Women's Empowerment Through Social Entrepreneurship

NEW YORK, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Costa Rica Fellowship Exchange is an initiative promoting professional networks between the U.S. and Costa Rica, while developing empowerment programs helping women address economic development, environmental sustainability, and health issues facing Costa Rican communities.

The University of Connecticut selected the Human Impacts Institute as one of few organizations to host two Costa Rican Fellows in April 2012. During their stay, fellows from the Earth Charter Secretariat and Fund-cooperation for Sustainable Development will work with HII staff on Earth Week programs, including:

• Partnering with local businesses towards conservation and cost saving goals, through HII's EcoPreneurs program;
• Educating NYC youth with HII's Creative Engagement program to finalize environmental campaign posters for an Ed Varie Gallery show;
• Training the public with citizen engagement workshops in Washington, D.C.'s National Mall, with HII's MobilizeUS! coalition;
• Leading community stewardship projects in three North Brooklyn parks with HII's Growing Our Roots program;
• Creating discussions around renewable energy and dirty energy's long-term impacts, for the play The Way of Water, produced in NYC's Theatre District.

HII will send two representatives to Costa Rica to co-develop ten team-based, social change projects in indigenous communities. HII's Executive Director and Program Coordinator will train alongside ten Costa Rican fellows with UCONN faculty and receive a Social Entrepreneurship certificate.

"We are honored to be awarded this opportunity and can't wait to work with these exceptional women," said HII Executive Director and Founder, Tara DePorte.

SOURCE Human Impacts Institute