Beatriz Arguedas Rodríguez was born and raised in the heart of Atenas (Athens), Costa Rica (not the classical Greek city). Still, her influence on the community could rival that of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. While the gods of Mount Olympus debated the fate of mortals, in this Atenas, Beatriz wove stories among coffee plantations and rolling hills.
“I am Beatriz, the girl born in the beautiful town of Ramaca, who lived in the little yellow house, playing among orange trees and sweet lemons. My friends were the wildflowers—small but painted with natural ink,” she says emotionally while reading pages from her book. These words, filled with nostalgic imagery, reveal how she sees herself: a woman rooted in her land, finding beauty in simplicity.
For 41 years, she worked at the local library, a space that became her second home. “The library became a part of me; we were the same,” she recalls. Her retirement in 2018 marked an unexpected turn: the pandemic led her to explore writing as therapy. “Writing is healing. When you leave your pain on the paper, you free yourself,” she affirms.
Her first book, “Donde Nacen los Cuentos” (Where Stories Are Born), rescues Atenas’ identity through tales set in landscapes like Cerro Pelón (a hill overlooking the sea) and Tranquilino School (a local educational center). “It’s pure customs: streets, traditions, and the essence of the people here,” she explains. “Writing this was like returning to my childhood, to the smells and colors that made me who I am,” she adds.
Entering the publishing world was not easy. “The sector is closed off. You don’t know how to make a book until you try,” she admits. With support from her daughter and mentors, she learned to design, edit, and even request ISBN codes. She published five print books but faced financial and technical limitations. “Producing a physical book is expensive. You barely recover enough to make the next one,” she says.
The arrival of the SDG Connection project under the joint programme “Accelerating the Localization of the SDGs through Digitalization” of the Joint SDG Fund opened new doors. “They suggested I venture into digital. At first, I was scared, but I decided to try,” she shares.
Under the strategic leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica, the joint programme is being implemented by UN-Habitat, UN Women, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It integrates technology into local governments to advance gender equity, citizen participation, and sustainable development in Atenas, Palmares, and Sarchí.
The programme provides tools for women entrepreneurs, including training in innovation management, digital transformation, business strategy, artificial intelligence, marketing, and social media. “The programme will extend Beatriz’s voice beyond Atenas, beyond Costa Rica. Our culture will reach other countries. When this book goes digital, new people will discover it. The programme will help me share my culture through digital platforms,” Beatriz states. Now, she uses digital tools to connect with global readers. “Before, my stories only reached those who touched the paper. Now, someone in Mexico or Colombia can discover the Atenas I carry within.”
She also participates in writing and embroidery workshops, blending tradition and technology. “I teach other women to tell their stories. We’re like embroiderers: we help each other,” she says, referencing her book “Cuentos Bordados” (Embroidered Stories), which celebrates female resilience.
Empowerment Through Words: Women, Culture, and Community
Beatriz centers her work on women. Her story “Un Simple Bordado” (A Simple Embroidery) symbolizes solidarity across generations: “Many women embroider for others. We help and are helped.”
The joint programme expanded her reach and strengthened her role as a community leader. “Now, I lead workshops in schools and libraries. I motivate people to read, write, and lose their fear of technology,” she says. Her message resonates in Atenas and beyond. “Now I’m a 'sycamore tree' for other women—showing them it’s never too late to grow,” she declares, invoking a biblical metaphor to illustrate the programme’s impact.
At 66, Beatriz keeps learning. “They set up an Instagram for me. Even my grandson teaches me!” she laughs. Her goal is clear: “To ensure future generations read, write, and tell their own stories. They have much to say about the world they inherit.”
Beatriz Arguedas Rodríguez (who uses both surnames to honor her mother’s legacy) embodies what the Sustainable Development Goals aim to achieve: merging technology, gender equity, and cultural preservation to transform communities. Her story proves that reinvention and empowerment are possible at any age. As she says: “Age gives us confidence. We are powerful women—we just need to believe it.”
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
