Hasta la raíz: Community perceptions of education, protection, and belonging at CEPIA in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

This thesis explores how CEPIA, a community-based organization in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is seen by children, community members, and workers in terms of its educational, protective, and social roles. The study is grounded in a conceptual framework that brings together Freire’s critical pedagogy, Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, social capital theory, and the idea of child-friendly spaces (CFS). It addresses three main questions: How is CEPIA perceived in these roles? How do children experience its programmes? And what expectations and needs emerge from the community? Using a qualitative methodology that included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, the study identified themes of multi-dimensional education, safety and protection, community embeddedness and trust, psychosocial development, and structural challenges. Findings highlight CEPIA’s role in cultivating intergenerational learning, sense of security, agency and empowerment, while also revealing areas for improvement in parental engagement and communication. By listening to local voices and focusing on everyday experiences, the study offers a grounded understanding of how spaces like CEPIA are experienced in vulnerable contexts.