watching expertise, a VIU professor/ Heart of Gold director, and retired Nanaimo resident Heidi.

The hike started at about 3500 meters above sea level and the trail took us to the mountainous area of a town called Providencia (population approx. 300). The town is known for its great hikes, biking trails, coffee farming and world-class outdoor rock climbing.

The two days spent here were jam packed with many activities such as being greeted by the community members, being serenaded with the national anthem, watching a cultural dance performance, making tortillas , learning to make crafts with local artisans, playing a game of soccer, experiencing the coffee-making process from plant to cup, seeing a nearby waterfall (which Jonny and Dave took the plunge into), visiting a large boulder that was a historic camp where  Ana (one of the homestay families that is highly involved with the project)  lived under with her family as a child, and touring an educational lodging facility called Armonia Ambiental for a snack and demonstration on their sustainable farming practices.

Armonia Ambiental is a sustainable farm which embraces the reuse, renew, and recycle concept. The lodge takes in students, houses them and teaches them about the importance of sustainable farming by offering hands-on training.

Sustainable farming does not have an exact legal definition but consists of three components: environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic viability. The term sustainable farming is often confused for organic or biodynamic farming. Although these three methods overlap similar concepts it is not necessarily the same practice. Unlike organic and biodynamic farming, sustainable does use some amount of chemicals to better help the production of its fruits and vegetables.

People can make a change to more sustainable and earth friendly lifestyles (in turn lowering thier ecological footprint)  by not throwing decomposable foods such as fruit peels and vegetable cores into the garbage but instead creating a compost pile outside or water your garden when the sun is at its lowest strength.

We can do our part by supporting places such as these and consciously making an effort to change our attitude in being more sustainable. By taking initiative, one can enhance, endorse and educate others about these ways of preserving the land and promoting health and vitality among us all.

The moral of the story is we can all do our part in making the world a stronger, safer, more sustainable place. Please do your part. Buy products from sustainable farms, learn how to live your own life more sustainably and lower your carbon footprint. Pay it forward!

For more ideas on lowering your ecological footprint click here!

The Souvenirs Providencia presented to the Heart of Gold Crew

Quebrada Grande- A small community with a lot to offer

By Jonny Bierman

As with all communities on the tour, Quebrada Grande offered terrific community activities, cultural engagement, and educational tours. The group thoroughly enjoyed their time there from start-to-finish. The families of Quebrada Grande have invested much time and money into the future benefits of what eco-tourism will bring to their community.

Emilio and his family are currently building a cabina on their property to house voluntourists in the future. This is just one example of how positively seen The Heart of Gold project is in the eyes of the community. In addition to Emilio and other members of the community’s investment in infrastructure, Emilio’s family showcases their apple farm as one of the many activities offered on the Eco-Trail. His family showed the tourists the various stages of apple production, and concluded the farm tour with a delicious sampling of homemade apple pie, cider and sauce.

Quebrada Grande has a very strong “community feel” as it is so small, and all neighbours are friends working together with this project. From one family’s house you can see at least two others’ where other group members are staying. Everyone works together in Quebrada Grande, from cooking for guests, hosting a fiesta, tours of farms, art and crafts and more–this is one big family.

The apple farm tour was complimented by an avocado farm tour where the group was shown how the largest-volume producing avocado farm in all of Costa Rica is run by the Chinchilla family. The group picked avocados and learned about the fruit; a couple of interesting facts about the avocado are that Costa Rica consumes over 12 million kilograms of avocados per year, but produces only 1 million. The presence of avocados in Costa Rica is very noticeable, from the Soda Shops (a name commonly used for basic-eating restaurants in Costa Rica) to the local fruit stands, they are everywhere! After the avocado tour the group was treated to the best guacamole any of us had ever tasted, cajetas (an avocado desert in the form of a fudge-like treat), and avocado ice cream. As someone who never liked avocados before, I now have a new appreciation for them; but that’s the great thing about travel–it introduces you to things you might not try at home, surprises you with newfound interests and helps you to expand your pallet.

Another activity that the community presented us with was having the chance to make our own traditional Tico dinner. The group was shown how to make tamales from the beginning steps of putting the rice and potatoes in, to wrapping the banana leaf. Engaging the group with a cultural cuisine activity was a great way to explain how a traditional dish is prepared, as well as one that the group enjoyed for dinner the same night.

