1. When and how did you become part of Comunidad Connect? What initially caught your attention about the organization?
I first became familiar with Comunidad Connect in 2007, when they organized recycling campaigns in San Juan del Sur with my school, where I was a member of the environmental club.
In 2011, while I was in university, I applied for an assistant position on an environmental education project that CC was launching in partnership with the Municipal Government, Paso Pacífico, and Café Las Flores.
What caught my attention was how directly it connected with something I had always been interested in: the environment. My school projects had focused on that subject, so this opportunity allowed me to turn that interest into my first step toward a professional career in social impact work.
2. Since you started, what are two or three moments, experiences, or memories that have had the greatest impact on you?
1. My first project and a word of confidence
Your first job or project always leaves a special mark. I remember a moment of frustration when I was defending my conclusions, and the project's donor, TESÓN, gave me some firm advice about how to work with and relate to people who had more authority and experience than I did. I was very young and just beginning my professional journey.
Over the years, I've come to understand that while a few words may seem insignificant to the person saying them, they can become a lasting point of reference for a young person just starting out. They can influence how that person approaches new challenges. The confidence someone places in you while you're still learning can change how you see yourself and, in many ways, become part of the professional you eventually grow into.
2. Learning to work with both heart and mind
Years later, while working on other Comunidad Connect projects and sharing experiences with colleagues, I came to understand more deeply the pain, frustration, and often helplessness that accompany social impact work. Some experiences encourage you to keep going, while others make you question whether you really want to continue.
At one point, I had to step back and reflect on what it meant to build an administrative career in the social sector. I came to a conclusion that still guides me today: if