David S. Kitson served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Philippines along with his wife, Beverly.
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David S. Kitson served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Philippines along with his wife, Beverly.
The Life and Accomplishments of David S. Kitson
The Life and Accomplishments of David S. Kitson
THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DAVID S. KITSON
(By his wife, Beverly S. Kitson)
Born in Massachusetts in 1935, David S. Kitson received his undergraduate university education. He served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Philippines along with his wife, Beverly. Upon return from there he did his masters degree in Latin American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. He served as Deputy Peace Corps Director both in Jamaica, 1967-70, and in Costa Rica, 1970-73.
Upon completion of his time with the Peace Corps, he decided to stay on in Costa Rica where his young children could become bilingual. David and Beverly bought their ocean view property in Nosara, Guanacaste in 1970 and from then on they had a permanent vacation sight. David was the Director of Costa Rica Academy for five years, 1973-78. Retiring from the education scene in 1978, he worked with the Peace Corps Training Center preparing volunteers to serve in Costa Rica.
Then in 1979 the family moved back to the States where David worked for the Agency for International Development. After two years of service with A.I.D. in El Salvador, David and his family returned to Costa Rica in 1983, also with A.I.D. Here he worked in many projects in the general development field: education, appropriate technology, rural development, and cooperatives to mention a few. David gave a lot of help to the Nosara fishing co-op which was trying to get started during the early 1980s. Because of his knowledge of the Touristic potential of the Nosara area and the need for development In this area, he was instrumental in getting many bridges installed to provide the area with an all-year road.
For the family, Nosara became the center of their leisure time activities. Most vacations were spent at the beach cabin and even many long weekends. David was instrumental in getting the Nosara Civic Association, which represents the mainly foreign community of retirement homes, Bocas de Nosara, to donate to the Vida Silvestre Department the first 200 meters of beach front property for a wildlife refuge. He worked with government officials and community people to establish guide lines for the protection and use of this area.
In 1987, Dave was off again, this time to El Salvador, for a seven-year tour of duty. He was instrumental in implementing the Peace Accords which involved American AID projects in El Salvador.
At long last he was ready to retire to his newly constructed home in Nosara in December of 1993. David put all of his considerable energy and intelligence into a number of programs for community development, beach and wildlife protection and cooperation between the local Nosara community and the mainly foreign development project -- Bocas de Nosara. But a long happy retirement was not in the picture. Six months after retiring he was diagnosed with asbestos cancer and nine months later he was dead. His love for Costa Rican and especially for the community of Nosara was great and will, through a Memorial Library in his name in the town of Nosara, transcend the great beyond.
In the United States and Canada, we take public lending libraries for granted.; It's difficult to imagine a community without one. But in Central America, and specifically in Costa Rica, a library is just a place where students go to do research. A library is not where someone goes to find a good book to read over the weekend.
The custom of a lively public library in a small town was unknown in this part of the world until NOW! The David S. Kitson Memorial Library is a pioneer in inter-cultural, volunteer efforts.
library computer training, volunteer opportunity in Nosara Costa RicaWhen the foreign residents of Nosara began this project five years ago, many "doubting Thomas's" said, “These people won't read books, they only watch TV.” Wrong!
Although the educational level in the village is probably an average of second year of high school, people are literate. They have taken to the wonderful collection of light reading and inspirational self-help books -- which share first place in the book popularity contest -- like the proverbial duck to water. The library now has 6,000 volumes in Spanish, and has 75 library cards issued to local people. In addition, high school students use the library to do homework, use typewriters and computers for schoolwork, and use the reference volumes
Who we are and what we do
David Kitson Library, Costa Rica volunteer opportunity
Arts and crafts class at the library, taught by Heija Allen, standing at left.
During the four years of the Library’s existence, volunteers have sponsored many activities. We've become deeply involved in the community as part of our overall program. Some of our involvements include:
* Arts and crafts courses for children and adults, especially around Christmas.
* Aid to students in the GED program, providing books, meeting space and some teaching by volunteers.
* Participation in all community activities, particularly supporting better health and better security to the community.
* Special Saturday morning programs for children, vidio movies and story-time.
