In Spanish, a farewell party is called a "Despedida". The verb to say goodbye (forever) is "despedirse".
I do not like saying goodbye. I prefer my grandmother´s method of saying, "Bye, for now." Because really there is no telling when and where you may meet up with someone again. With so many volunteers leaving Peace Corps at the same time, I say goodbye and then bump into them again. So really, although I do like hugs, why go through all of the drama of a formal goodbye?
Yesterday I finished all of my paperwork in the Peace Corps office. Medical, legal, financial, documents describing my site and my service. An oral Spanish test and interviews with my bosses. It was exhausting! And in-between I filled out job applications and graduate school applications.
I am sad to go, but just like my last day in site when I was busy packing, I am too busy to actually feel sad.
*************************************************************
My town threw me the most beautiful despedida party. I told them that it was all of the most beautiful parts of Panama without any of the bad parts. I wanted my party to be calm, so it was sponsored by the Parents and Teacher Association during the school day last Thursday, July 9th.
I did not want to go because I did not want to say goodbye. I waited until I heard music to know that the party had begun. I nervously greeted people when I arrived and set up construction paper, crayons, and pens, with a shoebox so that people could write little notes for me. Then I took photos of the children in front of the huge world map we had painted.
The students were dressed in the typical folkloric dress--the girls wore "polleras" and the boys wore nice shirts, slacks, and handmade leather sandals called "cutarras".
We walked into the main classroom--I was escorted by two little girls to the teacher´s desk to sit. My dog (who normally runs and plays) sat at my feet. They had organized an entire program for me. The children danced. Some men from the next town up the road sang songs in the "decima" style for me. The President of the PTA had written a song, which was sung by Carla Vasquez. I had never before been honored with so much special attention.
I cried for much of the presentation and especially when it came to be my turn to speak. I thanked them for such a lovely despedida and told them I was glad that Peace Corps had sent me to their community.
We ate the typical party food--arroz con pollo and potato salad, took more photos, and I returned to my house to read the things they had written to me and to continue the hornerous job of packing.
As it stands now, I actually did not finish my packing. There are still toiletries and books in my little house in Panama. I will go back to take care of them on July 30th when I go to collect or visit my dog.
Tomorrow morning I fly to Washington, D.C. to visit friends and family for the first time in two years.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Final Week
My eyes have been leaky today. It is not allergies. It is not a cold. I hate endings and have now come to the end of Peace Corps in Panama and I am sad. Luckily, I have only run into people who mean a little to me, instead of a lot to me on my last day in my regional capital of Santiago, Veraguas. Even the mundane is turning into a tear-jerker today.
The man who always hassles me to travel to Panama when all that I want to do is stay in Santiago put in an extra effort today. The man who works outside El Poderoso smiled at me twice. The vet assistant, the secretaries at Panama`s answer to Planned Parenthood, two actors from the Universidad de Panama, one of whom acted in The Vagina Monologues. Apparently, they have already set up a meeting tomorrow to receive the photos I developed for the group.
I mistakenly thought that I could focus enough to apply to grad schools and jobs today. I was wrong. I fought off tears and could not write a "Statement of Purpose". Words like those usually come so easily to me.
I have school photo-sized or "passport photos" to share with friends. I felt like a schoolgirl when I ran into Ana, who I brought from town for the Vagina Monologues, sex education, and domestic violence education, at the end of April. I gave her my photo and she shared one of her own with me. We never did talk about that day but she must have learned a lot, and being a poor girl of just 18 years old, I think those were important lessons that she learned. That`s why I chose her to bring. She also made me really happy when she told me that her mom really trusted me, so she did have permission to come on the overnight trip.
At our close of service (COS) conference back in April, they told us not to take on any new projects. I was so excited about the new teacher who arrived to my town in April that I immediately suggested we do the World Map project, and paint a map of the world on the school wall. It looked as though we may not finish, but I spent all weekend, July 4th and 5th painting with teenage boys in the school. They did a great job and put in two full workdays, skipping lunch, to bring the map to fruition. I was also happy to spend time with them before I left town. Teenage boys from all over the world can be a handful, but I got to spend time with them painting and learning geography. Is it any wonder I am weepy?
