SHI-Panama welcomes volunteers from Hancock United Church of Christ! The group will take part in sustainable farming projects which protect Panama's natural resources while improving quality of living in rural communities. This educational trip will provide opportunities for cultural exchange, service learning and seeing some of the world's most diverse tropical ecosystems. Trip participants will work alongside local staff and families to plant vegetable gardens, establish tree nurseries, build wood-conserving stoves and more.

SHI families are excited to welcome volunteers into their homes and share their community and farms. Homestays in the rural village will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the group is up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living. In addition to experiencing day-to-day life in the rural communities, the group will get to visit Panama City, enjoy Santa Clara Beach, hike in the jungle and tour Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays and volunteer projects with SHI participant families and excursions to Panama City, beautiful beaches and cloud forests of Central Panama. Get ready for meaningful service projects and the tropical adventure of a lifetime!

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,500 per Adult

These costs include 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, 20% of your program fee supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $500 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date.

READY TO TRAVEL?

•  Register online now.
•  Make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.
• Download the Info Packet for this trip.
• Contact us for more information.

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DRAFT ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival by 2pm at the Panama City Airport (PTY)

SHI Trip Leader meets group at airport and travel by private minibus to Penonome

Stop en route at Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal tour

Orientation activities en route

Check-in at hotel in Penonme

Dinner in Penonome

Day 2: Travel to Cocle Work Site

Group breakfast in Penonome

Spanish Crash Course

Discussion of trip schedule

Group departs for rural village working with SHI in the area

Lunch with SHI field staff and SHI participant families, introductions

Meet your host families (2+ volunteers per family)

Afternoon tour family farms

Dinner with host families

Day 3: Community Projects

Breakfast with host families

Morning work project: school garden and tree nursery

Lunch in the community

Afternoon family visits, trip to swimming hole

Dinner in the community

Reflection and discussion

Group will stay with host families

Day 4: Community Projects

Breakfast with host families

Morning work project: wood-conserving stoves

Lunch in the community

Afternoon continuation of work projects

Dinner in the community

Reflection and discussion

Group will stay with host families

Day 5: Community Projects

Breakfast with host families

Morning work project: family gardens and erosion control

Lunch in the community

Afternoon continuation of work projects, trip to swimming hole

Dinner in the community

Reflection and discussion

Group will stay with host families

Day 6: Community Projects/Depart for Santa Clara Beach

Breakfast with host families

Morning work project: rice paddy and fish pond system

Lunch in the community

Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony

Depart for Penonome

Group dinner at restaurant in Penonome

Group will stay at hotel in Penonome

Day 7: Beach Day!

Breakfast at restaurant in Penonome

R&R Day at the beach

Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton

Group will stay at B&B

Day 8: El Valle de Anton

Visit local artisan market

Waterfall hike

Group dinner and reflection

Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Day 9: Departure

Depart from Panama City airport, or continue traveling independently

¡Feliz Viaje!

Our thanks to Melissa Bride for bringing together this group of volunteers to work with Sustainable Harvest International's programs in Panama this summer.  This year's program will include hands-on projects with families working with SHI to grow trees and crops in Panama's Cocle District.  Students will work alongside SHI participant families and staff on a variety of volunteer projects related to sustainable food production while learning about the impact of farming practices on local families and ecosystems.  Projects may include assisting with school and family gardens, building wood-conserving stoves, establishing tree nurseries and erosion control.  The local families and staff in Panama are very excited to welcome the group and share their culture, community and experience working with SHI.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays, volunteer projects, farm tours and excursions to Central Panama's beautiful beaches, waterfalls and rainforest.  There will also be opportunities to visit artisan markets and tour the Panama Canal. The group will be staying with host families during their time in the village and have many opportunities to put their Spanish skills to work.  Accommodations while the group is in rural villages will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the group is up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.

Get ready for service learning, meaningful exchanges and plenty of fun and adventure!

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,500 per person

A deposit of $500 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date.
These costs include 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, 20% of your program fee supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

READY TO TRAVEL?

•  Register online now.
•  Make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.
• Contact us for more information.

