CEPIA’s Circle of Successful Children Closes Its First Cycle in Potrero

 In March 2025, CEPIA began the Circle of Successful Children in Potrero, with financial support from Las Catalinas. Over the course of 45 weeks, 14 boys between the ages of 8 and 12 from the Potrero public school participated in the program, gathering regularly to learn, share, and strengthen important life skills in a safe and supportive environment. 

At the end of last month, the boys celebrated the close of this first cycle with a special outing, marking the end of several months of learning, connection, and personal growth.

The Circle of Successful Children is one of CEPIA’s community programs focused on supporting boys as they navigate important stages of development. Through guided sessions, participants learn about healthy coexistence, nonviolent communication, emotional intelligence, the importance of education and health, and the prevention of online and physical violence, including violence against women.

CEPIA, which stands for Culture, Education and Psychology for Infants and Adolescents, is a Costa Rican nonprofit organization that has worked in Guanacaste since 2005. The organization supports children, teenagers, and families from vulnerable communities through programs focused on cultural development, education, physical and mental health, social cohesion, and community participation.

 In March 2026, with the financial support of Las Catalinas, CEPIA also began a new edition of Girls’ Circles: Empowering Girls Effectively. This 45-week program brings together girls between the ages of 8 and 13 for weekly workshops led by a psychologist. The sessions are designed around the realities girls may face within their social and economic context and include topics such as human rights, gender violence prevention, the importance of education, personal safety, financial management, sexuality and healthy relationships, nonviolent communication, self-care, and diversity. 

The goal of Girls’ Circles is to strengthen the girls’ wellbeing, expand their support networks, protect them from abuse, help prevent teenage pregnancy and school dropout, and encourage them to believe in their own strengths. Beyond the workshops themselves, the program includes craft and play materials, healthy snacks, parent meetings, home visits when needed, mentor transportation, supervision, and final reporting.

Together, both programs reflect CEPIA’s broader mission to help break cycles of poverty and violence by creating opportunities for learning, care, and personal development. They also show how much long-term community work depends on consistency, trust, and the people and organizations willing to support it. 

 Those who would like to support or donate to CEPIA’s programs can contact info@cepiacostarica.org and help create a positive impact in the lives of children in Potrero.