Development aid for the village of La Gamba

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La Gamba was founded in the 1950‘s as a social housing settlement. Today it has a population of 500 habitants (around 70 families), of which 56% have not completed elementary school and only 4% have completed high school. Politically, La Gamba belongs to the town of Golfito. The main problems are mass unemployment resulting in crime and drug problems; lack of education and public transportation; sub-standard housing;bad sewage; frequent flooding. Chief employers in La Gamba are Esquinas Lodge and La Gamba Field Station (offering 20-25 permanent jobs). A Ten-Year Development Aid Plan by the Austrian government, which lasted from 1995 to 2005, aimed to transform La Gamba into a self-sustainable community by focusing on organization, production, and community outreach in order to improve social, economic and environmental conditions. The objective was the development of the community beginning with the participation of the inhabitants, the improvement of production, and service of small businesses. The Asociación Probienestar de La Gamba (ASOPROBI) is La Gamba's first democratically elected village council. It is divided into subcommittees for agriculture, health, women, security, roads, youth, education and water.

The La Gamba Fund

The Salón Comunal has become a meeting place for young and old.
Since the renovation of the water system, water pressure has incrteased by 30%.
Founding meeting of the La Gamba Fund, 2005.

When the Austrian government withdrew from La Gamba in 2005, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge created the "La Gamba Fund" with the goal of bettering the living standard of the people of La Gamba by supporting community projects. Project drafts submitted by ASOPROBI and its sub-committees are evaluated by representatives of Esquinas Lodge, Rainforest of the Austrians, and La Gamba Field Station. Emphasis is placed on projects which will benefit the whole community. Applications are approved on a project-by-project basis. Implementation is carried out by the community committees, which are responsible for accounting. The following projects, totalling approx. $220,000  were carried out between 2005 and 2009:

 

  • 2005-2006: Restoration of the water system for 70 houses in the center of La Gamba. New sources, reservoirs and bridges; replacement of defect pipes, warehouse.
  • 2005-2008: Renovation of the school in three phases: new floors, new sanitary installations and septic tanks, furniture, floor tiles, covered passageway, barred windows, computer, stove, refrigerator.
  • 2006: Renovation of the town hall (salón comunal); new roofing, floor tiles, furniture, TV.
  • 2007: Renovation of the health station; fans, hospital bed, warehouse.
  • 2008-2009 Construction of a police station with living quarters for four persons, detainment cell, kitchen, office and living quarters.
  • 2008: Construction of a 150 m2 covered playground with modules.
  • 2009: Construction of an office building for the town committee (ASOPROBI).
  • 2009: Construction of a park ranger station (financed by Rainforest of the Austrians).
  • A biodegradable wastewater treatment system for the whole village is in the planning stage.
After three burglaries in one year, bars were installed in the school windows.
Soccer game in La Gamba with the new police station in the background.
Opening of the playground in January 2009.