Aprodisa Recycling and Special Education Center in Atenas, Costa Rica.

The Aprodisa Recycling Center in Atenas, Costa Rica has been operating for 19 years.

As if providing extensive recycling facilities to the outlying community was not enough, they also have been providing valuable assistance to people with disabilities. Their program favors the employment of people with disabilities and provides them with fulfilling work for a monthly compensation.

Their Mission Statement is: To take the national policies regarding special education together with family, community and business to ensure that all actions developed are properly planned for the achievement of the objectives which promote the maximum life skills development and interests of people with disabilities in the Canton of Atenas.

The Center employs about 60 people and provides each employee with two meals and a snack daily in addition to practical skills training. They are involved in the Center’s recycling project which produces raw materials for companies such as Kimberly Clark (paper), the National Brewery (aluminum and plastic) and Vicesa (glass) as well as the plastic recycling project of making and selling clothes pins, a valuable necessity in Costa Rica.

Another project in which the participants engage is their vegetable nursery project. They are involved in growing and selling local vegetable and herb plants that are in high demand in the area such as: sweet peppers, tomatoes, celery and cilantro. They have just begun this project and are happy with their results. They are looking to expand this venture.

Aprodisa teaches life skills such as cooking and home economics as well as industrial arts. In the classroom/kitchen, cooking classes are given. They also have an area for making piñatas and repairing miscellaneous items for resale. These items include everything from household and office electronics to broken vases. The project is valuable to the participants and the community alike because it helps the participants to become more self sufficient and at the same time provides several needed services for the community.

Unfortunately we may be losing this valuable asset to all of Costa Rica. This Center is being forced to relocate in 3 months due to new zoning laws and they need financial assistance to do so and are accepting donations for this move.

Their Bank account is with Banco Nacional and the account number is 100-1-0210002867-9. They also need volunteers to help out with various projects, they can be reached at 2446-8088 or aprodisacr@gmail.com Adrian Herrera is the administrator and Rosa Maria Jimenez is the assistant administrator.

This center does so many good things for so many people in Costa Rica, let’s help them to stay in business and continue in their efforts.

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Written by Audrey Neidlinger and Terry Mills.

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