Queen Mathilde Visits Casas de la Alegria in Desamparados, Costa Rica
Queen Mathilde of Belgium visits Casas de la Alegria ('Houses of Joy'), part of an Unicef mission to Costa Rica, on Monday 10 February 2025 in Desamparados, Costa Rica.
Casas de la Alegria provide comprehensive care to children of temporary migrant workers, mostly from the Ngobe Bugle indigenous community, who work during the coffee harvest season. UNICEF spearheaded the development of the Casas de la Alegría Model, now recognized as an international best practice for middle-to high-income countries.
