Finally, all of your furniture has arrived; the house is looking new and comfortable. Yet, when the action slows, you really realize that all your friends and family are left behind.

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Your husband goes off to work everyday; you don’t speak Spanish and suddenly you are spending so much time with your dog that he is talking back to you (and you understand it!) How do you meet other English speaking women?

Over 60 years ago the Women’s Club of Costa Rica was formed to keep women in touch with other English speaking women. Today, the Women’s Club has over 250 members represented by women from 30 different countries, including Costa Rica. The club’s main motto is “Friendship and Service.”

The Women’s Club began as a way for women, who’s main language was English, to meet other women. Many women had skills and interests they wanted to explore and believed there were other women in their community whom shared their desires. Since the club was conceived during WWII, the members soon added community service to the group’s goals and found ways to help in the war effort.

Almost from the club’s inception, friendship and service have gone hand in hand. Soon the club evolved into a group dedicated to serving the community while maintaining and building friendships and support networks.

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The reasons women move to foreign countries varies greatly. Some come due to their husband’s work; some for work of their own, while others come to retire-alone or with a partner.

The common bond of English and a need to be involved with a community that speaks English blossomed into a diverse group of women (yes, there are occasionally men members!); ages range from women in their 20’s and 30’s to a large membership ranging in their 50’s to 70’s (and up).

Every year, the club elects a president and board members. I asked current president, Anne Sobel about what the Women’s Club role was today. She said the role was “to facilitate opportunities for an international but primarily English speaking group of women with divergent interests and backgrounds.

The women have the desire to socialize and interchange interests and cultures, and to, in a small way, implement improvements for those less fortunate who live in Costa Rica through a well-defined scholarship program and organized donation of goods to needy organizations.”

A lot of money is raised and donated to the Costa Rican community through the Women’s Club. Group members are enthusiastic and dedicated to their mission of “Friendship and Service”. Long time members often do outreach to new members through telephoning and email.

The club also tries diligently to list events in the Spanish speaking and English speaking newspapers, including the Tico Times. For an even further overview of the club, you can visit their website.

Once someone is a member, they receive a monthly newsletter by email. If they do not have email, members try to locate other members directly and deliver a printed copy of the information. Yet, some members swear that bumping into someone at a restaurant is one of the best ways people not only find out about events, but also how many women originally find out about the organization-word of mouth is still the best advertising.

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One of the programs that the Women’s club has to help the community is the Scholarship Program. Each year, the club makes a commitment to a certain number of students. That commitment involves donating a small, yet life changing, donation directly into a bank with the student’s name on it.

The Women’s Club asks for a sponsor to commit to a student’s high school career, which begins in 7th grade in Costa Rica and lasts until 12th grade. The donation is often around $100. Though this may seem like it could only buy a pair of brand name tennis shoes, in Costa Rica it can buy a required uniform, books, shoes, and sometimes the money may spread far enough to help with books, paper, pencils, and lunch.

Most scholarships students live in the country. The club aims to keep children in school who may have otherwise dropped out because they couldn’t afford the proper uniform or shoes. A child that makes it through high school in Costa Rica may completely change his/her economic future. Many sponsors take a personal interest in their student and this helps put a connection with the donation for the student and the donor.

President Anne Sobel said that the scholarship program is “supporting 130 students at 28 high schools throughout each province of the country. Schools are visited minimally once per year; constant contact is maintained with guidance counselors; grades are reviewed, and annual ‘Merit Awards’ are given to the highest achievers and to those who show the greatest improvement.”

The club also sponsors social outreach activities; and often, organizations approach the Women’s Club and ask for donations. For example, a school may approach the club for a new roof or a home for the elderly may ask for help in acquiring a fire alarm system. The Women’s Club researches the organization in need, confirms the amount of money requested for, and will then either try to raise the money or use funds at hand.

Small gifts and intentions seem to make such a big impact. Occasionally the club receives larger donations such as 40 desks, but most are focused donations with a specific intention. Sometimes the community, guided by one of the committees or individual members, will come together and actually will build a school, donate land, or replace a roof.

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It takes a lot of chili cook offs, golf tournaments, bake sales, donations, and volunteer time to build a school, but the reward is great. The spirit of donating connects the women to its each other and the community. All members are volunteers; therefore, all money donated goes directly to the purpose intended.

Membership dues are 6,000 colones which translates to about $15.00 a year. Special events range from $1.50 to $15 or more depending on the event; general meetings cost 500 colones to attend. The group has already sponsored large events in March and May.

An evening of Jazz is planned for July 24th of this year. In November, the club holds their annual Bazaar which offers food, used books (always a favorite in the English speaking community), and booths offering everything from hand crafted goods to herbs and flowers.

Interest groups usually meet on a monthly basis. The group has something to entice many interests including book clubs, gardening clubs, cooking groups and craft groups (see their website for the up to date information). From within Costa Rica, you may call Anne at (506) 267-7042 or Silva at (506) 241-3013 or Norma at (506) 282-6801.

President Anne Sobel said the Board members are contemplating and discussing where the hopes and goals will take the club in this new century. She said the Board understands that with the times “needs change and we are trying to make every meeting interesting and at the same time finding out what the membership would like to find within their club.”

The women who give seem to get so much more back. Dorothy Boone, a past president of the club told me that she is convinced that the women get back so much more than they give. “We do put in a lot of time and money, but we get so much back in friendship and the feeling that we are doing good for someone else.”

Susan Carmichael is a freelance writer living in Costa Rica. She has developed several education curriculums for children and adults. She has also taught journalism. Susan produced and hosted radio programs and documentaries in Costa Rica including a short story program called “In the Moment” and an hour long interview program focused on the issues of women called “A Woman´s Voice”.

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