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Classroom Donation for Ostional’s High School

Posted on by hello@connectingtheroots.org

Empowering Education – A beacon of hope for Ostional’s High School

In the heart of the Guanacaste Province lies a tale of resilience and dedication, where the pursuit of quality education faces formidable challenges. Many school buildings stand in dire need of essential amenities, with uninsulated roofs, insufficient classrooms, and a scarcity of desks and chairs hindering the learning experience. These conditions not only disrupt the educational journey but also expose young minds to the harsh tropical elements, risking their health and well-being.

We are delighted to share the inspiring success story of Connecting the Roots Org. – a beacon of hope for education in the region. In April 2024, through a remarkable display of community support, we inaugurated a brand-new classroom at Ostional’s High School. This milestone was made possible by the successful auction fundraiser hosted by Enter Gallery in July 2023, through the sales of 25 artworks donated by artists from Brighton, UK, and beyond, as well as through independent donations.

Led by the unwavering commitment of our co-founder Hen Azenkot, the collaborative efforts of Soluciones JyE, a local construction company owned by Andrey Campos, and the final donations from Ferreteria Grupo Nosara SRL; this octagonal marvel, crafted with care and dedication, now stands as a sanctuary for 11th-grade students, nurturing their dreams of higher education and providing the support they need to succeed.


The Extra Mile

But our journey didn’t stop there. As we embarked on this transformative endeavour, we recognised additional needs within the school community.

In a testament to our commitment to holistic improvement, we facilitated the construction of a new parking lot and the installation of gutters to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. Furthermore, through strategic partnerships with local businesses like Novel Teak, we have secured donations to continue our mission. High-quality teak wood will soon breathe life into another much-needed classroom, ensuring that every student has access to a conducive learning environment.


More Investment Opportunity

Having assessed each school independently, we estimate that the average cost of delivering the required improvements to each school to be $40,000. While each school has different needs, these comprehensive improvements may involve installing long-lasting roof insulation, enhancing overall building structure, building waste management solutions within the school, providing essential school supplies (including furniture), or supplying an inspirational and educational mural based around the theme of nature.

It’s our hope that, with these improvements, schools across Guanacaste become a welcoming environment for students to learn; one where they are free of distraction and can learn comfortably without unnecessary risks to their health. Join us in creating spaces where excitement around sustainability blossoms, and the commitment to rewilding becomes a shared journey—for the benefit of the Earth, and a benefit to us all.


Special Thanks

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Enter Gallery for their unwavering support in hosting the fundraiser, as well as to our generous bidders, donors, and the talented artists who contributed their work: Chris Levine, Charlotte Rose, Ben Rider, Dan Baldwin, CJP, Pure Evil, Jana Nicole, Mike Edwards, RYCA, Jayson Lilley, Copyright, Marcelina Amelia, Gavin Mitchell, Maria Rivans, Peter Blake, The Connor Brothers, Magnus Gjoen, Haus of Lucy, Elizabeth Waggett, Mark Vessey, Aaron Crascall, Rebecca Strickson, Richard Berner, Craig Keenan, Dave White, Dirty Hans, Joe Webb, Sarah Arnett, Bonnie and Clyde, Sara Pope, Mark Powell, Dan Hillier, Jamie Reid, Chris Kettle, Anthony Freeman, and Mateo Humano.

If you’d like to donate to further community projects by investing in excellent art, you can still do so via Enter Gallery. Here is a link to their Connecting the Roots collection, where all profits will be donated to upcoming Connecting the Roots initiatives.

 

Auction fundraiser meets goal to build education programme in Costa Rica

Posted on by hello@connectingtheroots.org

Ostional High School in Costa Rica. This image shows the front view of the school, which appears as a classroom with a large wooden shelter/pergola outside. © Connecting the Roots

We’re thrilled to announce that our benefit art auction, hosted on Artsy between 22 June and 6 July 2023, was a resounding success – with the funds raised allowing us to progress with the second phase of our conservation project in Costa Rica.

