Cahuita Is My Home Too.
It is a home to a vibrant Afro-Caribbean population, largely descended from Jamaican immigrants who settled in Costa Rica during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cahuita is made up of a few main streets that primarily all lead to the Caribbean Sea. The people are welcoming and friendly, the scenery is breathtaking, and the animal life is diverse and entertaining. Despite the community's rich cultural history, Cahuita has experienced chronic underinvestment in public infrastructure, particularly recreational spaces for youth.
Currently, Cahuita suffers from a "sport desert," with limited access to structured or safe athletic facilities. More than a third of the population are young people. With miles of beach, Cahuita, a small village town, offers many outdoor adventures for adults or skilled youth such as kayaking and standup paddle boarding to snorkeling and fishing. Aside from a modest, informal fútbol grass area primarily used by and purposed for boys, there are no dedicated spaces for sport or physical activity that serve all genders and age groups. This lack of resources has contributed to increased idle time among youth and very limited opportunities for structured mentorship, physical health, and leadership development.
A basketball court near the heart of the town will address this critical gap by providing a dedicated space for recreation and learning, while also honoring the region’s cultural heritage and resilience.
With the successful design and delivery of a basketball court, the youth and community will feel valued and respected. Cahuita residents will 1) reduce their stress by eliminating their financial costs and safety concerns associated with travel to another location to play and 2) improve their sense of community through collaboration and celebration of the teamwork necessary to build and maintain their facility.
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Youth Empowerment: Provide youth with structured activities that promote fitness, health, teamwork, and leadership.
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Community Health: Improve physical and mental well-being through regular physical activity.
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Cultural Recognition: Celebrate Afro-Caribbean heritage through inclusive, community-driven design and use.
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Local Ownership: Engage residents in court maintenance and educational programming to ensure sustainability.
With the written and public approval of the Cahuita local government and support and construction knowledge of San Jose professional basketball team owners (Jermaine Collier, founder of JC Ultimate Training; Milena Delgado and Javier Villalobos, owners of Roswell Basketball), we are confident that we have the team to make this dream a reality for Cahuita.
Our USA based nonprofit organization: Each1 Teach1 Sports Foundation (EIN - 41-3737622)
