Our exciting new Costa Rican initiative has begun!

IAT is in the process of creating an Eco-Community and Global Youth Training and Development Centre on 175 acres of farmland and rainforest in Soccoro, near the west coast of Costa Rica. IAT plans to establish a core community of full time resident staff and volunteers and to offer short term (six to ten months) residential programs to high-potential your leaders from around the world.

The program will focus on providing cross-cultural youth with opportunities to connect with the land, to gain self-awareness and a sense of purpose, and to acquire the values, confidence, leadership and practical life-skills that will enable them to play key roles in creating positive social, economic and environmental change in their respective communities. There will be a strong cultural, spiritual (not church-centered) awareness and connection.

Skills and leadership training will be provided to globally-recruited young people between the ages of 16 and 26.

The establishment of the Centre on farmland, will propagate the values of sustainable organic farming, forestry conservation and environmental restoration and preservation. Permaculture and Biodynamic farming techniques will be featured.

Youth will interact with each other, have opportunities to participate in local community initiatives and in the operations of the Centre. Training modules will be developed based on the needs and interests of the participating youths and local communities.

As a country renowned for its leadership in peace and environmental conservation, Costa Rica serves as an ideal location for the proposed program.

A strong sustainability component will provide entrepreneurial training to youth while generating ongoing funds for program operation and expansion. Program participants will also have opportunities to become involved in IAT's Canadian and Philippines projects.

Participating youth will be encouraged to initiate eco-projects and other community initiatives in their own communities with continuing support from the Centre. Program successes and experience will be shared with other youth-driven projects via the Internet.

Program Objectives

• To establish an Eco-village and Global Youth Training and Development Centre at Socorro, Costa Rica;
• To offer short term cross-cultural experience (six to ten months) and residential environmental and leadership training to youth;
• To initiate small social and environmental community projects in response to local requests as a way to introduce youth to community development;
• To encourage youth to initiate or contribute to positive change in their countries of origin and to support youth in such efforts through a communications network maintained by the program;
• To link the youth training in Costa Rica with youth training in Canada and the Philippines.

Program Structure

IAT Plans an Integrated Program built on nine linking skill areas:

• Leadership -- Development of leadership and life skills.
• Sustainable Entrepreneurship -- Helping to fund the program through initiatives such as eco-tourism and marketing farm produce.
• Sustainable Agriculture -- organic farming, fish ponds, seedling nurseries
• Holistic Health -- alternative and complementary health techniques, personal growth.
• Community Outreach -- Working with Costa Rican communities, street youth, environmental concerns, as part of experiential training.
• Indigenous Awareness -- cultural exchange, knowledge of indigenous practices.
• Program Management -- Project development and monitoring skills.
• Communication -- Multi-media production, computer networking, development of print materials.
• Spiritual and Practical Vision -- Future visioning and strategic planning.

2009 activities:

Between January through March of 2009, a group of six Canadian volunteers, along with a local construction crew, spent two months building a unique facility to accommodate students and volunteers. The same group plans to return to Costa Rica to complete the facility in early 2010.

Help Us to complete the new Youth Training Centre in Costa Rica

This unique two story 2,400 square foot structure was constructed by a small group of Canadian volunteers and five Costa Rican workers in 2½ months at a cost of only $41,400.

It will serve as the main facility for IAT’s Global Youth Development and Training Centre which will focus on equipping young people, from the Americas and other countries, with the confidence, competence, knowledge and life skills to take leadership roles in working to co-create a pollution-free world of peace and integrity with an abundant living standard for all. The group plans to complete the building during the early part of 2010.

In order to do this IAT needs your help in raising the estimated $70,000 to cover the following expenditures:

Septic field and plumbing fixtures Gravity-fed water system Exterior windows and doors Electrical wiring and fixtures Interior partitions, cabinets & closets Stucco and painting Finish on floors Landscaping Driveway, sidewalks, other Miscellaneous

$ 9,000 7,600 12,000 4,200 10,200 6,300 3,400 1,500 7,800 5,000 $67,000

IAT is beginning a drive to raise $70,000 to complete the Costa Rica building.

If any of you have fundraising ideas or would be willing to organize a group to which IAT could give a power point presentation, to explain the overall plans for the Eco-community and Youth Training Centre, kindly let us know. Make a donation to the building fund.