SHI Smaller World Service Trip: Draft Itinerary
Rhode Island Volunteers - Panama
July 16 – 24, 2012

Monday, July 16: Arrival

• Arrival by 2pm at the Panama City Airport (PTY)
• SHI Trip Leader meets group at airport and travel by private minibus to Penonome
• Stop en route at Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal tour
• Orientation activities en route
• Check-in at hotel in Penonme
• Dinner in Penonome

Tuesday, July 17:  Travel to Cocle Work Site

• Group breakfast in Penonome
• Spanish Crash Course
• Discussion of trip schedule
• Group departs for rural village working with SHI in the area
• Lunch with SHI field staff and SHI participant families, introductions
• Meet your host families (2+ volunteers per family)
• Afternoon tour family farms
• Dinner with host families

Wednesday, July 18:  Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: school garden and tree nursery
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Thursday, July 19: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Friday, July 20: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: family gardens and erosion control
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, visits with host families, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Saturday, July 21:  Community Projects/Depart for Santa Clara Beach

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: rice paddy and fish pond system
• Lunch in the community
• Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
• Depart for Penonome
• Group dinner at restaurant in Penonome
• Group will stay at hotel in Penonome

Sunday, July 22:  Beach Day!

• Breakfast at restaurant in Penonome
• R&R Day at the beach
• Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
• Group will stay at B&B

Monday, July 23:  El Valle de Anton

• Visit local artisan market
• Waterfall hike
• Group dinner and reflection
• Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Tuesday, July 24:  Departure

• Departs from Panama City airport, or continue traveling independently

We are excited to welcome students and faculty from The Pingree School to work with SHI's sustainable farming projects in Panama.  This year's program will include a hands-on look at SHI's work with families growing trees and crops in Panama's Cocle District.  Students will work alongside SHI participant families and staff on a variety of volunteer projects related to sustainable food production while learning about the impact of farming practices on local families and ecosystems.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays, volunteer projects, farm tours and excursions to Central Panama's beautiful beaches, waterfalls and rainforest.  There will also be opportunities to visit artisan markets and tour the Panama Canal. The group will be staying with host families during their time in the village and have many opportunities to put their Spanish skills to work.  Accommodations while the group is in rural villages will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the group is up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.

Get ready for service learning, meaningful exchanges and plenty of fun and adventure!

TRIP FEE: $1,500 per person

These costs include 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, 20% of your program fee supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $500 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL?

•  Register online now.
•  Make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.
• Download this trip's Info Packet.
• Contact us for more information.

DRAFT ITINERARY
Day 1:  Arrival

• Arrival by 2pm at the Panama City Airport (PTY)
• SHI Trip Leader meets group at airport and travel by private minibus to Penonome
• Stop en route at Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal tour
• Orientation activities en route
• Check-in at hotel in Penonme
• Dinner in Penonome

Day 2:  Travel to Cocle Work Site

• Group breakfast in Penonome
• Spanish Crash Course
• Discussion of trip schedule
• Group departs for rural village working with SHI in the area
• Lunch with SHI field staff and SHI participant families, introductions
• Meet your host families (2+ volunteers per family)
• Afternoon tour family farms
• Dinner with host families

Day 3:  Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: school garden and tree nursery
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 4: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 5: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: family gardens and erosion control
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, visits with host families, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 6:  Community Projects/Depart for Santa Clara Beach

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning service project: rice paddy and fish pond system
• Lunch in the community
• Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
• Depart for Penonome
• Group dinner at restaurant in Penonome
• Group will stay at hotel in Penonome

Day 7:  Beach Day!

• Breakfast at restaurant in Penonome
• R&R Day at the beach
• Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
• Group will stay at B&B

Day 8:  El Valle de Anton

• Visit local artisan market
• Waterfall hike
• Group dinner and reflection
• Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Day 9:  Departure

• Departs from Panama City airport, or continue traveling independently

Sustainable Harvest International welcomes student volunteers and friends from Phoenix, AZ to Panama in June 2012!  The group will take part in sustainable farming projects that protect Panama's natural resources while improving quality of living in rural communities.  This educational trip will provide opportunities for cultural exchange, service learning and give participants a chance to practice their Spanish while contributing to important projects. Trip participants will work alongside local staff and families to plant vegetable gardens, establish tree nurseries, build wood-conserving stoves and more.

SHI families are excited to welcome volunteers into their homes and share their community and farms. Homestays in the community will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the students are up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.  In addition to experiencing day-to-day life in the rural communities, the group will get to visit Panama City, enjoy Santa Clara Beach, hike in the jungle and tour the Panama Canal.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays and volunteer projects with SHI participant families and excursions to Panama City, beautiful beaches and cloud forests of Central Panama.  Get ready for meaningful service projects and the tropical adventure of a lifetime!

READY TO TRAVEL? Fill out the online REGISTRATION FORM or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.
ALREADY REGISTERED? Click here to make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.

