Casa Luz -“House of light”

The beginning:

The Cookes are Canadians who have owned a small hotel in Costa Rica for over 15 years and have grown to love the country and its wonderful people. In 2002, they learned of efforts to rescue young girls who were sexually abused and sometimes forced to prostitution. They felt the need to help these exploited adolescents and their children.  With their own funds, the Cookes opened Casa Luz in 2003, a mission so successful, and so needed, that it became too much for one family to support alone so a non – profit association was established: Asociación Reacción en Cadena por Nuestra Niñez.

About Casa Luz:

Casa Luz, the “House of light” is near San José, Costa Rica. It is a haven for adolescent mothers who come from extreme poverty and have been sexually abused and exploited. The first stage of Casa Luz is to provide a secure home for young mothers in crisis, so that their lives and the lives of their children will be changed.

The fully-assisted living facility opened in 2003 and provides a supportive and loving family environment for 15 mothers and their children. Casa Luz has 15, single-family rooms, a large common living space, play areas, classrooms, nursery and daycare, office, kitchen / dining area, laundry and accommodations for live-in, substitute moms.

Each young mother and her children will need an average of two years in this first stage of fully- dependent living at Casa Luz. These young mothers and their children arrive with many needs and the process of helping them heal and mature is multi- faceted.

Twenty- four hour care and counseling is provided by a staff of professionals, a director, social worker, psychologist, two teachers, special needs educator, four live- in house- mothers, a nursery aide and two cooks. The young families are given physical, emotional and spiritual support, along with education, vocational training and many other life skills in a loving and compassionate environment.

The mission is to help these young mothers realize they can have socially healthy lives by teaching the skills needed to achieve a productive and independent future. The home-like environment at Casa Luz is filled with love and acceptance while fostering responsibility and accountability, producing young women who are progressing toward a brighter future. 

The future:

Casa Luz Phase two: 16 two-family units that will be home to the young mothers who have demonstrated growth and maturity. This semi-independent living, with day care, counseling and other aid will enable the young mother to finish school or enter the workforce and to learn skills needed for full independence.

Casa Luz Phase Three: A multi-purpose centre with social, recreational and classroom space for Casa Luz families and the surrounding community

Contact Casa Luz
Tel.(506) 2348-5004
Fax. (506)2438-2943
Email. casaluz@racsa.co.cr
Director: Silvia Arrieta – email. silvia-ac@costarricense.cr