Each year, as winter grips Minnesota, students and instructors from across the University of Minnesota Twin Cities trade snow for sunshine and travel to destinations around the world, including to San Ramón, Costa Rica. Located in the Alajuela province, San Ramón is an agricultural town of approximately 10,000 residents, with an economy rooted in coffee, sugarcane, ornamental plants and cattle farming in the surrounding rural areas.
The destination is part of the College of Continuing and Professional Studies' Pura Vida Learning Abroad program — an annual journey launched in 2014.
What began as an idea rooted in global engagement has grown into a collaborative program that blends hands-on learning with cultural immersion through community-based projects that change focus each year.
To date, 132 students have partnered with local organizations to develop proposals for initiatives as diverse as a medical clinic and senior citizens home, a men's shelter, a women's cancer recovery center and a disability services provider.
In some cases, the students' work leads to lasting change. One proposal, the expansion of a local orphanage, was ultimately funded (and built), creating a tangible and enduring community impact.
Immersed in culture, growing as a team
In January, 15 students and three faculty members arrived in Costa Rica ready to turn learning into action, contributing their skills and talents to a project for Residencia para Personas Adultas Mayores de San Ramón (San Ramón Home for Older Adults).
This year, students tackled a project to safeguard resident and staff well-being while maintaining operations during Residencia’s roof replacement. With the facility remaining open, students broke into teams to address challenges within their area of study.
The construction team focused on relocating facility zones, minimizing disruption, maintaining safety and proposing solutions for flooding in main corridors.
The information technology team created strategies to prevent technological disruptions, manage office and system relocations and support long-term operational efficiency.
And the healthcare management team prioritized resident and staff safety, continuity of meals and care and nursing ward relocation, while developing strategies to reduce isolation and foster engagement.
Before returning to Minnesota, the teams presented their recommendations to the Residencia para Personas Adultas Mayores’ administration and were inspired by the residents' engagement, seeing firsthand the tangible impact of their work.
"The Pura Vida Learning Abroad experience was the perfect blend of cultural immersion, adventure and learning,” says student Elijah Gavin. “Nothing can replace doing the work you're passionate about alongside students from different backgrounds with shared goals."
The team also balanced their work with adventure and cultural immersion activities throughout their two-week stay. Students visited a trapiche, where they participated in the sugarcane milling process; a coffee plantation, where they harvested coffee berries and learned about artisanal coffee processing; and MUSADE, a medical clinic and center for battered women. They also made time for whitewater rafting and taking in the diverse wildlife (capuchin monkeys, iguanas, scarlet macaws) of the country.
"I've learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone leads to some of the most meaningful growth,” says student Yusra Dini. “During my two-week stay, I experienced the culture through local food, traditions and the language. Overall, this experience helped me grow personally, become more open-minded and see things from new perspectives."
This story is adapted from the College of Continuing and Professional Studies
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