The government-financed center—part of the National Foundation for Children—opened its doors in 1989 to kids ages 12-17, without access to a formal education, from families of limited resources, and who had started working at a very young age. The school has a high retention rate: of the 150 students who began the program, 130 have graduated. And recruitment isn’t an issue, with word-of-mouth drawing in more than enough students to fill the classrooms.

“Our goal is to get as many kids off the streets of San José as we can to educate them and give them the skills they need to earn an income,” says the center’s Director of Development Johnny Chavarria. “These kids, some of whom have been abused, even raped, have low self-esteem. With this program they know they can do things and are important as people.”

The program has an unusual curriculum, focused on making sure the students meet the federal requirement of an elementary-level education, along with vocational training in fields such as computers and mechanical sciences. And, of course, metalworking.

“The program builds on three concepts that are very important to Costa Rica—recycling and biodiversity, art and culture, and education,” says Costa Rican Cultural Counsel Sabino Morera, who is one of the exhibit’s key organizers. “This goes hand-in-hand with the World Bank’s philosophy that culture counts when boosting social and economic development.”

The center also feeds and houses students, as needed, and takes them on field trips. But the biggest field trip so far for Solis and fellow students, 17-year old Jorge Jimenez and 15-year old Juan Pablo Solano, was a recent visit to Washington, DC. Decked in shirts, ties, and shy grins, the boys and their instructors came to the World Bank Monday to have a look at some of their work on display and to talk with Zenetou and others.

“The World Bank Art Program recognizes the contribution of art and culture to social cohesion and economic development,” says Zenetou. “This exhibit is a tool through which we can raise awareness and make the work of the center known internationally.”

Concurrent exhibits are being held at the National Children’s Museum and the Embassy of Costa Rica. The show will travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Florida later this year.