La Lucha is a small agricultural community of about 400
residents that is located approximately 3 km north of the Costa Rica/Panama
border. The main economic activity in La Lucha is the cultivation and
production of coffee. Most adults work on coffee plantations and, because of
the lack of economic alternatives, most children are expected to grow up and do
the same. While coffee cultivation and production is lucrative for an elite
few, a majority of those involved work long, hard hours in exchange for a
meager salary. English is one of only a few avenues that, if pursued, provides
students with an economic alternative to coffee cultivation and production.
This is the incipient year of JumpStart La Lucha. Students
will be coming from 7 local elementary schools, all of which are very rural and
provide little to no English instruction. Because of La Lucha's proximity to
Panama, many students are indigenous Panamanians who travel with their families
to help pick coffee during harvest season. Often, these students miss school to
assist their families in the fields. For this reason, many are extremely
ill-prepared for the demands required of them when they reach high school.
Thus, JumpStart aims to equip rising local 6th graders, both
indigenous Panamanians and their Costa Rican classmates, with the skills
necessary to be successful throughout their high school career. While the focus
of the camp is to improve proficiency in English, students also improve their
confidence, leadership skills, and desire to learn—all of which increase their
overall chances of success in high school.
The student applicants are not the only ones who recognize
the importance of JumpStart, however. The community of La Lucha, and the
surrounding communities of participating elementary schools, all acknowledge
the importance of learning English in today's world. These communities have
already demonstrated support by pledging to donate a variety of camp
necessities, including but not limited to: food, transportation, and a cow.
Yes, you read that last item correctly: a cow! One prominent community member
has pledged to donate a cow to serve as a prize for a forthcoming community
raffle, of which all proceeds will go towards JumpStart La Lucha. Such strong
community support demonstrates that JumpStart is made possible only when the
community shares the same goal as the volunteer and his or her project
partners. In La Lucha and its surrounding communities, that goal is to give
students an opportunity to improve their English, themselves, and their
community through JumpStart La Lucha.
