Repurpose with Purpose: empowering women in Costa Rica

• In partnership with Southwest Airlines and CATIE

February 17, 2023. Southwest is excited to expand our partnership with CATIE with the goal of empowering women in Costa Rica. CATIE is a partner in Repurpose with Purpose project in Southwest, a global sustainability initiative that upcycles items such as leather seat covers and transforms them into new products.

Through this program, Southwest partners with organizations to reimagine thousands of pounds of materials every year, diverting them from landfills. Since 2014, Southwest has donated more than $1.3 million dollars in grants and more than 1.4 million pounds of leather to provide employment, skills training, and other social benefits for Communities.

“The mission of CATIE aligns beautifully with our focus on being a good global citizen—making their work in the outreach space supporting the economic, social, and environmental development of the region—a perfect match for the Repurpose with Purpose project. Repurposing is more than upcycling materials, it’s about building resilient communities”, said Ana Schwager, Senior Community Outreach Program Manager at Southwest.

The Repurpose with Purpose project partnership with CATIE will provide leather making, and marketing and business development training, all with the goal of empowering and supporting women to create new economic opportunities for their families and communities.

As part of this parthership, Southwest will provide funding which will allow CATIE to repurpose the gym on campus into a Repurpose with Purpose Center, allowing more women to participate in the program.

“At Southwest, our heart is to connect people and champion communities. This partnership with CATIE connects new opportunities to people, champions communities, and supports advancing our environmental sustainability efforts”, told Schwager.

CATIE will be inaugurating the Repurpose with Purpose project Center soon and will organize an open house during its International Fair in April.

According to Carlos Araya, director of Green Business Development, Resource Mobilization and Strategic Alliances of CATIE, this is a very important and valuable opportunity for women in the community of Turrialba, Costa Rica, who seek to develop themselves, have a job and contribute economically to their families. "We at CATIE are very pleased with this alliance with Southwest Airlines because it is an innovative way of fulfilling our mission, partnering with private companies that are socially and environmentally conscious," said Araya.

“Southwest is excited that the Repurpose with Purpose project Center will open during CATIE’s 50th anniversary year. We congratulate CATIE on 50 years on their leadership in the innovation of agricultural research and management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources”, said Schwager.