In Costa Rica, Adventist youth and ADRA collaborate for community impact

Dozens of young people pose for a picture after gathering bags of disposable items for recycling from Heredia’s Central Park and surrounding streets during a recycling campaign in collaboration with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Costa Rica, on Aug. 24, 2014. The initiative was part of a series of activities coined as ADRAthon to promote the agency’s interest in the welfare of the public locally and globally. Images by Karol Ruiz/IAD

September 9, 2014 | Heredia, Costa Rica| Anauim Valerin/IAD Staff

A health expo provided free medical checkups for those interested at Heredia’s Central Park.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Costa Rica, together with its church member volunteers, descended on the city of Heredia in Costa Rica last month to offer food to the homeless, showcase a health expo, and promote a recycling campaign, among other activities. The event, which took place in Heredia’s Central Park, brought young people to connect with onlookers and passers-by with a hug, a cheer and activities like face painting for children.

The activities were part of promoting the work of ADRA in the community and the agency’s interest in the welfare of people locally and globally, said Julio Alfaro, ADRA Costa Rica director.

“We are excited to hold this first ADRAthon campaign here in Heredia because we want to let the public learn more about how ADRA is the social arm of the church,” said Alfaro. “We praise God for the support of the church members.”

More than 80 young people from Adventist churches in the northern and central regions and from the Central American Adventist University joined in the day’s activities on Aug. 24.

Face painting was another service provided for children during the initiative.

Pastor Earnal Scott, youth ministries director for the church in South Central America, which is comprised of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, said the activity is one of many the youth will be active in promoting. The event advanced a healthy lifestyle under the church’s “I Want to Live Healthy” banner, which features the eight natural remedies.

“We are very proud of our faithful young people and we want the rest of the provinces in Costa Rica be ready because we are moving forward with this youth impact,” said Scott.

More activities are planned in partnership with ADRA Costa Rica in the coming months, according to Scott.

Municipality officials were present during the activity and the event was covered through radio and television media.

For more information on the South Central American Union headquartered in Costa Rica, click HERE