Costa Rica

Costa Rica is about the size of West Virginia and is entirely a tropical climate. Schooling (up through secondary) is free and more than 40 percent of students move up to secondary school. Costa Ricans place a lot of value on having a high school diploma. Until the mid-1980s, the Roman Catholic Church was the official church, but a strengthening democratic government renounced its support of any one religion; 80 percent of the population still consider themselves Catholic.

Vida Joven (Young Life) has a presence in 12 communities in Costa Rica. There are six full-time Costa Ricans on staff with the hope for two more in the near future. Since 1982, the ministry has been growing steadily and now has 55 volunteer leaders and more than 350 kids attending club.