Letter 24 - What Can Be Done With Painted Rocks??

Hello Bregdan Women,

You’ve got Suess today…

Bregdan Women don’t suddenly appear when they reach 18.  The majority of us start out as Bregdan Girls – even if we’re still trying to determine our purpose and direction.

Today’s Bregdan letter is about two young girls -- two friends that started something solely for fun to have extra money to buy snacks.  Think of your childhood neighborhood “lemonade stand.”

Since lemonade was not a thing in 1999 in Costa Rica, they came up with a different plan.  They would paint rocks!

I can imagine Janine Licare and Aislin Livingstone at 9 years old– bright eyed, curious, looking for rocks, painting rocks, planning, and scheming. The two had been close friends since they were four years old.

I can hear their chatter, “How much do we charge for this rock?” What color should we paint this big one?” Do you think anyone will come tomorrow if it is still raining?”  I can see their delightful young smiles dancing across their faces as these young activists birthed their dreams. 

They had both grown up in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.  It is a beautiful area of rainforest and wildlife. As development, industrialization and civilization crept into the countryside, that rainforest and its animals were negatively impacted.

Both of the girls had a love affair with squirrel monkeys.  Their growing awareness of the danger the monkeys faced made them know they had to do something.

What would you have done at 9 years old?

Janine and Aislin decided to help. When the money started coming in, the two girls decided to put their money where it mattered – saving the rainforest around their town.

These Bregdan Girls plotted originally to buy the entire rainforest.

Janine recalls, “Ever since we were little, we acknowledged the fact that it is home to many kinds of animals as well as other living organisms such as trees, plants and insects. The rainforest is an amazing place, and we vow to do anything and everything we can to save it… If it disappears, then so does our planet.”

The 9 years old girls did not make enough money to buy the totality of the rainforest, but they did buy four acres of rainforest.

AND the kids asked for help from adults. That small purchase and those conversations led to Janine and Aislin creating a non-profit organization: Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR).

I’ve worked with kids for decades.  I’ve learned that if you find a youth with great passion, give them what they ask for and then get out of their way!

Kids Saving the Rainforest first operated in a corner of a local hotel restaurant. The first animals helped were monkeys.

The monkeys were forced to cross over roads by scaling power lines that electrocuted them, or scamper across the roads in front of speeding traffic –also deadly. The girls knew how to tie knots, so they spent their time creating rope monkey bridges to give the monkeys a safe exodus into the jungle.

That little corner table with two little girls in 1999 has evolved.

Today, in 2024, their modest beginning has turned into a success story for the ever-complex world of rainforest, wildlife, and environment!

Those four acres have grown.

Kids Save the Rainforest (KSTRF) - a US 501(c ) organization now includes:

• 300 acres of forest in Parrita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, with nursery-grown native tree saplings. 

·         a reforestation program, a wildlife rescue and sanctuary, and a bridge-building program that reduces wildlife/human conflicts.

·         wildlife rescue center and sanctuary for wounded, sick, and abandoned rainforest animals. They care for up to 200 monkeys, capuchins, sloths, kinkajous and raccoons each year, as well as caring for injured sloths.

·         over 130 such monkey bridges have been put up with the help of the local hydro-electric company.

·         a gift shop that sells artwork created by local kids.

·         an educational program teaching the locals about NOT feeding the inquisitive monkeys.

·         a public library with 2000 plus books.

·         published children’s books

·         Sister Schools in Denmark, Pakistan, England, Viet Nam, France, Canada, India, the U.S.A. and Costa Rica

What does it take to make a difference?

It takes one step at a time.

Janine and Aslin didn’t start out with a successful organization. They started out asking questions, looking for help, listening to advice, seeing a problem, AND loving their world. Each question asked, and each request for help, was a single step along their pathway to success.

Janine and Aslin could not envision where their thoughts would take them. They could not know the future. They saw something disturbing which needed to be changed and naively decided that they could do something small to help.

Those small decisions have endured time.

Those small decisions weathered bureaucratic obstacles.

Those small decisions brought like-minded people of all ages together.

Those small decisions morphed into a big difference.

As Bregdan Women, they grew into their future.

You and I are similar. We each see our world – wherever we live, and we encounter things that need to change.

As Bregdan Women, we decide to help. We ask questions. We enlist help. We seek wisdom and guidance. AND we get to work, and never quit.

THAT’s Bregdan Women – in action!

We would love to hear how you are putting small decisions into action. . . and we love to hear how those decisions influence and rock your world! Drop us a message and let us know!

What will you do today to impact history??

We’re on this journey with you… (And have 2 FREE gifts for you below!)

Ginny & Suess

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