American Students Join Efforts with Indigenous Costa Rican Tribe in New Tourism Website

Elon, NC, January 25, 2014 --(PR.com)-- On January 28th, graduate students in Elon University’s Interactive Media Program will launch http://www.tourterraba.com, a website devoted to inviting tourists, researchers, and volunteers to Costa Rica’s Térraba region, to live and engage with the indigenous community and learn more about preserving their culture. The students will present at 11 a.m. in McEwen Communications Building. Studio B. To learn more about the students’ first-hand experience abroad, view a video at: http://youtu.be/6rk9Zl61ObY

Tourterraba.com prefaces the February 2nd presidential elections in Costa Rica and the likely return of key political legislation that could enact the Disquís Hydroelectric Dam. This legislation has been sidelined until the next election, but if enacted, the dam will flood protected Térraba land and threaten the extinction of an already dwindling native population. The Teribe people have utilized U.N. eco-tourism grants to build lodging facilities for visitors and with the help of German volunteers, are gaining valuable language skills. The goal of the tourism site is to share their culture and way of life with the global community and prevent further destruction of their territory. The site will have information on accommodations and tribe-led activities, for adventure-seeking and family-oriented guests of all ages.

Eight iMedia students spent seven days in Costa Rica gathering content for the website. They are designing and building the site from scratch for Tuesday’s launch. The website will feature an interactive map, photo slideshows, video interviews and contact information for the Teribe tribe.

About the Interactive Media Program
Elon’s iMedia graduate program is a 10-month program in which students plan and create interactive media content consisting of engaging websites, photos, short-form audio and video pieces, and graphics for various media platforms. Each January, iMedia students spend the month working on a team website project for the public good, which includes an international trip to collect materials for display. Find more information visit www.elon.edu and search “interactive media.”