29 June 2009

Diary: Pura Vida in Costa Rica

America.gov goes to Costa Rica to film bicycle development

Travis from Finca Costa Rica, on the right, and bicycle entrepreneur Ronald in Bahia Ballena.

By Ben Harper
Special Correspondent

June 12, 2009

Hola from Costa Rica! I’ve been in this amazing country for about a week and have met many amazing people and seen some of the most beautiful scenery I could ever imagine seeing. There’s so much natural beauty that it’s difficult to decide where to point my camera.

I am here shooting a story on Bikes for the World, a nonprofit organization based in the United States that collects used bicycles and works with partner organizations overseas to get the bikes into the hands of people who need them. The bikes have helped recipients start small businesses; made it possible to get to school, work or markets; and generally improved quality of life. For several weeks I’ve been filming collections — where bikes are donated and processed — and loadings — where volunteers pack more than 400 bikes into containers for overseas shipment. It is a remarkable effort and one that is very well organized by tireless director Keith Oberg.

Two people I’ve met in Costa Rica are Travis and Ronald. We met them in Bahia Ballena, a small town.

Travis works for Finca Costa Rica, a local community bank and a partner organization to Bikes for the World.

Ronald is an entrepreneur with a burgeoning business. He has purchased several bikes through loans from Finca CR. Ronald started his own bicycle-rental company for tourists and for local ticos (Costa Ricans). While this may seem like a very small thing, Ronald said that having the chance to purchase the bicycles has given him a new way to support his family and has given him new confidence to start other businesses selling beautiful photos and other art made around Bahia Ballena. In addition, locals now have the opportunity of renting a bicycle for the day to go to the grocery, other towns, work and school.

Ronald said he is amazed that this all began with one family in the United States donating a bike because they wanted to help another family in Costa Rica. That family turned out to be his, and the donor’s generosity has made all the difference.

A good way to sum up the gratitude and satisfaction Ronald feels is to use the common Costa Rican saying “Pura vida!”