Celebrating Independence Day in San Isidro

Impact Report Feature | This year, for the first time, UWC Costa Rica had the honor of joining the Costa Rican Independence Day Parade in San Isidro de Heredia, the future location of our new campus.

Impact Report Feature | This year, for the first time, UWC Costa Rica had the honor of joining the Costa Rican Independence Day Parade in San Isidro de Heredia, the future location of our new campus.

On September 15th, Costa Rica commemorates its historic independence, a day that unites communities with parades, music, and festivities that radiate pride across the country. This year, for the first time, UWC Costa Rica had the honor of joining the Costa Rican Independence Day Parade in San Isidro de Heredia, the future location of our new campus. This official invitation from the Municipality of San Isidro is a significant step, marking our institution’s growing integration into our new community.

UWC Costa Rica’s participation in this local celebration underscores the College’s commitment to Costa Rican heritage. It highlights our values in this vibrant community—Empathy, Reciprocity, and Accountability. Moving to San Isidro, UWC Costa Rica is excited to build strong ties with our neighbors, and events like these help foster a sense of belonging that will lay the foundation for years to come.

UWC Costa Rica Joins San Isidro’s Festivities for the First Time

Costa Rica’s Independence Day celebrations are a beautiful blend of history, culture, and community. As students and staff marched in San Isidro’s Independence Day parade, they joined the town’s residents in honoring Costa Rica’s liberation from Spanish rule, a momentous event in Latin American history. San Isidro welcomed our students with open arms, a gesture of goodwill that mirrors the strong community spirit we proudly champion at UWC Costa Rica.

Joining the parades also gave our students an up-close experience of Costa Rica’s traditions, immersing them in a celebration of music, dance, and unity, embodying our beautiful country’s essence. The participation also reflects UWC Costa Rica’s mission of cultivating in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet–learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.

A Dual Celebration in Santa Ana and San Isidro

While a small cohort of students marched in San Isidro, UWC Costa Rica honored its current community by participating in Santa Ana’s Independence Day parades. As our current campus location, Santa Ana holds a special place in our history, and the opportunity to join both communities was a meaningful way to recognize our past and look toward our future.

The simultaneous participation in both locations allowed our students to celebrate with two communities that are integral to UWC Costa Rica’s story. Santa Ana has been a welcoming home for more than 17 years, and we are deeply grateful to the municipality for its longstanding support. San Isidro welcomed us for the first time this year, a moment that marked the beginning of a new chapter and a relationship that will continue to grow as we transition to our new campus.

UWC Costa Rica’s Commitment to Community Engagement

UWC Costa Rica’s involvement in these Independence Day parades is just one example of our commitment to community engagement. As we prepare to move our campus to San Isidro, we aim to be an active and positive presence in this area, contributing to its cultural and environmental landscape while embracing the values that Costa Rica holds dear.

Our engagement with the San Isidro community will go beyond special events; it’s about fostering a long-term partnership where UWC Costa Rica students can connect meaningfully with local traditions, environmental initiatives, and community programs. Our students and faculty are eager to contribute to the San Isidro community, bringing a passion for sustainability, diversity, and peace central to UWC Costa Rica’s mission.

Looking Ahead: Building a New Chapter in San Isidro

Our move to the new campus in San Isidro is more than a change in location—it’s an opportunity to deepen our connections within Costa Rica and expand our impact. As our relationship with the San Isidro community strengthens, UWC Costa Rica envisions collaborative projects that benefit our students and the residents. With shared values of democracy, environmental conservation, and cultural pride, we believe this new chapter will be one of mutual growth and inspiration.

We are honored to have taken our first steps in San Isidro during the Independence Day parades, and we look forward to many more moments of unity and celebration in the years ahead. All of us at UWC Costa Rica thank the Municipality of San Isidro and the community members who warmly welcomed us. ¡Feliz Día de la Independencia, Costa Rica!