The new teacher did another great thing. SHE organized my going-away party. On top of packing, moving, and deciding what to do with the rest of my life, I am really thankful that throwing a party for myself was not something I needed to concern myself with this week.
The man who always hassles me to travel to Panama when all that I want to do is stay in Santiago put in an extra effort today. The man who works outside El Poderoso smiled at me twice. The vet assistant, the secretaries at Panama`s answer to Planned Parenthood, two actors from the Universidad de Panama, one of whom acted in The Vagina Monologues. Apparently, they have already set up a meeting tomorrow to receive the photos I developed for the group.
I mistakenly thought that I could focus enough to apply to grad schools and jobs today. I was wrong. I fought off tears and could not write a "Statement of Purpose". Words like those usually come so easily to me.
I have school photo-sized or "passport photos" to share with friends. I felt like a schoolgirl when I ran into Ana, who I brought from town for the Vagina Monologues, sex education, and domestic violence education, at the end of April. I gave her my photo and she shared one of her own with me. We never did talk about that day but she must have learned a lot, and being a poor girl of just 18 years old, I think those were important lessons that she learned. That`s why I chose her to bring. She also made me really happy when she told me that her mom really trusted me, so she did have permission to come on the overnight trip.
At our close of service (COS) conference back in April, they told us not to take on any new projects. I was so excited about the new teacher who arrived to my town in April that I immediately suggested we do the World Map project, and paint a map of the world on the school wall. It looked as though we may not finish, but I spent all weekend, July 4th and 5th painting with teenage boys in the school. They did a great job and put in two full workdays, skipping lunch, to bring the map to fruition. I was also happy to spend time with them before I left town. Teenage boys from all over the world can be a handful, but I got to spend time with them painting and learning geography. Is it any wonder I am weepy?
The new teacher did another great thing. SHE organized my going-away party. On top of packing, moving, and deciding what to do with the rest of my life, I am really thankful that throwing a party for myself was not something I needed to concern myself with this week.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Padres de la Familia
Saturday, 6 June 2009, Rural Veraguas, Panama
Every first Saturday of the month, the Padres de la Familia (the Parent`s Association) has a meeting in the primary school. The do yard work around the school grounds, talk about the school, school funds, and "et cetera". I always use that last category (Asuntos Varios) for extra announcements, such as trainings I have planned and action items. This time I had prepared two letters: one for electricity in the the school and one to solicit the Ministry of Education to appoint Maestra Amarilys Guevara the teacher for the next year as well.
I grew embarrassed when the discussion turned to my going-away party. They are going to ask everyone in the community for $2 each to make arroz con pollo. We laid out a grid for what will be my last project...a huge world map mural inside the school. The other parents worked in the school garden.
In another minor victory, they added organic fertilizer to the garden beds. Robby, Chicho, Ursula, and I left after hours of work, hungry and tired. There is always next month to finish.
Every first Saturday of the month, the Padres de la Familia (the Parent`s Association) has a meeting in the primary school. The do yard work around the school grounds, talk about the school, school funds, and "et cetera". I always use that last category (Asuntos Varios) for extra announcements, such as trainings I have planned and action items. This time I had prepared two letters: one for electricity in the the school and one to solicit the Ministry of Education to appoint Maestra Amarilys Guevara the teacher for the next year as well.
I grew embarrassed when the discussion turned to my going-away party. They are going to ask everyone in the community for $2 each to make arroz con pollo. We laid out a grid for what will be my last project...a huge world map mural inside the school. The other parents worked in the school garden.
In another minor victory, they added organic fertilizer to the garden beds. Robby, Chicho, Ursula, and I left after hours of work, hungry and tired. There is always next month to finish.
Red Cross in My Site
Friday, 5 June 2009, Veraguas, Panama
I have always felt that my world was a little smaller than most, but I like it that way. The new teacher, Maestra Amarilys Guevara arranged for the Red Cross to give a talk in the school. The students were also instructed to invite two adults each to the presentation. When I walked up to the school in the morning, I found that I recognized the two younger volunteers. We had been in a seminar together in Las Tablas, Los Santos one year prior. Edward, with a grandmother about 30 minutes away, and Ariadna, both from Santiago, the regional captital. I was also very excited to learn that Ariadna, just 18 years old, is the Youth Coordinator for Red Cross in Veraguas.
