Laura Rodríguez, a 11 year old girl from La Esperanza, was born with a rare bone growth disorder called Knits Dysplasia. This condition affects Laura in different ways, including difficulties to stand up and walk, reason why she is forced to move around in a wheel chair.
Laura has been attending school in Nicoya her entire life, making two daily 1 hour plus trips by bus.
According to the new 7600 national law, which establishes all the mandatory requirements in buildings for disabled persons to have a life with dignity, all buildings must offer access to disabled persons to attend. That include public schools.
Although most schools in the area were built before the law was pass, they all are looking forward to accomplish all the requirements demanded by law. Because of Laura's special case, La Esperanza public school was the first one to make all the necessary changes.
The Surfing Nosara Foundation took over that project, in with the help of other fellow contributors, Laura is now attending school in La Esperanza!
The improvements done to the school were:
- addition of a handicap bathroom.
- gutters on the bathroom and lunchroom.
- roof between the classroom and bathrooms.
- ramp in the entrance to the school, and sidewalks connecting bathroom to the rest of the school.
The project would have not been possible to achieve without the following are the people and business, who supported and help getting the improvements done at La Esperanza. Thank you:
- Neo Builders, for the donation of skilled labored building the ramps and the bathroom.
- José Valerio Carballo, from Hojalateria Valerio S.A, for the donation and installation of gutters on the bathrooms and lunchroom.
- G-love, for giving benefit concert at La Banana Bar in January 4th, 2012. The concert raised over $4000 dollars.
- Costa Rica's Craft Brewing Company, for the donation of beer for the G-Love concert. All funds from the beer and tickets sold at G-Love concert were destined to buy the construction materials for the school project.
- The staff and parents in the Esperanza school for their support.
