Casita Azul creates sustainability change makers in Costa Rica

By Elaine Smith

Casita Azul, 鈥渢he Little Blue House,鈥� is the smallest library branch in the 快播视频 Libraries' system, but it has a big presence at Las Nubes 鈥� 快播视频鈥檚 Eco-Campus in Costa Rica, particularly in terms of its wide-ranging community impact.  

Casita Azul not only serves as a place for research and knowledge mobilization; it is also a community hub for research dissemination, citizen science, outreach and community engagement that is available to seven villages in the local area. Its stated mission is to cultivate a collaborative environment and engaged partnership that meets the needs and desires of the local communities. 

Since the Las Nubes campus has an environmental focus, library staff work closely with local groups to promote conservation, biodiversity protection and awareness as part of the University鈥檚 commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This year, the sustainable use of resources is a key focus for Casita Azul鈥檚 community outreach. Library assistant Diandra Arias, in partnership with CEDUCA COBAS (the Environmental Education Coalition for the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor), has organized a recycling program for the library and local communities. Each month, Casita Azul and CEDUCA COBAS coordinate the collection of cans, plastic bottles, paper and cardboard.  

This grassroots initiative has required extensive legwork to secure permissions from the municipal government to implement the program, while leveraging expertise, advocacy skills and commitment to partner with an organization that is willing to use these recyclable materials. 

鈥淚t began as a small project in the library that turned into a community project linked to an environmental organization, and now, people are committed,鈥� said Dana Craig, director, student learning and success for 快播视频 Libraries, who oversees programming at Casita Azul along with teaching and learning librarian Tom Scott. 鈥淭he intent for Casita Azul is to serve the community in a way that鈥檚 culturally appropriate.鈥� 

Casita Azul has also collaborated with COBAS and the local Programa Conociendo Nuestra Biodiversidad鈥痶o deliver programs in area schools about the environment and the native animal population using materials created by Costa Rica鈥檚 federal Ministry of Education. By cultivating student interest in the environment from a young age, the aim is to increase the likelihood of them becoming future stewards of the surrounding lands to ensure a sustainable ecosystem. 

鈥淥ur projects are community driven,鈥� said Craig. 鈥淚deas arise through informal conversations and it requires us to be open. If people are talking to each other, ideas blossom. It鈥檚 all about people talking, often in Casita Azul鈥檚 coffee corner.鈥� 

Click on the icons below to learn how 快播视频 is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The post SDG 15: Life On Land appeared first on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.