Sabalito is located just a short drive from Costa Rica's border with Panama, in a region shaped by coffee, agriculture, and a mix of Panamanian, Italian, and Indigenous influences. Coffee is at the center of life here, and for generations, it has been part of how families have built their lives and their communities.
For young people in Sabalito, though, life can be complicated. Some grow up in dysfunctional households and face difficult challenges from a young age. Creating a different path for the next generation is one of the community's greatest challenges.
Through its relationship with the local co-op, Thrive Farmers has been part of the Sabalito community for years. That relationship opened the door for ThriveWorx to come alongside the community and invest in leaders who are already deeply rooted there.
Roy and Kathy are two of those leaders.
Serving their community has always been part of who they are.
They've spent years building a life in Sabalito and serving the people around them. Roy inherited his family's grocery store, together he and Kathy have grown a successful catering service, a thriving coffee farm, and pastor a local church. Their lives are full and probably don't fit neatly into any one job description, but serving their community has always been part of who they are. So, when a local contact recommended them to provide meals for our camp team, they were happy to help. They prepared the food, delivered it to camp, and got to see what was happening around them. Before long, they were asking questions.
What they saw was a community coming together. The children were excited to be there, the community members were stepping up as volunteers, and people were creating a place where kids could have fun, make friends, and hear the hope of the gospel.
The following year, Roy and Kathy came to camp training in order to get much more involved. They began following up with the people who served at camp to stay connected with them long after the week was over. They later formed a local leadership team and started a youth group called Sonrisas de Amor.
Now Sonrisas de Amor has grown into an opportunity for young people and adults to experience the love of God and serve their community. They've also launched Created for Change, a group that cleans parks, picks up litter, and responds to other needs around Sabalito.
That's where the relationship with ThriveWorx became so meaningful. Roy and Kathy already had the local knowledge and trust that comes from living in Sabalito. ThriveWorx could come alongside what was already there with training, resources, relationships, and encouragement. Through the Camp Training program, annual Leader Summit, and other opportunities, they've gained practical tools and greater confidence to train and equip others. They've also begun delegating responsibilities to younger leaders, giving them opportunities to grow and discover what they can do. And that influence is moving beyond Sabalito.
They are creating space for others to lead.
Together, Roy and Kathy opened the door for camps in the nearby communities of File Tigre and Mellisas, and even across the border into Panama. Now, camp is no longer a program ThriveWorx brings to Roy and Kathy. It's something they've taken ownership of. But they're not doing it all themselves. They're bringing along other local leaders to help them take ownership of the work in their communities.
Roy and Kathy are still running a business, caring for a coffee farm, serving their church, and investing in the people around them. But they're also creating space for others to lead. And that may be the most meaningful part of their story.
They aren't just investing in the next generation themselves. They're helping others learn how to do the same.