SHI Smaller World Service Trip: June 6 – 14, 2012

Tentative Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival

• Arrival by 2pm at the Panama City Airport (PTY)
• SHI Trip Leader meets group at airport and travel by private minibus to Penonome
• Stop en route at Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal tour
• Orientation activities en route
• Check-in at hotel in Penonme
• Dinner in Penonome

Day 2:  Travel to Cocle Work Site

• Group breakfast in Penonome
• Spanish Crash Course
• Discussion of trip schedule
• Group departs for rural village working with SHI in the area
• Lunch with SHI field staff and SHI participant families, introductions
• Meet your host families (2+ volunteers per family)
• Afternoon tour family farms
• Dinner with host families

Day 3:  Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: school garden and tree nursery
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 4: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 5: Community Projects

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: family gardens and erosion control
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Day 6:  Community Projects/Depart for Santa Clara Beach

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: rice paddy and fish pond system
• Lunch in the community
• Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
• Depart for Penonome
• Group dinner at restaurant in Penonome
• Group will stay at hotel in Penonome

Day 7:  Beach Day!

• Breakfast at restaurant in Penonome
• R&R Day at the beach
• Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
• Group will stay at B&B

Day 8:  El Valle de Anton

• Visit local artisan market
• Waterfall hike
• Group dinner and reflection
• Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Day 9:  Departure

• Depart from Panama City airport, or continue traveling independently

¡Feliz Viaje!

Although it is SHI’s smallest program, the SHI-Panama team and participants continue to have a broad impact and achieve impressive goals.  Since July 2010, participants have continued their local and regional commercialization of crops, selling 28 types of fruits and vegetables (plantains, cassava, ceylon or tropical spinach and more).  This new income has far exceeded the average typical income of the families.  Nearly half of SHI-Panama’s participant families are active in small rural bank programs, and have received over $2,800 in loans, generally used for agricultural investments, home improvement, education or health care.

Families have newly cultivated nearly 20 acres with organic and sustainable techniques. They have been applying a mixture of homemade products including biofertilizer (fermented cow manure, molasses and urine), efficient microorganisms and  bocashi. The success of these products, including increased crop yields, and their recipe of local resources is another guarantee that families can be self-sufficient and save money that was previously allocated for the purchase of  agro-chemicals.

This Smaller World Tour is in collaboration with the Harvest for the Hungry Garden. Special thanks for their ongoing support SHI's programs in El Entradero, Panama.

Join SHI-Panama on the front lines of environmental protection and rural community development as we work to implement sustainable farming practices that protect Panama's natural resources while breaking cycles of poverty that threaten rural communities.  Trip participants will work alongside local staff and families to plant vegetable gardens, establish tree nurseries, build wood-conserving stoves and more. No special skills or experience necessary. 

SHI families are excited to welcome you into their homes and share their community and farms with our volunteers. Homestays in El Entradero will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know you're up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.  In addition to experiencing day-to-day life in the rural communities we serve, the group will get to visit Panama City, enjoy Santa Clara Beach, hike in the jungle and tour Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays and volunteer projects with SHI participant families and a two day excursion to beautiful beaches and cloud forests of Central Panama.  Get ready for meaningful service projects and the tropical adventure of a lifetime!

READY TO TRAVEL? Download a REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information.  Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more. On Facebook? RSVP to this trip.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY*

Friday, Feb 25:  Arrival

• SHI trip leaders meet the group at the  at Panama City airport
• Group moves to hotel in Panama City
• Orientation and discussion of trip schedule, expectations

Saturday, Feb 26:  Travel to Cocle Work Site

• Morning departure for Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal
• Travel by minibus to SHI’s Penonome office, Cocle Province
• Lunch with field staff, introductions
• Group travels to El Entradero
• Afternoon participant family visits
• Group will stay with host families (2+ volunteers per family)

Sunday, Feb 27:  El Entradero

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: installing a water pump and drip-irrigation system
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Monday, Feb 28:  El Entradero

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: establishing a tree nursery, organic compost
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, trip to local natural feature
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Tuesday, March 1:  El Entradero

• Breakast in the community
• Morning work project: rice paddy and fish pond system
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, visit to family cane press
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Wednesday, March 2:  Leaving El Entradero

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: school garden project
• Lunch in the community
• Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
• Depart for the beach
• Group will stay at beach hotel

Thursday, March 3:  Beach Day!

• R&R Day at the beach
• Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
• Group will stay at B&B

Friday, March 4:  El Valle de Anton

• Visit local artisan market
• Waterfall and hot springs
• Group dinner and reflection

• Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Saturday, March 5:  Departure

• Group departs from Panama City airport, or continues traveling independently

* Smaller World Tour itineraries are shaped by the requests of SHI's Central American field trainers and the farming communities we serve.  Trip participants work alongside local staff and families and we do our best to match groups with activities that fit their interests, skills and schedules. Each Smaller World Tour is accompanied by an SHI trip leader who coordinates the group's activities on the ground.  Specific projects and plans may change and we request that volunteers keep an open mind and remain flexible during their trip.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,350 - Adult
$675 - Youth (children under 15 traveling with adult family member)

These costs include 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, 20% of your program fee is supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $350 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download a REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information.  Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.

