A Tide of Change: The Omavad Foundation

The OMAVAD Foundation is part of the Outlier Legal Services Group. It was created on November 24, 2018. The purpose of OMAVAD is to generate a positive impact in Costa Rica by assisting in education, environmental causes, as well as supporting the arts, and science. OMAVAD aims to be a force for change, therefore since 2018 we have been working on developing different charitable projects.

We began by helping other foundations such as the Ronald McDonald House, which offers a temporary home for the families of the children hospitalized in the Children’s Hospital who live outside the Greater Metropolitan Area. With the help of some volunteers, we gave classes to the parents of the hospitalized children on how to make crafts with recycled paper. During these classes, the parents found a place to express their struggles of being far from their loved ones and along with expressing their fear of losing the child receiving treatment. This was also a space for them to socialize with other parents and to build supportive relationships.

Another foundation we worked with was the Children’s House in Tirrases which offers integral education. We aided them by bringing in tutors in a few subjects: three tutors in English, one in math, and one in Spanish. This meant they saved funds by not having to hire professors in these areas.

In addition, we have also created the Costa Rican Art Project with the purpose of promoting Costa Rican artists by exhibiting their work, giving them the opportunity to make themselves known, and selling their art.

Another charitable project we worked on was with the Center of Adult Education (CINDEA) in Turrialba. We committed to raising funds for the CINDEA since they need scholarships for their students who come from low income families and with the Oro Verde Foundation that is working on cleaning the Gulf of Nicoya. Furthermore, we started researching the topic of migration in Costa Rica with the help of anthropology students.

This year we have continued using our office as a place for artists to exhibit their work. We also continue to raise funds for CINDEA and the Oro Verde Foundation. Also, we decided to get involved and do a beach clean-up in Puntarenas. Additionally, we are working with the Municipality of San Jose by giving them legal assistance on immigration law and the research entitled “Costa Ricans’ Perception of Migrants” is in its last stages and will come to an end in December.

We dare you be a force for change! You can help us through volunteering, by making donations to CINDEA and the Oro Verde Foundation, or by coming to our events.