TAMIU Students Complete Service Abroad Trip to Costa Rica

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students recently traveled internationally for service through the University's newly established Service Abroad program.

A total of 10 TAMIU students, four graduate and six undergraduates, embarked on an excursion to Costa Rica, where they engaged in a hands-on community service experience and cross-cultural exchange.

The life-changing initiative took place June 21 – 27, as the group visited San José and Sarapiquí, where they partnered with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF) to support various community-focused initiatives in La Carpio, one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the region.

The CRHF is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing creative and economical solutions to a wide range of social issues in Costa Rica.

There, TAMIU students assisted with the Foundation's food bank delivery services, participated in reading sessions with children and youth, led icebreaker games, and hosted educational cultural activities where they shared the unique heritage found in both Laredo, TX and the University community. The cultural exchange aimed to build global understanding and appreciation between both communities.

Students also experienced a powerful, "Walk in Our Shoes" tour where they walked through La Carpio to gain a deeper understanding of the realities and resilience of the community they served.

Before traveling, students organized a School Supply Drive to benefit children in the area. The drive successfully collected over 200 items, including notebooks, crayons, pencils, glue sticks, and markers, which were donated to CRHF.

Additionally, students volunteered at the Centro de Cuidado y Desarrollo Infantil, a local daycare center that serves children from low-income families. There, they painted restroom facilities, planted a vegetable garden to support the Center's nutrition efforts, and donated cleaning supplies, educational toys, and restroom essentials.

The Service Abroad experience was coordinated in collaboration with the Office of International Engagement and the American Institute For Foreign Study, as both played an essential role in planning the trip and facilitating the international partnership.

"Service abroad allows students to grow as global citizens, strengthen their empathy, develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and understand their place and impact in a broader world," said Priscilla Cadena, program manager for TAMIU's Office of Student Affairs and coordinator of the Service Abroad program.

Elisa Saldívar, a University graduate student, program participant and Student Government Association L.O.V.E. committee chair, noted the importance of this endeavor.

"Volunteering in Costa Rica was a powerful experience that deepened my connection with the locals and my TAMIU team. Our projects and donations made a meaningful impact on the children we served and inspired me to continue volunteering both locally and globally. Pura Vida," said Saldívar.

The program also reflects the University's core value of service by empowering students to put compassion into action and contribute meaningfully to the global community, while also aligning with the University's Strategic Plan and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for the 2025–2026 academic year, emphasized Mayra Hernández, director of TAMIU's Office of Student Affairs.

"TAMIU's new QEP Plan, [which is] part of our Strategic Plan, focuses on building experiential service programs that prepare students to be workforce ready," said Hernández.

She continued, "The Costa Rica trip marks one of the first major steps in this initiative—offering hands-on, high-impact learning that connects classroom knowledge to real-world service. TAMIU is proud to invest in programs that develop globally minded, professionally equipped graduates."

Another Service Abroad opportunity for Summer 2026 is already in the works with details forthcoming. University students interested in applying are encouraged to stay connected with the Office of Student Affairs via their website and social media for any upcoming announcements.

For more information about the Service Abroad Program or other community engagement opportunities at TAMIU, visit https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/communityengagement.shtml or contact the Office of Student Affairs at 956.326.2265.

Registration for TAMIU's Fall 2025 is online via Uconnect.

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