Oscar Arias Sanchez - Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Former President of Costa Rica Graduated From Conventual Franciscan School and Applied Franciscan Ideals to His Life

Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez

In 1950, Conventual Franciscan friars from the United States founded St. Francis College in the Moravia section of San Jose, Costa Rica. The school became very successful over time and now teaches students at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels. One student who studied at St. Francis College and later went on to apply Franciscan ideals to his life’s work is Oscar Arias Sanchez.

Oscar Arias Sanchez’s story starts in 1940 when he was born in Costa Rica’s Heredia Province. As he entered his teenage years, his family sent him to St. Francis College for his high school education. After his time with the Conventual Franciscans, Oscar Arias studied at Boston University, the University of Costa Rica where he completed degrees in law and economics, the London School of Economics, and the University of Essex where he received his doctorate in political science.

St. Francis College as it appeared in 1950

In 1970, Oscar Arias Sanchez immersed himself in politics and worked in various appointed positions. By 1978, he had won a seat in the Legislative Assembly. Nine years later the people of Costa Rica elected Oscar Arias Sanchez president of their country.

Governing a country is obviously a complex business, but President Sanchez’s legacy is firmly connected to helping bring peace to Central America. In May of 1986, the man called a meeting with the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to discuss bringing stability to the war-torn region. Although, the leaders did not resolve Central America’s troubles during these talks, they did meet again a year later. At this meeting President Oscar Arias Sanchez presented to the leaders a new peace plan. They accepted this plan and began implementing it, which over the next 10 years eased a lot of tensions in the region. In October 1987 the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded President Oscar Arias Sanchez, the Nobel Peace Prize “for his work for peace in Central America, efforts which led to the accord signed in Guatemala on August 7 this year” (nobelprize.org).

A snapshot of Costa Rica

Oscar Arias Sanchez served two terms as president of Costa Rica. The first started in 1986 and ended in 1990 while the second began in 2006 and lasted until 2010. His work for peace in the world never stopped then and continues today. It takes place through the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, an organization that Oscar Arias established in 1988 with the financial award he received as part of his Nobel Peace Prize. The Arias Foundation champions equality for women in Latin America, encourages philanthropy, and works for demilitarization and conflict resolution in developing nations. Oscar Arias Sanchez spends part of his time visiting nations around the world; he speaks to international audiences about disarmament, free trade, and democracy. He is also involved with several other international organizations that work for peace.

Oscar Arias Sanchez’s life is a reminder to all of us that we can indeed change the world. The man’s education and very active service easily connect to the Franciscan idea of honing one’s talents, going out into the community and confronting problems in order to resolve them.

(Sources of all related images on webpage and homepage: www.wikipedia.org, www.stfrancis.ed.cr and https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.htm, http://myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=Oscar_Arias_Sanchez_whitworth_07l.)