By Deirdre Kelly
In the lush hills of Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica, York University’s Las Nubes EcoCampus shows how education can cross borders.
At its centre is Casita Azul, a modest one-room library that serves as a hub for cultural exchange, community empowerment and collaboration.
Recently, Casita Azul received a donation from Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA (EMBA) students at the Schulich School of Business – a gesture inspired by their experience during the program’s capstone course. But, this story is about more than a donation; it’s about how a week in Costa Rica is reshaping how future business leaders see their role in addressing global challenges.
Three years ago, Schulich’s EMBA capstone was redesigned to focus on social and environmental issues, challenging students to apply business tools in unfamiliar contexts. The course culminates in a week-long immersion in Costa Rica, where students work with local youth to co-create business models using the social business model canvas. The goal: integrate economic, social and environmental priorities into innovative, culturally grounded solutions.
Geoffrey Kistruck, professor and RBC Chair in Social Innovation & Impact at Schulich, calls the experience transformative. “The alternative business models co-designed with local youth combine solid business principles with highly contextualized realities,” he says. “It’s not just academic – it’s about creating solutions that work within their lived experiences.”
Unlike typical study tours, the capstone is an intensive learning sprint. Mornings start with classroom sessions; afternoons, students collect insights and collaborate with local entrepreneurs. Evenings are for reflection and refining strategies. The business models they develop must be viable and address pressing social and environmental challenges.
Casita Azul plays a key role in this exchange. More than a library, it anchors the community and brings York’s work in advancing United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its programs include literacy workshops, environmental education for schoolchildren and internet access – still rare in parts of Pérez Zeledón. The library also hosts cultural exchanges connecting York researchers, students and local residents.
Dana Craig, teaching and learning librarian at York University, highlights Casita Azul’s role in fostering connections. “The immersive experience transforms expectations. Students leave not just educated but motivated to act – whether through donations, teaching workshops or sharing their stories.”
This spirit of engagement inspired the EMBA cohort’s donation – a gesture neither planned nor solicited but born naturally from their time at Casita Azul. While philanthropy isn’t York’s primary goal in Costa Rica, moments like this show how deep connection can spark meaningful action.
Rahim Dharamsi, director of development, institutional priorities, sees a deeper impact. “Las Nubes isn’t just a place – it becomes part of you. People leave wanting to contribute because they’ve been part of something meaningful.”
That sense of belonging and shared purpose is reflected in Casita Azul’s daily work. The library has become integral to life in Pérez Zeledón, offering internet access, books and workshops on entrepreneurship, computer skills and environmental stewardship. Its programs respond to local needs – supporting women’s groups, collaborating with schools and hosting classes led by local experts. By working alongside the community, Casita Azul advances York’s mission while building capacity and opportunity in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor.
Not everyone sees such programs as an unqualified good. Critics of “voluntourism” question whether short-term visits create lasting change or risk reinforcing power imbalances. Kistruck acknowledges these concerns but emphasizes Schulich’s focus on co-creation, not charity. “It’s not about coming in with solutions,” he says. “It’s about working together to design something that fits their reality.”
That collaborative philosophy now shapes Schulich’s global outlook. Drawing on the lessons learned at Las Nubes, the school is launching a similar capstone course in Tanzania, where students will partner with local co-operatives to develop business models tailored to local needs.
“As future business leaders’ skills evolve, we will continue to adapt how we educate and deliver value to both local and global communities,” Kistruck says.
Watch a video below.