EDUCATE
ENHANCE
EMPOWER
VISION
Create thriving, economically stable communities in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
MISSION
Empower individuals from rural/underserved communities in Guanacaste, Costa Rica to develop the skills they need to seize educational and economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
VALUES
Our team is professional and dedicated. Our work is inspirational and effective. Our projects are truly grassroots and embedded in our communities. Our impact is lasting and cost effective.
OUR STORY
Abriendo Mentes, which is Spanish for ‘Opening Minds’, was established in 2009 by founders Meradith Leebrick and Drew Ragland. The couple had been living in Potrero for several years and were asked by their Costa Rican neighbor if they could begin offering some English classes for his daughter and her cousins. What began as very informal tutoring sessions with no supplies, no resources, and no physical classroom space, grew steadily into a full-fledged after school program for dozens of local children.
Since 2009 the organization has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, with highlights including the addition of adult education programming, the donation of our computer lab leading to the establishment of our technology program, the creation of our women’s economic empowerment programs, the development of our international volunteer structure, and a formal program expansion to the neighboring community of Brasilito.
We have achieved many of our objectives over the last several years: we have delivered thousands of hours of classes and community development programs, more than 200 volunteers have joined our team and supported our work, and we have consistently met our ambitious fundraising goals. However, the communities where we work still face great challenges, and we continually strive to enhance our program offerings for the local population and future generations.
WHERE WE WORK
OUR LOCATIONS
Region of Guanacaste
The province of Guanacaste is located in the northwest corner of Costa Rica, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Nicaragua to the north. It is the most rural, least densely populated and one of the poorest regions in the country.
Playa Potrero
Playa Potrero is a small, coastal village with a population of approximately 500 residents. It is home to both Costa Ricans who have lived in this community for generations, as well as a large number of Nicaraguan immigrants and their children, who make up approximately 40% of the community. Potrero serves as Abriendo Mentes’ administrative headquarters and flagship program.
Brasilito
Located right on the beach next to the famous Playa Conchal, Brasilito is a tourist town with about 3,000 residents, many of whom are Nicaraguan immigrants. Brasilito is a community where many families live in extreme poverty, and many community members suffer from drug and alcohol addiction as well as domestic violence, putting many children at risk.
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OUR TEAM
Abriendo Mentes Team
Grettel Esquivel Garita
Executive DirectorRachael Sine
Director of Communications & DevelopmentMaritza Abarca Ugarte
Community PromoterFOUNDERS
MERADITH LEEBRICK
Meradith co‐Founded Abriendo Mentes in 2009 and directed the organization from inception until 2012 when Lindsay stepped in as Director. Meradith holds a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University, where she was a Global Fellows Scholar, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently based in Mexico City and serves as the Health Financing Specialist for the organization IPPF based in Latin America and is responsible for analyzing the processes and investments involved in implementing the organization’s social enterprise strategy. Her work focuses on supporting large health NGOs in Latin America and the Caribbean in the design of sustainable business plans that support health service growth. Meradith has also worked as a Business Analyst with the Grameen Foundation, designing financial models to support the development of mobile agriculture projects in rural Africa.
DREW RAGLAND
As a co‐Founder of Abriendo Mentes, Drew helped to manage the organization from inception until 2012, when Meradith and he passed on the leadership of AM to Lindsay. Drew currently works in the clinical research field as a Clinical Research Associate. With a passion for education, prior to founding AM, Drew taught English in Guanacaste and the San Jose area. Drew received his BA in English and Communications from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Drew resides in Mexico City with his wife and enjoys traveling Latin America, birding, gardening and cycling.