Hands With Heart Foundation – Costa Rica Mission Report

Executive Summary

From July 1 to 10, 2025, Hands With Heart Foundation carried out a multidisciplinary humanitarian healthcare mission across two distinct regions of Costa Rica: Cartago and the Bribri Indigenous Territory in Talamanca. A team of 16 international volunteers from Italy, Spain, the USA, England, and Finland worked alongside local professionals to provide free osteopathic and rehabilitative care to children with disabilities, reaching both urban and deeply remote areas.

Over the course of ten days, the team delivered:

• 160 therapy sessions in Cartago
• 119 sessions for 119 patients in Bribri Territory
• Community-based training, cultural exchange workshops, and language learning
• A significant territorial outreach effort, covering an estimated 300 km² of jungle terrain on foot, motorcycle, and river transport.

This report details the logistics, clinical outcomes, human impact, and lessons learned during the mission.

1. International Participation and Team Composition

The mission brought together 16 volunteers from five countries:

• Italy
• Spain
• United States
• England
• Finland

Participants included both recent graduates and seasoned professionals in osteopathy and related fields. Many had previous exposure to the work of Hands With Heart through lectures, surf therapy events, or international symposia. Notably, all new volunteers had heard of the foundation before joining, a sign of our growing international presence.

The core leadership team of the mission—comprised of individuals with decades of clinical and teaching experience—provided structure, emotional guidance, and advanced technical instruction to younger participants. Their presence ensured that care was consistent, ethical, and adapted to the complex challenges of the regions we served.

2. Region I: Cartago (July 1–4)

In collaboration with three local physical therapists—Marco, Xavier, and Vivina—the team provided structured sessions to children with disabilities in an adapted facility capable of treating up to 7 children per hour.

• Total sessions delivered: 160
• Therapy hours: 8 AM to 2 PM daily
• Afternoon educational workshops: hands-on osteopathic techniques, palpatory skill-building, and diagnostic strategies

Each evening included theoretical and practical learning sessions led by the core team, contributing to the professional development of all volunteers.

Local support also included:

• A team of dedicated kitchen staff who played a key role in daily logistics and morale
• Daily debriefs to process the emotional intensity of working with children in complex clinical situations

3. Emotional Integration & Cultural Reset in Puerto Viejo (July 5)

Recognizing the emotional toll of the mission, a cultural reset was built into the schedule. The team traveled to Puerto Viejo, a laid-back Caribbean village, to decompress and engage in group bonding. This strategic pause allowed team members to reflect, recover, and reconnect before entering the second, more physically demanding stage of the mission.

4. Region II: Bribri Indigenous Territory (July 6–10)

The Bribri phase of the mission presented unique challenges:

• Remote jungle settings with no roads
• River crossings, muddy trails, and dense vegetation
• Heavy logistical dependency on local knowledge and transport to reach the communities
• Hiked for hours daily
• Crossed rivers by boat
• Traveled on motorbikes and adapted high-wheel buses
• Relied on local guides from the DAWE Association
• Used radio announcements in Bribri language to coordinate with families

A total of 119 sessions were delivered to 119 different patients, including children with autism and other complex disabilities. The mission also provided home visits, responding to spontaneous requests by family members for treatment.

Estimated area covered on foot and by transport: 300 km², encompassing multiple Bribri communities deep within the jungle.

5. Local Collaboration & Community Participation

Local support in Bribri included:

• DAWE Association team: Avelino, Maribel, Carlos, Roger, Moisés, Judith, Irma, Brainerd, Scarlett
• Cooks, bus driver Don Rubén, and guides Roque & Jordi
• Roy, radio host from La Voz de Talamanca, who helped broadcast our message
• Cristel Virginia, a local physical therapist working with the Ministry of Education, who helped identify children, even though she is limited to educational—not healthcare—support

Workshops and exchanges also explored:

• Bribri language & key expressions
• Traditional understandings of disability and health
• Role of the AWA (spiritual medicine men)
• Cultural beliefs around Sibu, their deity, and the eight realms of existence
• The preparation and ceremonial role of cacao

These exchanges were essential to gaining trust and being welcomed into homes—often requiring ritual respect and guidance from the spirits of the land.

6. Summary of Results

7. Lessons Learned & Recommendations

• Clarify the Impact: Quantifying sessions, patients, and area covered gives donors and institutions a clearer grasp of our reach. Visual tools such as mapped zones or infographics would greatly enhance understanding.
• One-Page Summary: This executive overview can help stakeholders quickly grasp mission impact, logistics, and emotional depth.
• Emotional Preparedness: Future missions should maintain built-in recovery time for volunteers, especially first-timers. Structured emotional support is critical in high-intensity humanitarian work.
• Strong Core Team: The combination of clinical skill and emotional maturity in our senior volunteers was essential. This leadership structure should be maintained and further strengthened.

8. Final Thoughts

Hands With Heart Foundation continues to return to Cartago and Bribri twice a year, providing consistent, high-quality care to communities that otherwise have no access to therapeutic services. This mission exemplified our commitment to long-term impact, cultural sensitivity, and international collaboration.

The combination of clinical service, community engagement, and educational exchange makes our model unique—and effective. We walk into the jungle not just with backpacks, but with humility, knowledge, and a deep desire to serve.