Visit our Panama program page to learn much more about this country program.

This Smaller World Tour is in collaboration with the River Valley Charter School community.

Panama is one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.  According to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama is home to more than 15,000 plant species and 16,000 animals including more than 1,000 bird species.  Unfortunately, the region's fragile ecosystems are being destroyed by large-scale agricultural expansion, slash-and-burn farming, logging and mining. 

Join SHI-Panama on the front lines of environmental protection and rural community development as we work to implement sustainable farming practices that protect Panama's natural resources while breaking cycles of poverty that threaten rural communities.  Trip participants will work alongside local staff and families to plant vegetable gardens, establish tree nurseries, build wood-conserving stoves and more. No special skills or experience necessary.  Families are welcomed.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays and volunteer projects with SHI participant families and a two day excursion to beautiful beaches and cloud forests of Central Panama.  Get ready for meaningful service projects and the tropical adventure of a lifetime!

READY TO TRAVEL? Download a REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY*

Saturday, April 16:  Arrival

• SHI trip leaders meet the group at the  at Panama City airport
• Group moves to hotel in Panama City
• Orientation and discussion of trip schedule, expectations

Sunday, April 17:  Travel to Cocle Work Site

• Morning departure for Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal
• Travel by minibus to SHI’s Penonome office, Cocle Province
• Spanish Crash Course/Local Terminology
• Lunch with field staff, introductions
• Group travels to host community, San Pedro
• Afternoon participant family visits
• Group will stay with host families (2+ volunteers per family)

Monday, April 18:  Community Projects in San Pedro

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: school garden project
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Tuesday, April 19:  Community Projects in San Pedro

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: establishing a tree nursery, organic compost
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon continuation of work projects, trip to swimming hole
• Dinner in the community
• Reflection and discussion
• Group will stay with host families

Wednesday, April 20:  Community Projects in San Pedro

• Breakfast with host families
• Morning work project: rice paddy and fish pond system
• Lunch in San Pedro
• Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
• Depart for the beach
• Group will stay at beach hotel

Thursday, April 21:  Beach Day!

• R&R Day at the beach
• Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
• Group will stay at B&B

Friday, April 22:  El Valle de Anton

• Visit local artisan market
• Waterfall and hot springs
• Group dinner and reflection

• Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City

Saturday, April 23:  Departure

• Group departs from Panama City airport, or continues traveling independently

* Smaller World Tour itineraries are shaped by the requests of SHI's Central American field trainers and the farming communities we serve.  Trip participants work alongside local staff and families and we do our best to match groups with activities that fit their interests, skills and schedules. Each Smaller World Tour is accompanied by an SHI trip leader who coordinates the group's activities on the ground.  Specific projects and plans may change and we request that volunteers keep an open mind and remain flexible during their trip.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,350 - Adult
$675 - Youth (children under 15 traveling with adult family member)

These costs include 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, 20% of your program fee is supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $350 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download a REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information.

Visit our Panama program page to learn much more about this country program.

Thanks to SHI, Panamanian farmer José Aníbal Valdés and his family now count on three nutritious meals each day. José, 54, and his wife, Catalina, live with their eight children and one granddaughter in the community of El Entradero in Panama.  In addition to farming, José also worked as a bus driver for his family’s sustenance; but there were many days that he earned only enough for his family’s supper.

In his own words:  "When I used agrochemicals, I did not know that I could be poisoning the environment…  At that time, I did not know that right on my own land I had materials to make organic compost and natural pest controls; nobody had ever told me about those things.  I just worked according to our customs and traditions.  I visited my neighbor and there I met the Field Trainer, Diomedes Arrocha, and the micro-business promoter from SHI-Panama.  My neighbor was already working with them and selling some crops that he had harvested from a small parcel near his house.  With SHI’s help, he was earning more money than I earned at my job during a week.

Families working with Sustainable Harvest International’s Panama program are gaining access to markets. Milina Solis, who coordinates the micro finance and small business program, helps families and cooperatives build relationships with buyers committed to purchasing fair trade and organic produce. In the past three months, the Panama program has also initiated many projects to improve soil quality and family nutrition including 37 compost and vermiculture projects and 39 new family gardens. During the second quarter of the fiscal year, families planted just over 1,000 trees as part of reforestation, erosion control and orchard projects.