Thanks to generous funding received from the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we are working on two infrastructure improvements at the Guácimo Campus with two vital purposes that will help us fulfill our social and environmental commitments.
Expansion of the Weight Room
The weight room is a facility within the sports complex that is fundamental to the well-being of our community. It provides a place where healthy habits are developed, stress is reduced, and an active lifestyle is promoted. The expansion of this space will allow more students and residents to access its benefits to improve the quality of life on campus. The renovation includes the addition of modern equipment and new spaces for functional exercises and specialized training.
“This funding will improve our sports facilities and therefore reflects the commitment to the holistic development of our students. During the pandemic, an interesting and positive situation occurred. The number of women using the weight room increased, and that trend has continued today. Before the pandemic, most users were men. This reaffirmed the need to expand the weight room to accommodate more users and promote greater social inclusion. This trend of young people engaging more in strength training helps them balance their physical and mental health with academic demands. This expansion benefits not only the students but also the faculty, staff, and residents, among whom there are also frequent users,” comments Cecilia González, Health, Recreation, and Sports Promoter at EARTH.
Renovation of Water and Electricity Systems
The funding to improve the water and electricity systems in six student residence buildings has been essential in the promotion of energy efficiency and water conservation.
The results of this project are already evident. Thanks to ASHA’s collaboration and institutional efforts, energy consumption was reduced by 11% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
“The funding complements EARTH’s efforts around establishing different energy management systems such as ISO 50001, and the institutional environmental management plans. It will also enable us to develop other projects comprehensively in the future,” adds Manrique Arguedas, coordinator of the Environmental Action Unit.
At EARTH, we remain focused on providing an inclusive and enriching learning environment in which every student can reach their full potential. These infrastructure improvements, expected to be completed in the coming months, are not only essential to maintaining a sense of community but will also help us fulfill our environmental commitment.
We are pleased to support the improvement of the lifestyle of EARTH community members, alongside ASHA and USAID. These initiatives will help us work to promote values such as tolerance, social inclusion, and sustainability. These two projects will help us strengthen our institutional values, values we share daily with the American people.