Brighten a Costa Rican Child's Christmas for Just $40

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE. YOU CAN GIVE ONE TO A COSTA RICAN CHILD THIS YEAR FOR JUST US$40.

Welcome to Navidad Pura Vida 2024.

Navidad Pura Vida is a small grass-roots operation based in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, helmed by Manuel Matarrita. He has been raising funds since 2018 to give local children from poverty-stricken families a Christmas experience they would never have otherwise.

Last year, Manuel raised enough to deliver a Christmas experience to 120 children of severely low-income families across several neighboring towns in Guanacaste! He, his wife Ana, and a team of volunteers were able to throw a free Christmas party for some of these children, offering them entertainment, food, games, a bouncy castle, and even a visit by Santa himself. Each child also received a wrapped toy, and the remaining funds raised went directly into providing these children with much-needed school supplies.

For the children that did not have the means to join the event, Manuel and his small team drove to each town themselves to hand-deliver these gifts right to their doorsteps.

JUST US$40 GIVES A CHILD A CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS.

This year, he hopes to surpass 150 children.

Meet Manuel Matarrita

Manuel was born and raised in Costa Rica and endured a childhood not uncommon in the Guanacaste region. As Manuel tells it, “My parents didn’t have much money and often had to make the tough decision between giving us Christmas presents or taking us to my grandparents. As time went by, this became a tradition, and as we got older, we got used to not receiving gifts, but we also often wanted and wished for things that other children received at Christmas. Many times on the days after Christmas, I didn’t go out to play with my friends because they were playing with their new presents, and I didn’t have any. That marked my childhood a lot.”

Without being given an opportunity to finish high school, Manuel was forced to begin working in construction for some years to support himself and his family, until he was one day given an opportunity to work in a hotel. He began as a waiter, even though when he started, he could only speak one word in English – “hello.”

In the Pacific coastal town of Tamarindo, where he now resides, he became an active community member, and in 2018, was part of a successful effort to start a free soccer school for children – the first step towards giving him the idea behind Navidad Pura Vida.

The Costa Rican Santa Claus?

Manuel continues, “Being surrounded by children and learning about their needs, during one Christmas I talked to a child who told me that he wrote a letter to Santa Claus, but didn’t receive anything. That conversation made me remember my childhood and how difficult it was, and at that moment I decided that I would use every tip I was going to receive in my job during the month of December to buy Christmas gifts for children of low-income families. Many children I knew didn’t even know what a Christmas gift was…

The first year, because I didn’t have much money, I gave out apples and grapes to the children, and even though it was nothing ‘nice’, they were very happy. Seeing their smiles made me very emotional and the next year I managed to buy 20 gifts.

More children noticed the presents and when they saw me they said that they also wanted a gift, and I had a lump in my throat for not being able to give them one.

So the following year I looked for help, in order to be able to give gifts to even more children and two people supported me a lot. I am very grateful to these two great friends and with their support, I have been able to reach more children.”

JUST US$40 GIVES A CHILD A CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR.

You can help to make a difference – if you found Manuel’s story compelling, please consider making a donation. In no uncertain terms, a little bit can go a very long way.