Solutions Journalism

Our independent, women-run media organization shares in-depth journalism about solutions to environmental and social challenges—including mental health, which is under threat like never before in Costa Rica and Central America. Contact us to suggest a mental health solution we should cover in Central America in 2024, or to learn more about how to partner with us as a donor or sponsor so that we can share more solutions across the region.

Mónica Quesada Cordero - November 26, 2023

Adapted from a speech by Mónica Quesada Cordero, co-founder of El Colectivo 506, on Nov. 23 at TEDxLlorente Women 2023. Which of the following statements...

HIV@40

HIV in Costa Rica, part 3: Miguel decides to live

Katherine Stanley Obando - September 12, 2023

Miguel is not going to let anything get in the way of telling his story. Of the three people we talk to on this...

Entrepreneurs 506

Costa Rican fashion in search of sustainability: the story of Selfmade

Alejandro Badilla - June 15, 2023

The fashion industry is one of the world’s worst polluters. It is produced on a massive scale and in less than ideal conditions. However,...

Education 506

How can Costa Ricans read more if they don’t have books?

Mónica Quesada Cordero - May 2, 2023

“The cruel reality was that there were no books and there were no libraries. It was like a bucket of cold water," says Alda...

Longform

The green veins of our concrete cities

Jhostyn Diaz Tenorio - February 20, 2023

It's Saturday morning. Children, teens, homemakers, senior citizens and other residents have gathered, all ready to work for a common goal: to reclaim this...

Hop on the bus

Podcast in Spanish: For these rural Costa Rican communities, the solution to forest fires comes from within

Mónica Quesada Cordero - December 15, 2022

In our final longform of 2022, we’re proud to present our first longform story created for audio. We talk to two women who have...

Hop on the bus

‘We need less bureaucracy and more action’

Katherine Stanley Obando - November 12, 2022

Who would you rely on if flood waters took your bedding, your belongings, or even your home? The thing is, none of us know that...

Hop on the bus

Why you are the key to solutions journalism

Katherine Stanley Obando - November 10, 2022

When a journalism student asked me earlier this week how El Colectivo 506 finds the solutions that we report about, a series of faces...