The way in which Quebrada Grande hosted our group made it seem like they had been in the business for years–when in fact they are very new to the eco-tourism market. Their investments in tourism infrastructure, their countless hours of hard work learning about the needs of the tourist, and their endless efforts to make this project happen were exemplified during the group’s stay in the community and help to ensure future success for the Heart of Gold Project.

Jonny Bierman picking avocados

 

Pura Vida

Travelling to a different country and being immersed in a new culture has been nothing short of exciting, inspiring, and eye-opening for the Heart of Gold (HG) team of student research interns. Pura vida! This Costa Rican saying directly translates to “pure life” and is used endlessly whether as a way to say hello and goodbye, or in response to someone asking how you’re doing. While the team is fully embracing the pura vida lifestyle, we are also staying true to our main reason for being here in Los Santos which essentially is to try and assist local farming families to strengthen their livelihood security.

Pura vida!

So what does that really mean? One widely accepted definition, characterizes the concept in the following way:

“A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living… A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future.”

The majority of the economic base of the Los Santos region is derived from growing and cultivating coffee and other fruit crops. While coffee is a highly valued commodity, there are several problems with the current corporate coffee production systems that lead to social inequity and poverty by denying farmers value-added opportunities to process the beans and promoting unsustainable environmental practices. Because the region relies so heavily on coffee as it’s main economic generator the farmer’s are especially susceptible to fluctuations in demand and pricing, as well as all of the factors that can lead to a poor harvest such as inclement weather conditions or pests. All these factors contribute to the instability of the livelihood security of the local farmers.

In the context of the HG Project, the goal is to support members of the Farm and Agritourism Association of Los Santos (FAALS) to diversify their farming economies through the development of small-scale agro-tourism ventures. With these efforts the hope is to build social architecture that will empower the FAALS families with transferable skills, knowledge, relationships, etc., and help to relieve some of the poverty and social inequity.

Tourism is well established in Costa Rica where the biodiversity in the country attracts ecotourists from around the world. The country’s approach to tourism was originally based on small-scale locally owned enterprises, however the 1990’s saw a shift in government policy towards large-scale, mass development. The ultimate goal of the HG project is not to transform these small rural communities into tourism meccas but for the farmers to continue farming while adding a little bit of tourism to diversify their economies. This will not only build capacity but will also ensure the ultimate authentic experience for “smart” tourists and volun-tourists seeking an honest glimpse into the rural Costa Rican way of life.

Written by: Nichola Evernden

 

Friendly Encounters

The team arrived safe and sound from San Jose the afternoon of May 2^nd. Since then they have been settling in their homestays in the small town of Santa Maria de Dota (population just over 2000). The team was divided into two homestays both on the same property and with different sections of the Fallas family.

The boys, Mike and Jonny are living with Dave’s son Jamie (19 year-old, Victoria, BC resident) at Mayela’s house. The house is very welcoming and consists of nearly the whole Fallas clan. Mayela’s husband Daniel, two sons Kristian and Alonzo, and two daughters Ginger and Sharon live under this roof. The family constantly has visitors and Mayela welcomes them with open arms, which makes her a wonderful representative for this community.  Congratulations go out to Mayela for completing her guide training this year. She is now one of four certified guides for the trail. It takes special people like her to share knowledge with visitors and there is no doubt that Mayela is the person for this job!

The second home stay family is with Mayela’s son Daniel. Kassandra, Nichola and myself are staying with this also very tight knit family of three Daniel, wife Yacelin and their three-year-old daughter Ana Celeste.  This is the house that I have called home for the past week and will continue to do so for another week. The rooms are big, open and constantly filled with laughter, songs and games. It is a great environment to practice Spanish. Daniel works in the loan department at the local Bank, Yacelin is a stay-at-home mom and sells her baking to friends, family, and at small events (the house always smells amazing) and Ana Celeste attends pre-school two days a week where she is quickly learning a little bit of English! The house is about two years old now and is just up a small hill on the same property as Mayela’s. It is a great location for the team to stay in easy contact with one another.

