To our Common Ground Community…We are very thankful for you!
Our mission at Common Ground is to impact communities through language. We exist for YOU, the Spanish learner. The fact that you have taken a step to improve your Spanish to have a greater impact where you live, work, play, and volunteer says a lot about you. YOU are the hands and feet of our mission.
We are inspired by your drive and motivation to improve your Spanish and to have a greater impact in the communities you serve. Mil gracias 🙏 for allowing us to be part of your Spanish learning journey.
If you have traveled with us on our Spanish immersion programs, you’ve partnered with us to serve the most neglected communities in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica with our partner nonprofit organizations.
During this holiday season, we have an opportunity to continue to support them from afar. Would you consider helping us raise money for these specific projects?
If you’re in, we’re in… Common Ground is matching your donation dollar for dollar to the organizations we’re going to share with you now…
Watch this brief video to learn more
Did you know that in 2015, Rory and I set up a 501c3 non-profit called The Immersion Fund so that we could continue to support the organizations that we partner with on our immersion programs? When you make a donation through the Immersion Fund it is tax deductible and you will get a receipt emailed to you. AND…
Every dollar you donate between Nov. 20 and Dec. 31st, 2025 Common Ground International will match dollar for dollar your donation. This is a unique opportunity to double your impact and directly support these women, families, and children.
Learn the specific details of how you can have a direct impact in the transformation of lives…👇
Each fall, we check in with our partners to see how they’re doing and we specifically ask what needs they have.
In Ecuador our immersion participants have the opportunity to work with La Fundación Arenal…
La Fundación Arenal
Fundación Arenal has worked for more than 30 years with the most vulnerable kids in Cuenca, Ecuador. This year, La Fundación Arenal responded with an urgent opportunity to directly impact the health and future of the children in Cuenca. These bright, resilient young people face daily challenges, and one that is often unseen – it’s the threat of parasitic infections.
Parasites rob a child’s health, leading to malnutrition, anemia, and cognitive impairment; which makes continuing to go to school and learn nearly impossible. La Fundación Arenal has asked us to consider sponsoring a year-long Parasite-Free Futures Campaign. This focused initiative will not only treat the sick but also empower families with the knowledge and tools for lasting prevention.
Fundación Arenal is aiming to fund this year-long campaign by the end of the year. Would you consider helping? Common Ground will give a 1:1 matching gift!
Rory and I will match every dollar of your tax-deductible donation between now and Dec. 31st, 2025 – instantly doubling your gift to fund the parasite treatments, prevention and education campaign. We love targeting giving, and we’re particularly excited that we can help provide this immediate relief with the proper medications and long-term sustainability with preventative education.
In Costa Rica, we have the honor of volunteering with the CEDCAS organization.
For 30+ years, they serve one of the largest shanty towns in Costa Rica called Guararí. They have two branches of outreach…
- Public health prevention, education and treatment to the local community that does not have access to (or cannot afford) healthcare in Costa Rica
- Social, emotional and educational support for the 107 kids in their semillitas de amor program. The goal of this program is to change the trajectory of a child life by supporting their academic path from preschool through high school graduation and help them get into a trade school or university to be productive members of society that can support their future families.
CEDCAS has identified three key areas where your support will have an immediate and measurable impact:
School Uniform Drive
In Costa Rica, a child cannot attend free public school without a proper uniform. CEDCAS has committed to supporting 107 children from kindergarten through high school graduation.
The Challenge: The average cost of a uniform is $100 per year, yet the average income for these families is only $400 per month. Imagine the burden if you have more than 1 child in school 😳.
Your Impact: You can help send a child to school for the entire year by contributing to their uniform. As the current school year concludes in November, your gift now will ensure these children are ready to attend when the 2026 academic year begins in February.
Essential Medical Care & Equipment
Many families in Guararí face significant barriers to accessing diagnostic tests and ongoing medical care for preventable conditions. Your donation will help fill these gaps by providing ongoing medical care and necessary equipment, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment for those who need it most.
Computer Skills for Teens
For teenagers in the CEDCAS kid’s club, acquiring basic computer skills is essential for economic mobility. Your support will fund computers and computer courses covering in-demand programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Canva. These skills give them a competitive edge in the job market, opening doors to well-paying employment opportunities.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our giving campaign this season!
We’re particularly excited that we can help provide immediate relief with the proper medications and preventative education for kids at La Fundación Arenal and help those at CEDCAS with medical care, school uniforms and computer skills!
If you’d like to join us, you can donate TODAY. No amount is too small and 100% of your donation will go directly to La Fundación Arenal and CEDCAS. It’s awesome to know EXACTLY where your money goes and how it’s going to be spent!
Click here to double your impact today!
Con mucha gratitud 🙏 – Leslie & Rory Foster y el equipo de CGI
To conclude, we have a Spanish challenge for you- Learn how to spread thanks en español!
Aprende cómo expresar la gratitud en español.
They say that gratitude can change your outlook on life. It’s a skill and a discipline that is to be honed, practiced, and made a habit. It is easy to look around us and see what we don’t have and compare our lives to others. A slight perspective shift, focusing on gratitude can help us appreciate what we do have and return the kindness to others around us.
We have created this gratitude vocabulary card for you to express your thanks in Spanish!
Dicen que la gratitud puede cambiar tu perspectiva de la vida. Es una habilidad y una disciplina que hay que perfeccionar, practicar y convertir en un hábito. Es fácil mirar a nuestro alrededor, ver lo que no tenemos y comparar nuestras vidas con las de otros. Un ligero cambio de perspectiva enfocándonos en la gratitud puede ayudarnos a apreciar lo que sí tenemos y corresponder a la amabilidad de los otros a nuestro alrededor.
Go ahead and download the key vocabulary and verbs to express your thanks in Spanish. We challenge you to write a note to someone you are thankful for.
estoy agradecida por este lectura de español!
That’s the spirit! 🤗