The Founding of Kids Saving The Rainforest

By Janine Lacare

I write to you today to let you know, not so much about the organization, Kids Saving The Rainforest, (KSTR) but more on how it got started.  KSTR is a 501 (C) 3, non-profit organization that was founded 11 years ago in 1999 by my best friend Aislin and me.

Here is our story:

Being the young kids that we were, we decided that we wanted to start making money all on our own. We started out by making paper-Mache bottles and painted rocks as paper weights.  We set up our little (but crazy-cute) roadside stand on a “recyclable” cardboard box, selling our items to passing strangers.  Although we made a couple of bucks of some random passerby’s, our intentions to save the rainforest had not yet begun.

Instead, we would take our earnings from our hard work to an ice-cream parlor/deli stationed right next to my friend’s house.  Our main thoughts were – to INDULGE!  Keep in mind though, that we were not your typical ordinary children.  We took much more pleasure in eating the finer foods; Beef Stroganoff, pesto, sushi, or spinach, than your mere chocolate chip ice-cream.  With this in mind, and a big smile on our faces, we would head over to the deli and order a roasted half chicken with a side of pasta/potato salad and a pickle to go.  Who really needs a mango ice-cream sundae?

Now, you are probably wondering….   Soooo, where did Kids Saving The Rainforest come from if all these two girls would do is eat?

Well, the truth is, that after we had our fill of chicken (which only took a week or two), we decided that maybe our money could be used for something a little more useful; and living in an area with so much biodiversity, we decided we should probably do something to save it.

So my friend, there you have it!  The real birth of KSTR, a story few knew, but many will now laugh about (hopefully!)

If you would like to know more about Kids Saving The Rainforest, PLEASE log onto our website at www.kidssavingtherainforest@org or visit our KSTR Souvenir Store where 100% of the profits go to save the rainforest.  The store is adjacent to the Hotel Mono Azul, one mile from Quepos on the right hand side on the way to Manuel Antonio.