I was happy and proud all day long. The Red Cross volunteers talked about the history of the Red Cross, HIV/AIDS, and First Aid. It was the first HIV/AIDS presentation I attended in which I was not a facilitator! And it was all because I helped the Parent´s Association lobby for a better teacher in our community.
What a great example to see, as I take my leave from the community...not only does the new teacher teach the children well, but she is providing educational opportunities for the community as a whole. My help of the Parent`s Association seems to be my greatest work as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
***Twenty days later*** Maestra Amarilys Guevara and I met up at the Ministry of Education to lobby for electricity in the school. It is so satisfying to have helped to put in place a teacher who actually CARES about the students and the town.
I have always felt that my world was a little smaller than most, but I like it that way. The new teacher, Maestra Amarilys Guevara arranged for the Red Cross to give a talk in the school. The students were also instructed to invite two adults each to the presentation. When I walked up to the school in the morning, I found that I recognized the two younger volunteers. We had been in a seminar together in Las Tablas, Los Santos one year prior. Edward, with a grandmother about 30 minutes away, and Ariadna, both from Santiago, the regional captital. I was also very excited to learn that Ariadna, just 18 years old, is the Youth Coordinator for Red Cross in Veraguas.
I was happy and proud all day long. The Red Cross volunteers talked about the history of the Red Cross, HIV/AIDS, and First Aid. It was the first HIV/AIDS presentation I attended in which I was not a facilitator! And it was all because I helped the Parent´s Association lobby for a better teacher in our community.
What a great example to see, as I take my leave from the community...not only does the new teacher teach the children well, but she is providing educational opportunities for the community as a whole. My help of the Parent`s Association seems to be my greatest work as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
***Twenty days later*** Maestra Amarilys Guevara and I met up at the Ministry of Education to lobby for electricity in the school. It is so satisfying to have helped to put in place a teacher who actually CARES about the students and the town.
Sad
A Poem
June 10, 2009
Why does it feel like cigarettes help me to breathe?
A habit once left now provides me relief.
What do I do? Where do I go?
What about my beloved beau?
There are jobs in the States which pay more.
If I stay, I will be poor.
What if I get a graduate degree?
Would that be the best for me?
And my dog. What do I do with her?
I escape awhile carressing her fur.
I like Panama. I am happy here.
Why is my family desperate to have me near?
Another sigh. Some more rain.
I am in transition again.
Thank goodness I`m past that depression. Fifteen days later I am in a much better mood, though still sad that I must return to the United States. I am in no hurry, though. My rent in Panama is only $25. It would be much better to be unemployed here than in the United States. :)
June 10, 2009
Why does it feel like cigarettes help me to breathe?
A habit once left now provides me relief.
What do I do? Where do I go?
What about my beloved beau?
There are jobs in the States which pay more.
If I stay, I will be poor.
What if I get a graduate degree?
Would that be the best for me?
And my dog. What do I do with her?
I escape awhile carressing her fur.
I like Panama. I am happy here.
Why is my family desperate to have me near?
Another sigh. Some more rain.
I am in transition again.
Thank goodness I`m past that depression. Fifteen days later I am in a much better mood, though still sad that I must return to the United States. I am in no hurry, though. My rent in Panama is only $25. It would be much better to be unemployed here than in the United States. :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Final Peace Corps Report
In the fiscal year, which began in October 2008, Peace Corps worldwide switched over to a trimester report of activities, which allows us to share narratives, although it is still an Excel spreadsheet. I would like to share my narrative entries from January to May with you all.
SUCESS STORY!
People always say that development is slow work. I came to Peace Corps Panama raring to go. I wanted to help whatever town they plopped me down into to produce all of their own food sustainably. I found that they did not really want to....
I kept trying. I always mentioned how expensive food was getting and maintained my own garden. I brought them trainings from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Environmental Authority, and promoters from other communities. I talked about organic fertilizers, home gardens, and RICE TANKS...
