Leadership Program: Final submission deadline

The deadline for application submission to the INOGO Leadership Program has been extended to March 31^st, 2014.

IX Festival of the Spheres (March 26-30^th)

For the ninth consecutive year, the community of Osa in Puntarenas and the National Museum of Costa Rica are preparing to present the Festival of the Spheres, held between March 26-30^th. Palmar Sur will be the main area where events will be held, with additional events to be held in Palmar Norte and Sierpe.

To learn more about the event, visit <http://www.museocostarica.go.cr/es_cr/ix-festival-de-esferas-osa-2014/ix....

Eco-Women’s Entrepreneur Association of Osa

An association of women entrepreneurs and environmental activists has been granted legal status. The association is located in Ciudad Cortés and they are currently developing plans for a festival in Palmar Norte.

Congratulations to Osa & Golfito Athletes! – XXXIII National Sports Competition in Southern Area, March 9-16

The canton of Golfito won 1 gold metal and 6 silver metals, while the canton of Osa won 1 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze metals.

Various competitions were held in the following cities:        

• Buenos Aires: boxing
• Coto Brus: judo, karate, and men’s soccer 
• Corredores: chess, men’s soccer 
• Golfito: rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, and beach volleyball
• Osa: men’s volleyball, women’s basketball, and a triathlon

Sources:<https://www.presidencia.go.cr/prensa/prensa-presidencia/2735-juegos-depo..., <http://www.icoder.go.cr/>

Meeting of Key Actors in Bi-national Territorial Development Process of the Southern Region, Costa Rica – Barú Panamá

On March 28^th, from 9:00am – 1:00pm, a Key Actors meeting will be held at facilities of the Costa Rican Housing Ministry, in Paso Canoas.

INOGO’s Participation in the 2^nd Convention of EcoEco, Alternatives for 2014

On Saturday, March 8^th, INOGO participated, in conjunction with the Neotrópica Foundation, in the Second Mesoamerican EcoEco Alternatives 2014 Convention.

The title of INOGO’s presentation was “Ingredients for development centered on the wellbeing of inhabitants in the Osa and Golfito region” and was given by Erick Vargas, national coordinator of INOGO. The discussion focused on explaining INOGO’s role in the region, exploring its web resources such as the diagnostic analyses and reports, and exploring the lessons learned and its current activities, such as the Leadership Program.

Additionally, Bernardo Aguilar presented on behalf of the Neotrópica Foundation, entitled “Conciliatory Mechanisms for high conflict protected forest areas: the experience of the Neotrópica Foundation in the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve and the el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Maquenque.”

The session was attended by around two-dozen people, and ended with a very engaging Q&A session from Erick and Bernardo.