Funds were raised through the sales of 25 artworks donated by Enter Gallery artists from Brighton, UK, and beyond, as well as through independent donations.

Following this spectacular outcome, Connecting the Roots will implement various vital initiatives at Ostional High School, which is located at the heart of our rewilding project in the country’s Guanacaste region. These initiatives will include building a new classroom, providing an environmental education programme, establishing sustainable practices (such as repairing the school’s roof and providing insulation), and creating infrastructure for waste management and recycling.

We’ve chosen to prioritise these items as a result of close consultation with the local community in Guanacaste, the Costa Rican government, and the school, which has communicated a clear need for improvements to its facilities. As well as the space limitations of the school’s sole classroom, its lack of insulation also presents challenges for children’s learning, as they struggle with the heat of the tropical Costa Rican climate.

By developing an environmental education programme, we also hope to extend the impact of the first phase of our project: promoting sustainability and rewilding within the region to counteract the effects of climate change.

Since 2021, we’ve been focused on restoring land in the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica – an area that had been shaved of its remarkable biodiversity for agriculture. This project is still going strong, with our nursery very much active and growing hundreds of trees to restore diversity to the area.

It’s our hope that this educational programme and our continued work with the school will be pivotal in raising awareness about environmental conservation – both among the younger generation and, through them, the local community too.

By investing into the foundations of the community, it’s our aim to foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the local ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable future for the community and the conservation project as a whole.

To follow our progress on the project, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram. You can also support the project directly by donating here.

We’d also like to share a final thank you to our supporter Enter Gallery for facilitating this fundraiser, all our bidders and donors, and the generous artists who donated their work:

Chris Levine, Charlotte Rose, Ben Rider, Dan Baldwin, CJP, Pure Evil, Jana Nicole, Mike Edwards, RYCA, Jayson Lilley, Copyright, Marcelina Amelia, Gavin Mitchell, Maria Rivans, Peter Blake, The Connor Brothers, Magnus Gjoen, Haus of Lucy, Elizabeth Waggett, Mark Vessey, Aaron Crascall, Rebecca Strickson, Richard Berner, Craig Keenan, Dave White, Dirty Hans, Joe Webb, Sarah Arnett, Bonnie and Clyde, Sara Pope, Mark Powell, Dan Hillier, Jamie Reid, Chris Kettle, Anthony Freeman, and Mateo Humano.

Enter Gallery host art auction to support Connecting the Roots

Posted on by hello@connectingtheroots.org

Since 2021, Connecting the Roots has been working with Enter Gallery – an art gallery, located in Brighton in the UK, who understand how important restoring biodiversity is to the fight against climate change.

Over the next decade, Enter Gallery has pledged £100,000 to our pilot project in Costa Rica. So far, £30,000 has gone towards establishing the project, helping to fund our gravity-fed water system, our on-site nursery, and allowing us to plan over 400 trees across the pilot project site.

We’re delighted to announce that from the 22nd June until 6th July 2023, Enter Gallery is hosting an online art auction featuring incredible artworks from some of the biggest contemporary artists out there, from Mr Brainwash and Sir Peter Blake to Chris Levine. All proceeds from the auction will go towards further rewilding work in Costa Rica.

In today’s blog, we reveal the steps you need to take to get involved in the auction, and provide a couple of sneak peeks at some of the beautiful pieces included.


How the auction works

The Connecting the Roots auction will commence at 3pm (UK time) on Thursday 22nd June 2023, and will run for two weeks until lots start to close at 8pm on Thursday 6th July.

View artworks included in the auction. 

If you’re interested in taking part, please read the following steps about how you can get involved…

1. Registration

To participate, prospective bidders must create an Artsy account and register for the specific auction they’re interested in. Registration typically involves providing basic personal information and agreeing to the terms and conditions of the auction. Simply follow this link, click on ‘Register to Bid’, and fill in your details.

