Meet our staff
Fabio M. Fernández – Executive Director
Is the Executive Director of Reto Juvenil Internacional and graduated with a degree in Public Relations. He worked as a Public Relation Manager for multinational companies such as Intel Inside Corp and Toyota Motors, but his passion for social work led him get involved with Reto Juvenil Internacional as a volunteer in a Project in British Guyana. This trip changed his life.
He began working at Reto Juvenil since 2003, 6 years after his first trip, holding a number of different positions. First he started as a Leader, Project Management Team, Field Program Director, International Program Director and since 2010 he was elected Regional Executive Director.
He currently manages projects in 15 countries, supports and runs more than 21 projects annually between Costa Rica, Panamá, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, México, Guyana, Surinam, Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa de Marfil, Guinea Bissau and Ghana. He has been awarded various honors by socially conscious organizations all over Central America.
Yazmín Ruíz – Regional Projects Director
Yazmín holds a License Degree in Forestry Engineering from the National University of Costa Rica. She became first involved with RJI as a volunteer in 1994 supporting the organization at the Selection Weekends and preparing Costa Rican volunteers for their participation. After finishing her studies, she joined the organization as Group Leader in 1998 for PCR99D, PCR2000A and PCR2000C projects. Since then, she has supported the RJIn in several areas as International Program Assistant, National Programs Logistics Coordinator, Regional Logistics Coordinator; and Regional Project Director, from 2010 till present.
Marcela Murillo – Finance Director
Marcela joined RJI in 2001 as Administrative Assistant. She assumed the responsibilities of Finance and Administrative Director since 2004 with the objective to contribute to the administrative order and the healthy finances of the organization. Marcela now has a trajectory of more than 15 years working in non-governmental and educative sectors.
Sterling Miranda - International Program Lead
Sterling began his trajectory with RJI as a volunteer in 2001. He was afterwards member of the organization's Directive Board for 4 years and finally joined as a permanent staff in 2011 as Regional Projects Coordinator. Sterling holds a Degree in Tourism from the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) of Costa Rica and a Natural Resources Management Degree from Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED). He has provided support to several governmental institutions such as MINAET (Energy and Environment National Ministry) and CNE (National Emergency Commission). Sterling has a strong commitment with volunteering and sustainable development.
Martha Mendieta - International Program Representative for United States Of America
Martha is a professional real estate agent and a very inspiring person when supporting others. She actively volunteers in various sectors in Miami Florida and Nicaragua, with a strong desire to improve communities via education, infrastructure, training and sustainable economy, and also to show citizens from developed countries the different realities and needs in developing countries through interaction with Reto Juvenil Internacional; an experience that will change their lives.
She decided to Join Reto Juvenil Internacional after finding both share the same ideals and motivation to contribute with community development, and people who live in poverty and need our hands to continue dreaming with a better life.
