by the Costa Rica News Group (Originally in Spanish)

In February 2004, brothers and sisters from Costa Rica visited an area known as Tibas-Zurqui’s Dump in downtown San Jose to share candy, cookies and Master’s teachings with residents. (Please refer to the News #150 for details) While visiting the area, the initiates found that the community’s living environment was rundown, and the paths and foot bridges that people walked on each day were unsafe and in danger of collapsing, due to the dirty water that flowed beneath them. Upon learning of this situation, our compassionate Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately contributed funds to repair the bridges, and thus solved a major problem for the locals.

At the end of April, under Master’s loving instructions, the initiates inspected the site and decided to conduct three projects to improve the dangerous condition of the bridges and paths. The community quickly embraced the projects and expressed their happiness with smiles and a desire to work together to help.

Two of the projects dealt with the dirty, disease-carrying water flowing next to the community’s walkways by constructing pipes from barrels to transport the unclean water. The third project entailed the building of a sturdy cement bridge to replace a decaying wooden one.

One week after the site inspection, the area’s women, children, teenagers and elderly participated in the renovation (the men had jobs and could not work during the day, but only at night). Pulling together, the residents were organized into groups of thirty for each of the projects.

The people’s gratitude to Master increased day by day during the construction process, as it brought the residents convenience and also a more hygienic environment. On behalf of the community of Tibas-Zurqui’s Dump, the initiates of Costa Rica thank Master for Her grace in improving their fellow citizens’ lives.

 

 

Problem before renovation: A crosswalk/path with no bridge. The community’s inhabitants had to walk over holes and cracks full of dirty water. During winter, the paths flooded.	Solutions: Constructing a forty-meter pipeline to carry the water, erecting barrels to filter dirty water, and using sand and stones to pave the surface and build a safe sidewalk.

 

Before renovation: A foot bridge is used by residents to cross from one neighborhood to another. The path is in dangerously poor condition. Underneath it are holes filled with unsanitary water.	Solutions: Building a sturdy bridge made of metal, stones and cement.

 

Expenditures for Road and Bridge Renovation in Tibas-Zurqui's Dump,
Costa Rica
Aid Given by The Supreme Master Ching Hai

Item	Amount ( in Costa Rican Colones)	Receipt #
Construction materials	459,055	A1~A14
Transportation	26,000	B1~B4
Labor costs	92,500	C1~C4
Stationery	23,500	D1~D6
Total	601,055 (Approx. = US$1401)

 

 

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