SOF works to free children from sex trafficking and/or sexual abuse in the nation of Costa Rica, providing them with professional physical & spiritual care, and restoring them to society within a healthy environment.

 

The Need

 

Costa Rica is a tropical paradise. Its people are warm and hospitable and known to love and value their children at levels that surpass many of their neighbors.

 

In stark contrast to this picture is the fact that 32.2% of Costa Rican women report being sexually abused or raped before the age of 18. According to a 2009 study by the University of Barcelona, 12.8% of Costa Rican males report the same!

 

Tragically, Costa Rica is considered to be among the top four countries in Latin America with regards to underage sex trafficking. Over the past twenty years, as Costa Rica has grown more and more popular as a tourist destination, sex trafficking of both adults and children has sky-rocketed in sync with that trend.

 

The Initiative

 

Recognizing the above facts, in 2009, SOF began supporting evangelical & social initiatives in Costa Rica to combat these problems in a wholesome and effective way.

 

Costa Rica has a robust justice system where corruption is understood to be on the decline.  Its education system is second to none in all of Latin America with the distinction of being the only country in the world of having more teachers than police.

 

In addition, its strongly religious culture and love of children mean that in spite of the problems cited above, Costa Rica stands as a land ripe with opportunity to make a difference.

 

SOF has developed a three-pronged approach to making a real and effective impact in the lives of wounded and at-risk children. With operations currently ongoing in three different regions of Costa Rica, over 1,000 children were served and ministered to last year alone.

 

Vision

 

The short-term vision of Project Restore a Child is to see hundreds of children rescued and ministered to each year. Our long-term vision is to see sex abuse/trafficking statistics in Costa Rica significantly reduced in a permanent way.

 

Mission

 

The mission of Project Restore a Child is to free children from sex trafficking and/or abuse, provide them with professional physical & spiritual care, and restore them to society within a healthy environment.