International Fair CATIE 2024 will benefit 14 social welfare institutions in Turrialba

• The event will be held on Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1.

The International Fair returns to CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) on August 31 and September 1 with the primary goal of supporting 14 social welfare institutions in the Turrialba canton.

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of recreational, sports, and cultural activities, as well as to taste delicious typical foods from 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries, prepared by each beneficiary institution under the guidance of our Graduate School students.

All funds raised during the event will be donated to the following institutions that perform invaluable work in the canton:

1. Asociación Albergues Indígenas
2. Asociación San Isidro Labrador
3. Lions Club
4. Atirro School
5. San Buenaventura Nursing Home
6. Turrialba Children's Home
7. Saving the Alcoholic Home
8. UNIDOS Association
9. ARACKARI Group
10. Turrialba Volleyball Association
11. Turrialba Athletics Association
12. Omar Salazar College
13. Canada School
14. Kjala Bata Cabecar Indigenous Women's Association (Alto Pacuare Territory)

Commitment to social development

Melissa Quesada, director of Atirro School, expressed her gratitude for participating again in the International Fair.

“This is a one-teacher school, where we serve 30 children, most of them from indigenous communities with many needs. Thanks to the support of the fair, we have achieved some projects such as restoring the school cafeteria, installing all the electrical wiring in the school, and significantly improving the auditorium. So we hope they will support us again,” said the director.

Yendry Solís, administrative coordinator of the San Buenaventura Nursing Home, also thanked the opportunity to participate in this year's edition of the CATIE International Fair. She added that the work done during the event generated income that was used to improve the lives of the elderly people they serve.

“We managed to build a bathroom for the physical therapy area, and we also repaired and maintained the institution’s washing machines. Our dream now is to try to fence the home as best as possible to provide greater security for those who live here,” Solís commented.

The 2023 edition of the CATIE International Fair raised ¢20,764,896.23, which was donated to 10 institutions and associations.

We invite you to participate and be part of this noble effort to improve our community!

Join us in this celebration full of flavor, culture, and solidarity.