Speaking with the families not in the team’s mother tongue has been very challenging for some but fun at the same time. One almost feels like Sherlock Holmes once the morse code, charades and foreign mantras have been detected. Two days ago was a really special day. Mike, Kassandra, Nichola and Dave went to San Jose for a meeting with a representative from the Canadian Embassy. Jonny and myself stayed behind to catch up on project work. This gave ample time for relationship growing and was an extraordinary experience with the family in doing so. I feel blessed to be in this environment and that the families have made a welcoming effort to include me in their daily activities.

To date the team has had four meetings. The first two were held at Cecilia’s Cabinas. On May 3^rd the team gathered together to discuss the activities that were to come and to assign individual tasks and assignments. My main duties were to:

1. Coordinate a presentation day with grade 6 class of the local school which has been set for the 29^th of May.
2. Speak with the Montero family in setting a date to visit. The date was set for May 7, so we all made the trek to their house in San Marcos for the reunion. The family of 12 lives in a very rustic house on a farm and we were lucky to catch 9 of the members that day for coffee. The family is very hard working and involved with housing students on the Heart of Gold Project yearly. Minor, the eldest son, is the president of the FAALS (Farm and Agro-Tourism Association of Los Santos). Because of the family’s involvement with the project, Minor’s sister Nidia was able to receive a scholarship to study English through the International Education department at Vancouver Island University a few years ago. Nidia involvement continues to be a great asset to the project and her English skills often come in handy.
3. To see if we are eligible for the SEED Initiative Award for Gender Equality, which we are! SEED is an organization that supports small-scale, sustainable development projects. We are in the process of applying for the June 12^th deadline. Time is of the essence!
4. Get a hold of Jefferson to set up meetings with both Earth University and ACTUAR. We are still in the process of setting up a meeting with ACTUAR which is an alternative/farms vacation Costa Rican travel company and had a meeting with Earth University yesterday. The meeting went very smoothly. More on this meeting below.
5. And lastly to keep an eye on the pulse for the competition we are currently in with G Project. Please take a moment to review this link, make a profile, and vote daily here! Your vote will make a world of a difference in making so many people’s dreams come true.

The second meeting focused on upcoming events such as the outline for pilot tour for the trail which looks jam packed full of interesting cultural activities. We are all looking forward to begin these journeys on the 13^th.  Other discussions were about the Embassy meeting that took place on the May 8^th (Refer to Kassandra’s blog post for more information) and the Earth University meeting on May 9^th.

The Earth University meeting proved to be a success as many great ideas were passed around the table. The team was joined by Earth University’s Educational Tourism Coordinator Christopher and colleague Fabian, A representative for the coffee cooperative of Santa Maria de Dota, named Roberto, highly involved FAALS members Vilma, Fernando and Minor, along with Esteban the student whom will be coming to Vancouver Island University this September to learn English. The meeting was done in English and Spanish; I suppose one could say there was a bit of Spanglish going around. I believe all the main points were understood: that Earth University could fit into the project by hosting capacity building workshops, introducing students into working on the project. Essentially the idea is to increase the Costa Rican university’s involvement in the project. Earth University would be a great research partner to have on board and would open more doors for funding opportunities. Another main point from the meeting is that one of the major next steps is to help market and promote the Eco-TOUR, as this in area that FAALS lacks expertise in. I personally have been assigned to network with other tour operators regarding the marketing of the Eco-Trail tour package. This is where I will be asking for your help once again. Do any of you out there have connections to certain tour companies, highly suggest one to network with, or have a friend in this business? We really appreciate your input! Please feel free to comment below or message us privately.

Being exposed to so many different types of food, places and family practices has proven to be really intriguing. These families are the core of so many people’s lives and now the backbone of mine.  We look forward to seeing what the future has in store for the FAALS families as I know they are invested citizens and will be with this project for many years to come.

Visiting with the Montero family!

by Jennifer Dorby

 

Building Relationships and Community

We are almost one week into the project and it’s easy to see the appreciation for the work done down here in Costa Rica with the farming communities. Positive community development is visible in the smallest of forms–from going to a waterfall with the family kids, to making the family dinner, and the families’ many gracious jesters towards the Heart of Gold Team.