2. Time to browse

Once registered, prospective bidders can explore the auction catalogue on the Artsy website or app. It provides all the details about each artwork, including images, descriptions, artist information, estimated value, and any other relevant details. You can view this catalogue here. To give you a taste, here are a couple of pieces…


3. Placing bids

Once the auction is live, prospective bidders can place bids on the artworks they’re interested in. Bids can either be entered manually, or bidders can set a maximum bid amount, and the Artsy platform will automatically increase their bid incrementally on their behalf, up to the maximum specified amount.

This automated bidding system is known as ‘proxy bidding’ and allows bidders to remain competitive without having to constantly monitor the auction.

As per Artsy’s website:

“Auction bids are binding, so it is essential to understand the total cost of a potential auction purchase before placing your bid(s). You may see notices of additional fees on lot pages – please make sure you understand any applicable fees before placing your bid(s) as fees can differ based on location of seller and collector.”

4. Real-time updates

During the auction, Artsy will provide real-time updates on bidding activity. Bidders can see the current highest bid for each artwork and track any competing bids as they come in. This transparency allows bidders to stay informed and to adjust their own bids if necessary.

5. Notifications

If someone outbids another bidder, Artsy will send a notification to alert them. This way, bidders can decide whether to increase their bid or let the artwork go. Those interested in following a particular auction can also add the auction’s close time to their personal calendar.

6. Auction closing and winners

When the auction ends, the highest bidder for each artwork is considered the winner. Artsy will inform the winning bidders and provide instructions for completing the transaction, including payment and shipping arrangements. Typically, a buyer’s premium (a percentage fee) is added to the winning bid, which covers Artsy’s services and other associated costs.

To register your interest in the auction, head to the auction’s page on Artsy.

How will funds raised from the art auction help in Costa Rica?

Posted on by hello@connectingtheroots.org

From June 22nd to July 6th, Enter Gallery is hosting an online art auction to raise vital funds for our rewilding project in Costa Rica.

The auction consists of a sensational selection of rare and limited edition artworks from leading contemporary artists including Sir Peter Blake, Dave White and Charlotte Rose. You can view the selection of works included in the auction here.

To encourage people to bid, we wanted to take a moment to explain how funds raised will be spent over in Costa Rica, and how these proceeds will help us to continue our efforts to restore biodiversity in this beautiful corner of the world.

 

Ostional High School

Rewilding isn’t just about planting trees, restoring ecosystems also involves supporting the local communities that reside within them. That is why we have decided to use the funds raised from the art auction to implement a number of initiatives at Ostional High School, which is located in the heart of the area that we are rewilding.

Funds raised will go towards building a new classroom, providing an environmental educational programme, establishing sustainable practices, and creating infrastructure for waste management and recycling.

At the heart of our project is the need for education, and one priority is to raise awareness of environmental conservation among the younger generation. We want to help foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the local ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable future for the community and the conservation project as a whole.

This work will mark the start of a long-term, extensive programme, that works in tandem with the first phase of the scheme, as funded by Enter Gallery.

For phase two, we’re prioritising the immediate impact on the local community, and have consulted directly with local wisdom keepers, educators, farmers, and the Costa Rican government to establish what they need to make sustainability possible for the long term.

To register your interest in the auction and place your bids to support this change, head to the auction’s page on Artsy.

Why is rewilding so important?

Posted on by hello@connectingtheroots.org

In December 2022, 185 countries in attendance at COP15 in Montreal signed the historic Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement. This agreement outlined key global targets to have reached by 2030, and includes such vital matters as restoring degraded ecosystems, stopping the extinction of known species and tackling climate change through nature-based solutions.