Then it HAPPENED! Just two days ago, Fermin Concepcion came to my house in the morning. He told me that he and five others would be DIGGING A RICE TANK until noon. I marched myself out there, helped out, planted mani forrajero from my yard on their walls to prevent erosion, and took lots of photos. I was so proud of them!!! It just took them two years of gentle pressure to adopt a new agricultural technique.
COMMUNITY INTEGRATIONI am now fluent in campo Spanish. I am even told that I have an accent from my district of Calobre, Veraguas. However, I explain to every taxi driver, internet worker, and agency employee that I SHOULD be able to manage Spanish well after two years living and breathing it.
Cross-cultural integration takes time and patience, just like all development work. You must work at friendships and alliances in the Peace Corps, just as you must in the outside world. In the end, you will always be surrounded by the people you like the best and who like you the best.
CHALLENGES
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT is an ongoing problem in the macho society of Panama.
While I have been able to command respect in my own community, I have trouble with agency people. I can say, "That´s inappropriate," to them in a low voice but it does not seem to hold. Also, I need to depend on some of them to get things for my town. Do I smile and nod just so that they come out to inspect the school for electricity?
LESSONS LEARNEDI am an idealist from the womb, it seems. I believe in justice and equality and following the rules. I joined the Peace Corps to help impoverished people in a sustainable way. But I was placed in a community already tainted by paternalism. I could not get the people to decide to help themselves. Their rhetoric was clear in meetings with government officials, "We are so poor. We have no jobs."
I learned that I can make changes in individuals. I can model behaviors. But no one can change a person who does not want to help themselves. I found more satisfying work outside of my community than inside of it and as my time drew to a close, I worked as an advocate for my community. (Hopefully, they will see that as behavior modeling, as well.)
They were promised light three years ago and still have not received it although all of the infrastructure (posts, cables, switches, lightbulbs) were put into place before I ever arrived. I marched a group down to the office of Rural Electrification the same day the Parents Association went to the Ministry of Education to solicit a new teacher. That day was very important to BEGIN the process but one must keep visiting the government employees and calling the agencies to get anything done in Panama. That teacher STILL showed up the first day of school planning, but another trip to MEDUCA installed a new teacher. I call the Office of Rural Electrification every Monday. We should have light this month!
PLANNED ACTIVITIES
I only have 8 weeks left in Peace Corps! I can hardly believe it!
On Friday, May 29, I will be teaching about 60 primary school children in Cocle how to protect wild animals, with my Captain Planet team in an ecological fair. The new Conservation volunteers will be there to learn from us.
On Monday, June 1, we will be repeating our fair and teaching 60 more children in Las Tablas.
On Saturday, June 6th, I will begin a World Map project with the Parents Association and some teenagers.
If feasible, I will do another training for women (about 140) of the Red de Oportunidades (welfare) from my area. It will focus on self-esteem and human rights.
PEACE CORPS GOAL 2
"to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served"I talked a little bit about the Panama elections. My father, now retired, was a civil servant my whole life as elections in Panama do. The winning party gets the jobs. The losing party loses jobs. I explained that the elections in the United States never affected my father´s job. Only high officers in the United States change during an election and congress does not change all at once, either. It must be very difficult dealing with so much uncertainty here, I said.
PEACE CORPS GOAL 3
"to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people"
I have recently gotten to know two American expatriots who live near Panama City. While they treated me to Subway and McDonalds, they grilled me on the socioeconomics of my community. Although, they happen to live in the same country of Panama as my small town of El Satro, we live worlds apart. Then they drove me to my house, drove up to the next town, and spent the night in the guest house of the Forest Reserve. My town does not have electricity, but the guest house does.
For the first time, they saw women "pilar maiz" (crush corn) with a person-sized mortar and pestle. Why do they do that? Is it because it is less expensive? Well, they grow the corn themselves. That´s why. I think it was a good lesson for all of us to realize what is commonly known and what is not by the others.
SUCESS STORY!
People always say that development is slow work. I came to Peace Corps Panama raring to go. I wanted to help whatever town they plopped me down into to produce all of their own food sustainably. I found that they did not really want to....
I kept trying. I always mentioned how expensive food was getting and maintained my own garden. I brought them trainings from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Environmental Authority, and promoters from other communities. I talked about organic fertilizers, home gardens, and RICE TANKS...
