Overarching Goal and Objectives:Goal:Build leadership and life skills of youth in the Americas through exchange, civic engagement, and collaborative community development Objectives:
Project Specific Activities:Volunteers will facilitate extracurricular classes for children ranging in age from 5 to 12 at schools and other community venues. Health and the environment will be the focus of these classes, though activities will also incorporate youth leadership and creative expression. Sample topics from classes held in 2007 include dental hygiene, nutrition, trash collection, pollution, and nature appreciation. In addition to holding classes 3-5 days a week, Volunteers will work with youth leaders and/or other community groups throughout the summer to plan and implement a Community-Based Initiative. Community fundraising will be an important part of the process. Examples of 2007 CBIs are: building benches for community parks and schools, constructing community information centers, and establishing libraries. Volunteers will also collaborate with youth leaders from their community to organize a theatrical, music, dance, or poetic performance for the project-wide Penonomé Youth Festival. At this festival, they will be presenting their artistic piece, participating in teambuilding activities coordinated by our partner agency Panamá Verde, and presenting a draft of their CBI solicitude. Another exciting component of this project is that AMIGOS Volunteers may be partnered with a Latin American volunteer who will be selected and training by our partner agencies and AMIGOS Staff prior to the start of the project. Project Area:Panama is diverse country with natural beauty and a strong indigenous culture. The province of Coclé is about two hours west of the nation’s capital, Panama City. Its name gets its origin from the two rivers named Coclé del Norte and Coclé del Sur, but could also be based on an Indian Cacique named Coclé who dominated the central plains in the region's early history. The majority of the people in the Coclé region are dedicated to sustenance farming. This year’s project headquarters is located in Penonomé and most of the host communities are within a two hour drive from the city. The community landscape is very lush and green and for the most part, most are located in the mountains. 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. The Veraguas project continued and is still in existence today; however, AMIGOS returned to Coclé in 2007 after a three-year hiatus. Partner Agencies:Ministerio de Salud de Panamá Further Actions: |
“The projects, explanatory materials, logistical support, training and support provided both in the U.S. and in country were all of excellent quality. Aliza had a terrific, life-altering experience.” –Roberta de Araujo, Parent of a Volunteer |
