Hey amiga fam!

Thanks for taking the time to check out this fundraiser. The idea started when a friend of mine here in the community reached out asking for help. As a result of the coronavirus, tourism has stopped completely here in Costa Rica (hopefully only temporarily), and she has lost all the income she normally earns by selling her hand-woven bags, aprons, and hats. She had no food or propane at home to cook with, her electricity had been turned off, and her blind husband was sick at home. They are an older couple and understandably worried about staying healthy. I bought a couple of bags, and reached out to my family at home to see if they would be interested in buying some items to help my friend get back on her feet. My family reached out to their friends, and next thing you know, the orders and donations started flowing in.

As it turned out, a lot of people wanted to help. The common message was, "I am lucky to still have my job, and want to help people in need. I can't give a lot, but hopefully this small donation helps."

As many of you know, at Surf With Amigas, we make an effort to support as many people in the community as possible. The list is long, and virtually every one of these local partners has been affected by the halt of tourism. Initially, we were hesitant to reach out for donations because we know these times are tough and uncertain for people in every corner of the world.  That said, after my experience last week, I realized how many people out there want to help but do not know how. 

So, here it is... We have assembled a list of our main local partners that directly benefit from YOU coming on a surf retreat in southern Costa Rica. The ripple effect of your time at SWA undeniably extends to people beyond these contacts.  All the money we raise will be distributed to everyone on the following list:

Local Partners in South Costa Rica:
-Cooking and cleaning staff x 5
-Video boys x 3
-Drivers x 3
-Groundskeepers x 2
-Horse tour guide x 1
-Boat driver/fisherman x 1
-Chocolate maker x 1
-Artisans that sell items at our local market day x 2
-Massage therapists x 2
-Nail technician x 1
-Turtle Restoration project

We are still hopeful the borders will open soon, and we'll be back to our standard program full of surf, yoga, and adventure.

Donate if you want to, and know that your time at SWA makes a difference in the local community. We decided to start with this fundraiser in Costa Rica only in hopes that we will be back to operating Nicaragua on schedule. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Stay safe, and keep in touch.
Pura Vida!

xxx
Jackie