Ten teen-aged students participating in the annual eco-study program in Costa Rica held an Indian Taco fundraiser in Cherokee on Saturday, April 20 to raise money to buy children in Costa Rica rubber boots and school supplies.
A Costa Rican boy receives rain boots from western North Carolina students participating in the Costa Rica Eco-Study tour in 2011.(CPF photo)
“Students hoped to raise $500 at the event and far exceeded their goal by raising $1,100,” said Tammy Jackson, Costa Rica Eco-Study Tour coordinator. “All the students and chaperones thank the community for their great support.”
The students who are travelling to Costa Rica June 10-21 are Savannah Black, Jacquelyn Bruun, Kyle Chapa, Keanu Crowe, Katie Jacobs, Drew Johnson, Jacob Long, Shelby Lossiah, Connor Luckey-Smith and Cree Rockwood. They will be accompanied by chaperones Alicia Jacobs, Tammy Jackson, Janet Smith, Alex Masciarelli and David Cozzo.
Winners of the drawing at the fundraiser were Tammy Walkingstick, who received a beaded medallion; Barbara Sutton, who won a white oak basket; and Bettye Redd, who was awarded a Lil’ Harvey’s gift certificate.
In 2005, Cherokee Preservation Foundation and the EBCI Cooperative Extension Program partnered to develop a cross-cultural eco-study program involving EARTH University in Costa Rica. To date, dozens of youth in the region, ages 14-17, have travelled to Costa Rica in the summer. They visit other indigenous communities, experience Earth University’s sustainable environment practices, and broaden their cultural awareness. This cross cultural sharing with other indigenous tribes allows the participating youth to develop their own cultural knowledge and awareness through individual and group cultural presentations.
Now, the eco-study tour in Costa Rica is an annual event that is organized by the EBCI Cooperative Extension Program and supported by Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
– Cherokee Preservation Foundation
