Indigenous Reservation Gets First High School

RESIDENTS of the Tayni IndigenousReserve, in the remote Valle de la Estrellain Costa Rica’s southern Caribbeanregion, recently inaugurated the region’sfirst high school.The new school, which will serveapproximately 200 Cabécar indigenousstudents, was inaugurated in July by representativesof the Costa Rican andBritish governments, the nonprofit organizationRaleigh International and membersof the Boca Cohen community in Tayni.More than three dozen youth volunteerswith United Kingdom-based RaleighInternational built the three-room schoolusing funds collected by the BritishEmbassy in Costa Rica through its annualQueen’s Birthday Party (TT, April 15).Though the high-school building iscomplete, Raleigh officials are seekingdonors for vital components the school ismissing, including books and other teachingmaterials, paper and pens, blackboards,chairs, desks and food for studentlunches, according to project coordinatorHazel Carvajal.“Some of the students have to walkthree or four hours a day to attend theschool,” Carvajal told The Tico Times.For information or to donate suppliesto the Tayni high school, call RaleighDirector Julián Olivier at 556-4109.