Fundación Bandera Blanca
Fundación Bandera Blanca (FBB) is a private, non-profit organization of public utility based in Costa Rica, established in 2005 with the purpose of supporting families and minors living in vulnerable and high-risk social conditions. Its mission is carried out through evangelization and the promotion of educational, charitable, and artistic activities that foster social well-being and a more humane environment.
What began as an initiative to help the children of incarcerated women at the El Buen Pastor penitentiary has grown, thanks to the dedication of project coordinator Berlin Castro, hundreds of volunteers, and generous donations, into a thriving community space in Los Hatillos, one of San José’s high-risk neighborhoods. There, FBB provides meals for hundreds of children each week, offers academic support, and has launched music and art programs in collaboration with local college students, giving at-risk youth the opportunities they deserve to build a better future.
Within its integral development approach, the White Flag Foundation promotes various programs and projects that encourage learning, values, love for nature, music, and sports. Some of the main ones are:
Factory of Smiles
A space for learning, recreation, and nourishment for children from low-income families living in high-risk areas. Through playful, educational, and artistic activities, it seeks to provide tools that contribute to a better future for Costa Rican children.
The Garden
A project dedicated to cultivating fresh and healthy food. Its goal is to provide fruits, vegetables, and greens to families in need, while promoting respect for the earth and food sustainability.
Comprehensive Care Centerhe Garden
A safe space where children receive educational, emotional, and recreational support, fostering their overall development in an environment filled with respect, care, and learning.
Women’s Project
An initiative that offers support, training, and accompaniment to women in vulnerable situations, promoting empowerment, independence, and both personal and collective growth.
Sewing Project
The Sewing Project seeks to empower women in the community by providing them with a practical learning space where they can develop skills in textile making, garment repair, and the creation of handcrafted products.
This program aims to promote entrepreneurship and economic independence among participants, allowing them to generate income for their families. It also encourages the principles of a circular economy through the use of donated fabrics and the reuse of materials, contributing to sustainability and social well-being.
HubTech Project
The HubTech Project is designed to strengthen the academic and technological skills of children, youth, and mothers in the community.
Through this program, participants receive support in educational leveling —reinforcing core subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics— while also promoting digital literacy by providing access to computers, the internet, and technological tools that enhance learning and digital inclusion.
This project helps reduce the educational gap, improve development opportunities, and prepare individuals to face the challenges of the modern world.
Children of the Prison Project:
Aims to improve the quality of life and nutrition for mothers deprived of liberty and their children living in the Casa Cuna Vilma Curling sector, strengthening family bonds and offering hope through compassionate support.
Selective Preventive Drug Project
Seeks to prevent the use of psychoactive substances through an integral approach that includes education, recreation, food security, and emotional support, promoting healthy lifestyles among young people.
El Garaje
El Garaje is a project born out of the need to generate resources to fund the different programs and dreams of the White Flag Foundation. It is a sustainable initiative that combines social commitment with environmental awareness by giving a second life to products in good condition.
Currently, El Garaje has three branches: Barrio La Cruz, Desamparados, and Hatillo, where small shops and donation centers operate. These locations sell second-hand items at very affordable prices, and all proceeds are directly allocated to the nutritional and educational support of minors at social risk.
El Garaje
El Garaje is a project born out of the need to generate resources to fund the different programs and dreams of the White Flag Foundation. It is a sustainable initiative that combines social commitment with environmental awareness by giving a second life to products in good condition.
Currently, El Garaje has three branches: Barrio La Cruz, Desamparados, and Hatillo, where small shops and donation centers operate. These locations sell second-hand items at very affordable prices, and all proceeds are directly allocated to the nutritional and educational support of minors at social risk.
In addition, the White Flag Foundation offers various opportunities for students, companies, and citizens to actively collaborate through volunteer programs and community service, thus contributing to transforming lives and communities:
- University Community Service (TCU)
- Individual Volunteering
- License Points Recovery
- Corporate Volunteering
- Restorative Justice
- High School Community Service (TCE)
Fundación Bandera Blanca