Then it HAPPENED! Just two days ago, Fermin Concepcion came to my house in the morning. He told me that he and five others would be DIGGING A RICE TANK until noon. I marched myself out there, helped out, planted mani forrajero from my yard on their walls to prevent erosion, and took lots of photos. I was so proud of them!!! It just took them two years of gentle pressure to adopt a new agricultural technique.
COMMUNITY INTEGRATIONI am now fluent in campo Spanish. I am even told that I have an accent from my district of Calobre, Veraguas. However, I explain to every taxi driver, internet worker, and agency employee that I SHOULD be able to manage Spanish well after two years living and breathing it.
Cross-cultural integration takes time and patience, just like all development work. You must work at friendships and alliances in the Peace Corps, just as you must in the outside world. In the end, you will always be surrounded by the people you like the best and who like you the best.
CHALLENGES
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT is an ongoing problem in the macho society of Panama.
While I have been able to command respect in my own community, I have trouble with agency people. I can say, "That´s inappropriate," to them in a low voice but it does not seem to hold. Also, I need to depend on some of them to get things for my town. Do I smile and nod just so that they come out to inspect the school for electricity?
LESSONS LEARNEDI am an idealist from the womb, it seems. I believe in justice and equality and following the rules. I joined the Peace Corps to help impoverished people in a sustainable way. But I was placed in a community already tainted by paternalism. I could not get the people to decide to help themselves. Their rhetoric was clear in meetings with government officials, "We are so poor. We have no jobs."
I learned that I can make changes in individuals. I can model behaviors. But no one can change a person who does not want to help themselves. I found more satisfying work outside of my community than inside of it and as my time drew to a close, I worked as an advocate for my community. (Hopefully, they will see that as behavior modeling, as well.)
They were promised light three years ago and still have not received it although all of the infrastructure (posts, cables, switches, lightbulbs) were put into place before I ever arrived. I marched a group down to the office of Rural Electrification the same day the Parents Association went to the Ministry of Education to solicit a new teacher. That day was very important to BEGIN the process but one must keep visiting the government employees and calling the agencies to get anything done in Panama. That teacher STILL showed up the first day of school planning, but another trip to MEDUCA installed a new teacher. I call the Office of Rural Electrification every Monday. We should have light this month!
PLANNED ACTIVITIES
I only have 8 weeks left in Peace Corps! I can hardly believe it!
On Friday, May 29, I will be teaching about 60 primary school children in Cocle how to protect wild animals, with my Captain Planet team in an ecological fair. The new Conservation volunteers will be there to learn from us.
On Monday, June 1, we will be repeating our fair and teaching 60 more children in Las Tablas.
On Saturday, June 6th, I will begin a World Map project with the Parents Association and some teenagers.
If feasible, I will do another training for women (about 140) of the Red de Oportunidades (welfare) from my area. It will focus on self-esteem and human rights.
PEACE CORPS GOAL 2
"to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served"I talked a little bit about the Panama elections. My father, now retired, was a civil servant my whole life as elections in Panama do. The winning party gets the jobs. The losing party loses jobs. I explained that the elections in the United States never affected my father´s job. Only high officers in the United States change during an election and congress does not change all at once, either. It must be very difficult dealing with so much uncertainty here, I said.
PEACE CORPS GOAL 3
"to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people"
I have recently gotten to know two American expatriots who live near Panama City. While they treated me to Subway and McDonalds, they grilled me on the socioeconomics of my community. Although, they happen to live in the same country of Panama as my small town of El Satro, we live worlds apart. Then they drove me to my house, drove up to the next town, and spent the night in the guest house of the Forest Reserve. My town does not have electricity, but the guest house does.
For the first time, they saw women "pilar maiz" (crush corn) with a person-sized mortar and pestle. Why do they do that? Is it because it is less expensive? Well, they grow the corn themselves. That´s why. I think it was a good lesson for all of us to realize what is commonly known and what is not by the others.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Gender and Development
GAD for La VAgINA
SecreTeri Milstein
9 May 2009
Peace Corps Panama´s Gender and Development (GAD) Committee was thrown into a whirlwind and could have been lost. Victoria F. HIV/AIDS coordinator and GAD President had her Close of Service (COS)at the beginning of April, as expected. Lisa C., GAD Vice President was unexpectedly medically separated at the end of March. The Secretary, Teri M., and the Treasurer, Cassie B., are going to COS in July. The Men´s Health Coordinator, Robby A., will also COS in July. The entire GAD directive had to be replaced. We were hoping for some great leadership to emerge and we got it!