For years, these natured-based solutions have mostly focused on the mass planting of trees. More trees equals more carbon sequestration, right? Actually, it is much more complicated than that. As was recently discussed at COP 15, big tree plantations that prioritise planting trees without thinking about the ecosystem that already exists around them can actually do more harm than good. We need a better system…

At Connecting the Roots, our aim is to restore vital biodiversity in Costa Rica via ‘rewilding’ – a holistic process which considers all areas of ecosystem restoration, from re-establishing natural habitats, to local community involvement. It isn’t just about planting trees, it is about returning ecosystems to how they were prior to human interference.

Today, we’re looking at why the biodiversity of Costa Rica has been so badly damaged, and how significant restoring its biodiversity is to fighting climate change. We’re also considering three of the main advantages of rewilding over reforestation.

 

 

 

The state of affairs in Costa Rica

First of all, let’s look at why Costa Rica has been so badly damaged, and how, since the end of World War II, 80 percent of the country’s forests have disappeared.

The most significant damage happened during the 1950s when a startling 60% of the country’s natural habitats were cleared to make room for farming cattle. This problem worsened in the 1960s when the USA offered Costa Rican cattle farmers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef.

As we now know, cattle farming is one of the most significant causes of climate change. In fact, Nobel-Prize winning scientist, Steven Chu  found that ‘agriculture and land-use generates more greenhouse gas emissions than power generation.’

Cattle farming involves flattening large areas of land for pasture. This decimates species, causes extinctions, and displace native animals, disrupting healthy food chains.

As if that’s not bad enough, the chemicals used for flattening the land and growing the grass that the cattle feed on poisons the land, and, along with the waste produced, pollutes the waterways. Also, the methane from the cattle actually increases the planet’s temperature.

30 by 30

Connecting the Roots’ efforts are concentrated in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province. This area is made up of ‘tropical dry forest’ – which, in a scientific study conducted in 2020, was identified as an ecosystem vital to the fight against climate change.

The same study discovered the monumental impact that returning 30% of ecosystems to their natural state could have on the planet. The study found that by protecting 30 percent of those areas (alongside protecting eco-systems that are still in their natural form) we can prevent more than 70 percent of predicted extinctions and soak up more than 465 billion tons of carbon dioxide. This is the equivalent of reducing all the carbon that human behaviour has built up in the atmosphere over the last two centuries by 49 percent!

So significant were these findings that the so-called ’30 by 30’ was adopted by the UN, and has now been implemented as a focus of the goals set at COP15.

Three major advantages of rewilding:

Rewilding has been identified as one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods of biodiversity restoration – and, most importantly, it delivers the most significant results.

 

1 – Rewilding actually reverses climate change

By rewilding forests, we recreate the world’s natural ‘carbon sinks’, which play a vital role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, trees and plants absorb carbon into their leaves, soil and wood, filtering it out of the atmosphere and into the ecosystem of the forest, where it belongs.

 


2 – Rewilding prevents natural disasters

Deforestation is linked to increased likelihood of natural disasters, particularly drought, flooding and desertification, which happens as a result of increased temperatures and overexploitation of the soil.

In forests, rainwater is absorbed at 67 times the rate that it is absorbed into grass-covered soil. Trees also stop soil washing into waterways, which causes landslides and erosion of riverbanks, ultimately leading to flooding.

By restoring these ecosystems, not just with trees but also with the plants, soil and mycelium that make up the forests, the land once again begins to function as it was meant to, and natural rainfall patterns resume.

3 – Rewilding returns key species and reverses mass extinctions

Deforestation has destroyed the natural habitats of many of Costa Rica’s incredible animal, insect, bird and flora population. When species are misplaced, not only do they come under threat of extinction, but for those that do survive, the entire food chain is thrown off.

Even a slight change in the behaviour of animals at the top of the food chain can alter the ecosystem, the landscape and even the composition of the soil and the atmosphere.

Rewilding ensures native species have a place to live that offers the optimum conditions for them to survive. It brings native species back to their true habitats and restores the balance required for the ecosystem to regenerate and operate in the way that Mother Earth intended it.