The team headed to Naranjillo to help restore a historical building which will house guests on the Eco-Tour. The structure stands in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica with birds singing, rivers flowing, and clouds blissfully hugging the hills. The team helped paint and fix up the structure and while some students confused body parts with walls, it was a successful day of community development and relationship building. So much more is achieved than just painting walls and hammering nails. Students engage with the community and as Minor Montero, a local farmer and project extraordinaire said “we are making history.”

The 2013 HOG team helping with homestay improvements in Naranjillo.

Our time at the homestays has been rewarding for both the families and for us. Although a language barrier sometimes prevents the conversation’s potential, a smile is universal… and a student with more fluent Spanish then myself is never far away.  Spending time with Mayala and her family has helped me engage with their culture and their way of living. The students and myself have cooked meals for them and helped them around the house a lot. Mayela’s sister in-law is sick in the hospital, and with an hour and a half commute one-way to the hospital almost everyday, she has found it difficult to keep up with the daily tasks of running a very busy household.

Next week the team and myself start the 2013 Heart of Gold Project pilot tour of the Eco-Trail. This is a very exciting time for the project and a great time for myself to start with Heart of Gold. Like Minor said, we are making history, and implementing tourism into these areas in need in a sustainable and eco-friendly way is the start of something great.

Written by: Jonny Bierman

Welcome to the 2013 Phase of the Heart of Gold Project

It’s May 9 and the 2013 phase of the Heart of Gold Project is well underway! The team of student researchers arrived in the community of Santa Maria de Dota, last week keen to get started on this year’s project work. The team consists of three returning students, Kassandra, Mike, and Nichola, as well as two new students, Jennifer and Jonny. Check out the page titled “2013 Students” to read each student’s brief bio.

Last year we assisted the local Heart of Gold families to form an association, which they called the Farm and Agro-tourism Association of Los Santos (FAALS). The FAALS members have been busy putting the ideas and recommendations that we generated with them through research and workshops last year into action to prepare for the 2013 pilot version of the Eco-Tour.

The 8-day pilot tour will begin on May 13 with eleven participants starting in Santa Maria. Hiking in Los Quetzales National Park, craft workshops, visits to waterfalls, various farm tours (coffee, avocado, apple, sugar cane, and more), folk music, traditional dances, learning how to make tamales, are just a few of the activities listed in the itinerary, not to mention totally Spanish immersion and getting to know the lovely FAALS families and their way of life.

Our goals for the 2013 phase of the project are to do participatory observation research during the pilot tour, followed by a detailed SWOT analysis, an updated report of recommendations and workshop to present to FAALS. We will also be meeting with the local mayor and the Canadian Embassy in San Jose to give an update on the progress of the project. The student team will also be giving a presentation to the sixth graders in the local school to introduce them to the project. We have a few different capacity building workshops planned in coordination with local partnership organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, Earth University, and Earthwatch Institute. Furthermore, the FAALS association has chosen a local youth to receive a scholarship to come to Canada to study English during the fall 2013 semester. They have chosen 21-year-old Esteban Chinchilla from Copey who has been the acting secretary for the FAALS association for the past year. More details on Esteban coming soon!

Furthermore, we will be working to update the Heart of Gold Project website, it’s been awhile since it has received an update so will be adding some more current information and photos. Another major task for this year is to develop promotional and marketing materials for the Eco Trail. We will work in coordination with the FAALS families and some of our partner organizations to market the tour to “smart tourists”. FAALS plans to offer three tours next year so the marketing plan will be a key aspect in identifying potential tourists. Some of other work  also involves fundraising for the project, the team will be working on identifying potential funding sources and writing grant applications.

We are also participating in a contest called the G-Project, hosted by G Adventures, where we have a chance to win up to $25,000 in funding for the project. One are one of the contestants in the “community” category. The top four projects from each category will be selected based on which projects have the highest “pulse,” calculated based on number of votes, comments, visits to the page, etc. From the 16 finalists a panel of judges will select the top four to attend a summit where the final judging will take place. We have consistently had a very high pulse and invite you to take a moment to view our page and support us with votes (you can vote everyday until the end of June).

Last but certainly not least we will be working on relationship and trust building with everyone involved in the project…one of our most rewarding tasks!

2013 Heart of Gold Team

Written by: Nichola Evernden