Staff International: Panama

Luis Escalante - Country Program Director (2006)

I have worked for twenty years in agriculture, and have done so in three different countries (El Salvador, Honduras and Panama). For many years I worked in areas where there was heavy pesticide use, and then began to see the damage this was causing not just to the environment, but to human beings as well. This inspired me to change how I worked, and led to my spending the last five years in reforestation efforts in the Darien and Chagres park districts of my country. I learned about the work of SHI while in Chagres, and applied to work for them when an opening arose. I am very thankful that this opportunity has come my way to work for and with the poor of Panama, but also work on preservation of the natural world. I have come to believe in the words of the great Indian leader Seattle, who said that "Every little bit of this land is sacred to my people," and this vision guides me in my work with Sustainable Harvest International.

Dysbeth Lopez

Daysbeth Lopez - Field Trainer (2006)
Daysbeth is a graduate of the La Pintada Professional Institute, where she received a degree in Agronomy and Animal Husbandry. "La Pintada Professional Institute is located near one of the work areas of SHI in Panama (Anton), and I have lived in this area all my life, so my professional background and employment with SHI fit perfectly with what I wanted to do within my community. I truly appreciate the opportunity to offer what I have learned to the families of the place where I'm from. I help them with any difficulties they encounter in production using sustainable methods, soil management and protection of the environment. I want to thank SHI for what it does in Panama, and for giving me the opportunity to contribute to that."

Jesús Maria Quiroz - Field Trainer (2006)
Jesús Maria Quiroz was born in San Juan de Pequeni, one of the small communities with the Panamanian national park of Chagres, and one of the two districts where SHI works. In 1999, he began work as an extensionist with TECNOSER for an agroforestry project in his home community and in La Bonga. He did this work for a year and was selected by the project for a six-month course in the U.S. at the University of Missouri. From that experience, he learned more about conservation of soils, agroindustry, organic compost and fertilizer and other themes related to sustainable and organic agriculture. After this, he worked as an extensionist for the Panama Canal Authority for 18 months, emphasizing agroforestry in San Juan de Pequeni and establishing demonstration farm plots of annatto to replace invasive weeds that had begun to spread in some areas. When this project ended, he worked as an extensionist for the Panamanina NGO Natura and JICA, the Japanese aid organization similar to the U.S. Peace Corps. "Through all of this experience," Jesus says, "I have gained a clear idea of the importance of natural resources, and this has inspired me to want to improve that for the benefit not just of the environment but also my neighbors. That is why I am proud to work for Sustainable Harvest International."

Milena Solis - Administrative Assistant (2007)
I was born in Panama City but grew up in Penonome. I have a degree in Business Administration from the National University of Panama, and I have also studied English. I'm very happy to be working with SHI, especially as the organization focuses on help for people in the countryside. The development of projects to improve the quality of life for rural families is a very noble form of work and I am proud to be a part of it.

Dayra Edith Julio - Micro-credit Coordinator (2008)
I feel happy to work with Sustainable Harvest Internatonal, owing to the fact that this organization works to improve the standard of living for those people who reside in the rural communities of our country. In addition, it contributes to the improvement of the social and economic development of the people, thus strengthening family unity and people's well-being. It's because of this that I love being a part of this organization.