* The library has a television and VCR for use by teachers to aid learning and a collection of educational videos.
* The library helps local residents prepare letters, using our word-processing equipment to turn out presentable messages.
* Not all of the library's services are for local people. The library also provides Internet service to the community and foreign visitors so they can check e-mail
* Aid to Americans trying to learn Spanish with special conversation sessions, with local people volunteering to teach Spanish to the foreign residents.
* The library's supporters participate in local festivals with our own parade float each special national holiday.
computer and typing center
About half of the library space is taken up with our Computer/Typing Center. All machines have been donated and the library keeps them in good working order, frequently updating the computers with professional help from volunteers.
Costa Rica volunteer library projectStudents learn the key board on the typewriters before they can pass into the computer skills class. The library boasts seven computers with Windows 95 and two with Windows 98. Students come from all age groups but mainly adults eager to learn new skills which may help them in the job market.
Classes are taught by local people who were previously taught by professionals who volunteer their time to help our community better itself. their efforts are sincerely appreciated by the students. In this picture, the instructor is a Tico volunteer who learned the computer here, obtained a good job because of his skills, and is now teaching.
One of the most satisfying experiences library volunteers enjoy, is seeing one of their students land a good job because of the skills learned at the library. Touch typing, for example, is something almost unknown in Latin America. Go to any government office or business where typewriter keyboards are still in use, and you'll see clerks and bureaucrats laboriously hunt-and-peck their way through documents. A bonifide typist is worth her weight in gallo pinto in an office setting.
Most businesses who have switched to modern-day technology (computer word-processors instead of Underwood uprights), still have employees who are on the two-finger, hunt-and-peck system. As you can imagine, a library-trained, 10-finger keyboard whiz is considered a magician of efficiency and an office super-employee!.
Success Stories We will profile some of our students who have changed their lives -- forever changed -- because of the skills they've acquired at the David S. Kitson Library.
Beverly Kitson, the library director is awarding a certificate for completing a course in computación. Alonso, the happy recipient, applies his newly learned skills in his startup business as an electrician. He uses the spreadsheet program 'Excel' to submit estimates and work orders. Clients are quite impressed by this professional touch, and Alonso's business has prospered.
the village of Nosara
Nosara is a typical Costa Rica village, complete with a soccer field as the center of attraction. The grade school and the David S. Kitson Library are both adjacent to the field. The soccer field hosts all kinds of local celebrations, from fiestas to national holidays, with parades and music. Below are some high school students in typical dress, to celebrate the province's independence day.
the problem with success...
Our present space, a room 15’ x 21’ has reached its limit of usefulness.
There are days when the Library has 15 high school students all trying to
finish an assignment for the next school day. This happens often enough to create a severe space problem. What is the answer? A new building!
This we can not do alone nor with fundraisers in the community. We need outside help. Our goal is to raise $150,000, not a significant amount in American terms but for the local community to take this on would be
impossible. This town and these people are worth helping, worth seeing that they get the library of their dreams which will also serve as a cultural
center for the town.
Go to the next page to learn of our plans to move ahead. We invite you to join us!
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Obituaries; Special Interests - Libraries; Special Interests - USAID; Service
PCOL3057
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happy valentines day to all, what a wonderus surprize to find my uncle's life so celabrated.this man always did things seemingly imposible for regular people to dream of never mind fullfill and inspire others to do the same. the nosara bib. is the BEST!! we here at easthampton bike are all about that place! peace and love
HELLO BEVERLY,
SOME FRIENDS OF MINE ARE PLANNING A FAMILY VACATION IN NOSARA AND WONDERED WHETHER I HAD EVER HEARD OF IT. YOU CAN BE SURE I HAD MANY STORIES ABOUT NOSARA, DAVID AND CRA.I TAUGHT THERE FROM 75 TO 78. REMEMBER? I HAD WONDERFUL TIMES AT YOUR HOMES.
ALSO WAS ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH PETER AND ELLIE IN MAINE. SO MANY DEAR FRIENDS HAVE PASSED ON.
I HOPE YOU ARE WELL AND ENJOYING YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
BEST REGARDS,
MARILYN LAUGHLIN