Friends for years, Paulo and I had often shared our dreams and visions of a place like Finca Rio Perla; his vision of recreating the life-affirming experience of living on kibbutz in Israel and my heartfelt commitment as writer to be an instrument of peace.

I remember Paulo saying early on (even before he committed to FRP), among the most dynamic things he realized, besides its awesome natural beauty, waterfalls and gracious people, was the spiritual energy that awakened memories of kibbutz.

The kibbutz (Hebrew word for “communal settlement”) is a unique rural community; a society dedicated to mutual aid and social justice; a socioeconomic system based on the principle of joint ownership of property, equality and cooperation of production, consumption and education; the fulfillment of the idea “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”; a home for those who have chosen it. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

Of his work (as a consultant for the World Bank), Paulo says it’s re-affirming when presented with the opportunity to actively cooperate with other countries (such as the current mission in Rwanda), to facilitate the spiritual and social justice principles of kibbutz.

Check out our “rural community activist” in The New Times Rwanda daily news excerpt…

Speaking to The New Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday after visiting VUP projects in Kiyombe sector, Nyagatare district, Paul B. Siegel, a consultant with the bank said that what VUP has achieved in transforming rural residents in the country is impressive.

‘I was very much impressed by the progress VUP has made in the country…” [and] …” unlike in other developing countries he has visited, the programme is seen as being pro-poor as it has transformed needy residents within its sites in Rwanda.

‘It is really promising to witness the residents who were needy some time back getting out of the vicious circle of poverty and seeing them helping their fellow residents,’ he said.

He added that the country’s good governance was among the factors that have contributed to the success of this programme.

Ade

Journey to Journal, Coordinator

Writers Retreat at Finca Rio Perla

Pura Vida!

Bienvenidos & Welcome

Hi Paul,

We wanted to say thank you, for once in a life time experience. It wasabsolutely amazing.
It was exactly what we looked for and wished for.

The farm is beautiful and we really felt that we are experiencing somethingunique.

The family wasgreat! We fell in love with all of them. Vivian was like a mother to us for 10days.

Ephrain (we called him Ephraim) and Alberto were great andfunny and Manuel was adorable.

Please let them know we are grateful and pass on what wesaid about them.

The work (planting trees)wasn't too hard yet we felt that we are doing something and helping.

One of the experiences was the language. We came with noSpanish at all and in a couple of days we were able to speak with them aboutIsrael, our families and even politics. We even performed as translators fromEnglish to Spanish when the Norwegian family came.

Who would have believe!!

We are already spreading the word and telling everyone wemeet about the great experience we had in the finca.

Just the other day I gave two Israelis your email.

 We are now in Bocas del Toro, Panama having a great time. But still talking about the farm almost every day.

"Cool beans!"

It was so groovy to hear everyone had such a great time at the farm. After all, it is Paul's  vision/mission that Finca Rio Perla be an authentic,down-to-earth, diverse community open and accessible to anyone  (read Paul's vision ).

 
It's also cool  because our visitors have the best voice to invite you to enjoy our  wonderful  waterfalls , horseback riding,milking cows and learning to make cheese; a comfortable place to practice andimprove your Spanish;  to write, to relax at Posada Rustica and CasaCentral Cottage where you'll experience  a very different kind offarm-stay,  volunteer experience, or nature adventure as our visitors from Peace University, Israel, World Bank, and Mastatal have shared.

So, if it sounds like we're making a big deal of this positive feedback - we are - and it’s because our holiday visitors from Israel, Norway, and the Stateswere one of our biggest and most diverse groups to experience Finca RioPerla. 

And thanks to the "fantastico" hospitality of Efrain and Vivian, our local family Costa Rica who manage the farm - everyone enjoyed a "once in a lifetime experience" at our countryside paradise in Costa Rica.

This is an exciting time for FRP...our ideals are becoming reality...travel that's beyond a vacation...its culture, adventure, learning, real people,diversity, community, amazing natural beauty, and authentic!

www.fincarioperla.com
info@fincarioperla.com
Call the farm in Costa Rica: (506) 2765-1896 * (506) 8877-0575
Call Paulo in USA: (202) 341-9187

Call Ade in USA:  (202) 262-8136