Elena lives in Los Ángeles de Piedades Norte, a rural farming community in the hills outside San Ramón, Costa Rica. She works hard cleaning houses and raising her daughter, Mía, on her own. Each morning before sunrise, Elena and Mía walk almost three miles along steep, muddy roads to reach Escuela La Paz, the closest public school with available space. When it rains — and during the rainy season, it rains often — they get soaked before class even begins. There are no sidewalks. No shelters. Just long stretches of roadside and passing cars.

Until recently, they made the journey by bicycle. But it was secondhand and already rusted when Elena received it. After years of patching it together, it finally gave out. Elena tried to save up for another, but her income barely covers food, rent, and school supplies.

Last month, Mía came down with a fever after getting caught in a storm on the way home. Elena had to keep her home from school for several days. She’s doing better now, but the risks remain — and so does Elena’s determination to get her daughter to class safely.

She’s not asking for much. Just the tools to protect her daughter’s health and keep her education on track.

Here’s how the $800 will be used:

• Durable new bicycle with warranty: $375
• Secure child seat for rural roads: $125
• Waterproof rain ponchos and boots (for both): $70
• Two helmets: $60
• LED safety lights, bell, reflectors: $40
• Tire pump and maintenance kit: $35
• Local transport and platform fees: $95

Why This Matters:

If you’ve ever walked a child to school, or worried about their safety in bad weather, you know what this means. Elena isn’t asking for comfort or convenience. She’s asking for something basic — a safe way to get her daughter to school.

Whether it’s $10 or $100, your support will go directly toward helping this mother and daughter move through the world with a little more dignity and a lot more hope.

Elena reached out to OneBridge — an initiative that helps families in Costa Rica share their stories — to ask for help. She doesn’t have access to crowdfunding tools or social media, but she gave us full permission to tell her story, organize this campaign, and manage the funds on her behalf.

Every donation from this campaign will go directly toward covering the costs listed above. We are in personal contact with Elena, and we’ll ensure the funds are used exactly as described — with updates along the way so you can see your impact.

Please give if you can — or share their story with someone who might.

One Bridge — We are the bridge between crisis and hope.