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Azuero, Panama

Location:	Azuero, Panama
Length:	8 Weeks
Project Focus:	Environmental Health
Dates:	June 8, 2010 - August 2, 2010

Project Specific Activities:

Promote leadership skills, team building, and youth empowerment through environmental activities.

Partner with local youth to run camps for 5-12 year old children.
Collaborate with community members on the planning and implementation of a Community-based initiative (CBI).
Work alongside Panamanian volunteers from MIDES to promote civic engagement and volunteerism in the community.

Take a Photo Tour of Azuero:

Project Area:

Panama is a diverse country with natural beauty and a strong indigenous culture. The provinces of Herrera and Los Santos are about four hours southwest of the nation’s capital, Panama City, and make up what is called the Azuero Peninsula. Many Panamanians consider the Azuero Peninsula to be the heart of their country. Residents of both provinces are incredibly proud of their Spanish heritage and culture and they celebrate it through many festivals throughout the year.

This year’s project headquarters is located in Chitré and all of the host communities are within a four hour drive from the city. The Herrera/Los Santos region features a mix of rural and semi-urban communities. The geography is primarily flat land with a few communities that have a hillier landscape. The climate is hot and humid. The local diet consists of rice, lentils and a typical dish called sancocho (chicken and vegetable stew).

Project History:

AMIGOS first worked in Panama in 1981. When U.S. Marines invaded Panama in 1989, AMIGOS suspended its project and did not return until 2004. That year, AMIGOS opened two new programs in the Veraguas and Coclé regions with the support of the Ministry of Health. AMIGOS opened a new project with the Ministry of Social Development in the regions of Herrera and Los Santos on the Azuero Peninsula in summer 2009. This will be AMIGOS’ third year collaborating with MIDES. All of the Panama projects will work closely with the local environmental non-profit organization, Panamá Verde.