By Wendy Anders

For the fifth year in a row the Universidad Latina (ULatina) has awarded five youth ages 18-29 for heading up projects that have a positive social impact, stated ULatina in a press statement.

The Yo Creo Premio (I Believe Award) awarded five $2,500 grants on Friday to talented young people who have shown a demonstrated and measurable impact in addressing problems facing their communities for at least 6 months.

The winners also participated in a week-long training program to enhance their entrepreneurial skills in areas such as social media, leadership, communications and fundraising, said ULatina.

Projects were selected from 125 project submissions based on an evaluation of the positive impact they have on their communities, their innovation and commitment to action, said Lourdes Brizuela, Director of Social Responsibility for the Universidad Latina of Costa Rica.

Prize-winner Adrian Quesada, is founder of the Opportunity Project (Proyecto Oportunidad), an initiative that designs and manufactures low cost bionic arm and hand prostheses. The 3D apparatuses are made cost-accessible through a public-private partnerships, and are designed and manufactured in Costa Rica under an open source license.

The Lléguele Integral Art Center, another winner, is the brainchild of Cynthia Gonzalez and consists of a space for teaching art and conflict resolution in San Miguel de Desamparados, an at-risk community. The program is aimed at children and adolescents, and has achieved outstanding results in keeping youth from dropping out of school and in ending their drug use.

The Mi Huerta Trade Market, envisioned by Ricardo Castillo, is a network of sustainably produced organic producers and distributors which aims to educate consumers about the food they consume. Mi Huerta (My Garden) also helps farmers plan crops, and aids them in soil recovery through sustainable planting practices, consulting, and development of new products.

Yoselin Barrios was another winner. Her start-up on a small island in the Gulf of Nicoya is called Isla Venado Youth Citizen Participation. The project has created a network through which local youth carry out training, education and other projects related to culture and rural tourism with the aim of improving the quality of life for the island’s residents.

The 2nd Hand Solidarity clothes project was founded by David Hernandez, and aims to promote and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in women who are heads of households in marginal urban and rural communities. Women run used clothing stores with quality clothing donated by middle and upper class families, and generate working capital to maintain their stores and resources needed for their families.