Donate Now

Smaller World Program

 Business Partners

 Community Programs

 Service Trips

Internships in Central America

Current Email Update

Current Newsletter (PDF)

Join Our Mailing List

Ways To Volunteer

Photographs

Media & Press Kit

Click to Donate

Volunteer in Panama with SHI

SHI's inaugural Educators Workshop will take place in our work site in Cocle Province, Panama this year with the participation of our Panama field staff and Panamanian educators in SHI-supported villages. The goal of this workshop is to engage in dialogue about community-based service-learning that involves concepts of sustainability, organic agriculture and environmental restoration. Through activities in our schools and afternoon visits to active SHI families, participants will develop and share curriculum ideas that can be brought back to their home schools. All participants will be able to shape the service-learning curriculum guide that will be produced at the end of the trip and shared with everyone. Participants will be exposed to rural Panamanian culture through homestays and other cultural activities - and even relax a bit in the subtropical sunshine!

Sunday, August 2nd: Arrive in Panama City
Discussion of trip schedule, expectations and group vision
Group will stay at hotel in the city

Monday, August 3rd: Travel to Cocle Work Site
Visit to Miraflores Locks visitor center en route to Cocle
Introduction of field staff and participants
Travel to Santa Rita (extensionist: Daysbeth Lopez)
Visit to Don Isabel's integrated plot and other local family projects
Participants will stay with host families
 

Tuesday, August 4th: Santa Rita
Morning activity in Santa Rita school
Workshop: creating an organic learning garden
Afternoon visit to local stove and solar latrine projects, community loan fund
Evening reflection and lesson plan exchange
Participants will stay with local host families


Wednesday, August 5th: Santa Rita
Morning activity in Santa Rita school
Workshop: establishing a tree nursery, school reforestation projects
Afternoon visit to multi-story coffee plot
Evening reflection and lesson plan exchange
Participants will stay with local host families


Thursday, August 6th: Santa Rita
Morning activity in Santa Rita school
Workshop: building a slow water filter, environmental services
Afternoon excursion to beach at Santa Clara
Travel to Penonome, stay in hotel
Evening reflection and lesson plan exchange


Friday, August 7th: San Pedro
Morning activity in San Pedro school (Field Trainer: Maribel Ojo)
Workshop: nutrition, community-based restoration projects
Afternoon visit to local fish ponds
Travel to Penonome, stay in hotel
Evening reflection and lesson plan exchange


Saturday, August 8th: El Entradero
Morning activity in El Entradero school (Field Trainer: Diomedes Arrocha)
Workshop: building a biodigestor, green energy
Afternoon visit to integrated rice paddies and traditional sugarcane extractor
Travel to Penonome, stay in hotel
Evening reflection and lesson plan exchange


Sunday, August 9th: Pagua, R&R
Sombrero Pintado artisan workshop in Pagua (Field Trainer: Jorge Ramos)
Afternoon visit to local family projects, bat cave
Travel to El Valle de Anton, stay in hotel
Evening reflection


Monday, August 10th: R&R, Return to Panama City
Morning visit to El Valle artisan market
Travel to Panama City
Afternoon tour of El Casco Viejo (historic center - good ice cream!)
Farewell dinner at Las Tinajas Restaurant - folk dance performance


Tuesday, August 11th: Departure
Evaluations
Group departs or continues to travel independently

Travel Costs:

The cost for this trip is $1,500 per person.  This total includes project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service.  In addition, $200 of your program fee is given as a direct donation to the local program.  This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned. 

A deposit of $300 should be sent in with your registration form.  The balance of $1,200 is due to be paid 60 days before the start of the trip.  If travel funding is an issue for you, please contact Sarah Kennedy at our outreach office to brainstorm some fundraising ideas.

Click here to download a registration form.

Click here to learn about past Smaller World Tours.

<< BACK TO SMALLER WORLD TOUR SCHEDULE