What We Do

About El Aposento

"El Aposento Alto" is Spanish for ‘The Upper Room’. We take the name--the upper room--from the book of Acts, where the disciples met and prayed after the resurrection of Jesus. El Aposento is a youth center and hair salon on the top floor of the only two-story structure in the town--a hub of the community, providing jobs and a safe place for youth to gather.

The Problem

In rural and remote areas of the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, there is a lack of safe areas for entertainment and healthy recreation for young people and a debilitating lack of employment.

In these low-income Government housing projects, there are increased instances of domestic violence, drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual exploitation, vandalism, etc. These remote areas have few resources, therefore there’s no economic development and very little community development for families in the area.

A Solution

At El Aposento Alto we address these problems and needs by operating:

1.       A Beauty Salon and Barber Shop which provides local services to the isolated community rather than taking the bus to the commercial zone, about 20 minutes away.

2.       A Videogame arcade, which provides a healthy and safe environment for young people to come together to play video games, relax and entertain themselves.

3.       A Computer Lab which provides internet access and a printer so students can do homework and learn computer skills.

Economic Impact

El Aposento Alto creates jobs in the community.

With your support we will be able to employ 13 people:

-- 2 people in the barber shop

-- 2 people in the hair salon

-- 3 other people that work part time in the salon, by appointment

-- 2 receptionists who supervise and cashier

-- 2 teen assistants who manage the video game area

-- 1 nail salon coordinator

-- 1 ministry supervisor

That is 13 job opportunities. People employed and receiving training that would not otherwise be available..

Youth Center
Part of our ministry is to ensure a drug-free space, that is safe for young people. Even if they are not using the services, they can 'hang out' and spend time with friends and acquaintances, playing board games, having free coffee, using internet, watching TV, or just chating with each other, without exposing themselves to the many negative influences in the neighborhood. We also provide a space for enrichment, with biblical and educational activities and classes.

Goals
We desire to be a sustainable business that supports itself. Doing Ministry as Business.
We will be reinvesting any money back into the ministry, and hope to be operating independantly in 3 years.
With your initial support, partnership, prayers, and donations. you can be a part of giving El Aposento Alto a stable foundation for the future.