Alianza de Sueños (Dream Alliance) is a project that seeks to protect the children of coffee pickers who come to the AAA farms during the harvest season to avoid child labor. Having many children on AAA farms, it became necessary to look for alternatives that would allow the project to expand. This is how the opportunity to create Casas de la Alegría (Houses of Joy) in the coffee farms was born.

On December 5, 2022, the first Casa de Alegria (House of Joy) was inaugurated in the Giorgia Cluster, with an enrollment of 30 children and a staff consisting of 1 teacher, 1 assistant and 1 cook. This space was built with a container infrastructure with capacity for 30 children from nearby AAA farms in the area. The design of the infrastructure was inspired by the stimulation and cognitive learning of children, with open spaces that allow the development of skills, values, feelings, environment, physical activity, and fun. It is also a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable project that meets different objectives to improve the living conditions of children, such as the following:

• - Quality education: with a teacher in charge of daily activities and learning. As part of the daily activities, a weekly work plan is developed, where topics that are adapted to the population are developed, such as self-knowledge, recognizing their body, their abilities, rights, duties, feelings, and emotions. To achieve this, values are promoted, and activities of social and cultural interaction, sports, environmental protection, artistic expression, and hygiene habits are developed, allowing a healthy coexistence and a harmonious environment in the Casas de la Alegría (Houses of Joy).

• - Access to food: since they are provided with four mealtimes a day, adjusting to the nutritional requirements according to their age.

• - Equality: it is a space with children of different nationalities where you learn from each one of them and respect their culture. 

• - Access to quality basic services: the nursery has drinking water, electricity, rest areas and everything necessary to enforce the rights of our children.

• - Health and wellness: we have a company doctor who makes visits to identify any health situation of the children that requires medical attention.

• - Job creation: with the opening of the Casas de la Alegría (Houses of Joy), more than 12 people from the communities where they are located have received direct employment in the execution of the project, giving them the opportunity to gain work experience and generate resources for their families. As well as other jobs, through the contracting of national suppliers for the construction and equipment of these spaces.

This initiative is a dream come true, where the efforts of several actors, Nespresso, ECOM and institutions of the Costa Rican State join forces to provide protection, education, nutrition, and stimulation to children between the ages of 2 and 12.          

Thanks to these efforts, other producers have joined, and we currently have 3 Casas de la Alegría (Houses of Joy) in operation by 2023, with a total of 120 children and their families benefiting. These houses are in:

1. Naranjo, Alajuela, Costa Rica:  CAFEGAL farm, serving 60 children.
2. San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica: Palmacafé farm, serving 40 boys and girls
3. Acosta, San José, Costa Rica: Hacienda San Ignacio farm, serving 20 boys and girls

This is a growing project, where we hope to have the support of more public and private organizations at a national and international level, to provide more and more space for protection so that children can have a better future.

Article by: Marianela Montero, Alianza de Sueños (Dream Alliance) Coordinator.