The government of Costa Rica has a program to identify, rescue and care for abused, trafficked and abandoned girls, but that program ends when they reach 18 years old, after which they are on their own.  Covenant Children, working with the Cities of Refuge foundation, one of its partners in Costa Rica, has initiated a program for these girls and, in many cases, their infant children.

At The Haven, located in the north of Costa Rica, our colleague’s foundation has been given 12 ½ acres of land that’s been improved with 8 or 10 little bungalows.  They are basic, two room units furnishes only with unusable beds – no toilets, sinks or showers.  Before they can be utilized, they need renovation, repair, new beds and furniture, as well as communal baths.

The Haven will use this facility as a half way house for the rescued girls who have been released from government care.  These girls, often with out of wedlock children, have no job skills or training.  It’s our plan to renovate these little bungalows, add day care facilities, and house them for one or two years while teaching them to farm, a valuable skill in Costa Rica.

Work has begun to restore and renovate the bungalows and the other facilities (kitchen, eating hall, day care with teachers, etc.).  To begin training the young women as farmers. The Haven has received gifts of livestock: two cows, some goats, sheep and chickens.  Thus the facililty will, eventually, grow its own food train its rescued girls in farming and animal husbandry and provide safe day care and education for their children.

As of now, when renovation is completed sufficiently to begin the program, will accept approximately 20 young women (and their children) as they are released for government care.  As the program becomes self sustaining, additional housing will be built and nearby acreage will be acquired to expand the program with more housing and more farm acreage.