Centro de Experiencia y Aprendizaje | La Guácima is a unique brand dedicated to providing children in the La Guacima area of Costa Rica with learning opportunities and exciting experiences. In Costa Rica, access to such opportunities often depends on location and income, but Centro de Experiencia y Aprendizaje (CEA) aims to change that by making them readily available to all. At CEA, we offer a range of programs and services designed to enrich children's lives.

These include free tutoring, martial arts classes, a volunteer-powered library, movie nights, and a summer camp. What sets CEA apart is its collaborative approach, where community members actively contribute to shaping the programs and activities offered at the center. This creates a unique environment where children and parents from both privileged and less-resourced families come together as equals to build a stronger community.

Our ¾ acre campus in La Guácima, Costa Rica, is a hub of activity. It comprises four buildings, including a main activity center with a martial arts dojo, lending library, and game room, as well as additional spaces for movies, crafts, and sports. Surrounded by a protected forest, our campus often welcomes curious visitors such as monkeys and toucans.

CEA is deeply connected to the local community. We work with children and caregivers from nearby affluent neighborhoods as well as low-resource communities. Additionally, families from other towns and provinces also benefit from our programs.

This incredible initiative was started by Alexia Muchisu Wendel, who recognized the need for a lending library, a space for learning and play, and a platform to celebrate the community's traditions and cultures. In 2022, Alexia and her husband Steve found the perfect location, which was renovated and made available to CEA in March 2023. As a US 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we are committed to making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of children in the La Guacima area