Results are as follows…
President Isaac J. (group 61)
Vice President will be a position shared between Dorine S. (group 62) and Andi N. (group 61)
Secretary-elect Lindsay K. (group 61)
Treasurer-elect Jodianna R. (group 62)
We are very happy to have such strong leaders joining us in GAD! We are also excited that we have a mix of volunteers from groups 61 and 62 so that the next GAD directive will not have to be replaced all at once.
Mission and Vision:
Worldwide, including Panama, there are difficulties and unequal ways in which men and women relate. GAD is a working group to empower volunteers and Panamanians toward positive change through education and workshops.
GAD Youth Conference:
Each year GAD holds a youth conference open to Panamanian youth to learn life skills, such as self-esteem, leadership, communication, working in groups, and health. Escojo Mi Vida (I Choose My Life) was held February 9-13 in San Felix, Chiriqui. This year's Conference theme was "Escojo Mi Vida," meaning that choices that youth make are self-determined and that there is always more than one answer to every situation. Funding for the conference came from GAD and from VAST. We taught 60 rural youth to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
This year's GAD (Gender And Development) Youth Conference was a great success! Kids from all over Panama came back from the conference with new friendships, new goals and a new sense of self-worth. Thanks so much to our facilitators for making the kids experience so great: Victoria F., Cassandra B., Teri M., Lisa C., Robby A., Brandy B., Isaac J., Melissa J., Stephen M., Kent M., Andi N., Kate S., and Matt S.,
Regional Representatives:
Regional Representatives have new roles and responsibilities. One of which is that they are to establish and maintain contacts with GAD-related Host Country Agencies and Non-Profit Organizations in their province/region, in conjunction with their regional leaders. This could include Health Ministry, Red Cross, the Panamanian Association of Family Planning, the Ministry of Social Development, the Public Defense group, training groups, domestic violence and substance abuse institutions. This information will be compiled into a Word document to be shared with provincial volunteers and sent to the GAD secretary, Teri Milstein to compile and share with the volunteers.
Representatives will be regionally appointed and elected at their regional meeting. However, since all volunteers have equal opportunity to attend the All Volunteer Conference meeting, Regional Representatives were nominated at this time.
Regional reps will:
• Attend the thrice yearly General Meetings (with partial to full travel reimbursements).
• Act as the liaison between GAD and their region.
• Provide regional support for the GAD charlas dealing with themes such as self-esteem, life skills and sex education.
Regional Updates:
Azuero: Regional Rep vacant—no attendees, no updates.
Chiriquí: Regional Rep elected Kalli B.
Angela O. was medically separated from Peace Corps. Allie H. was medivacuated. Lydia S. is now the acting Regional Leader of Chiriqui. Kalli had a successful women´s sewing exchange, supported through a GAD grant. The women are planning to learn more sewing techniques on their own dime! Chiriqui volunteers are organizing three 2-day charlas in colegios in different communities.
Colón: Regional Rep Elena P.
Domestic abuse charlas in the Chagres area are being planned.
Bocas del Toro: Regional Rep Jim F.
Bocas volunteers have taught 12 rural communities about HIV/AIDS, STIs, and family planning in Bocas. Funding from the VAST grant ran out but work has continued from help from MIDES.
Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle—no updates at this time.
Panama Oeste/Coclé: Regional rep Melanie V.
Brianna M. had HIV/AIDS education in her site. Melanie V. brought five women to HIV/AIDS and domestic violence charlas and “The Vagina Monologues” in Santiago on April 30th.
Darién/Panama Este: Rep position to be filled at next regional meeting
No updates at this time.
Veraguas:
Kevin and April C. held a health fair on their island of Isla Leones de Montijo and 118 people people attended! They coordinated with Cruz Roja Panameña, SINAPROC, INADEH, and PCVs Steph W., Jim F., Lee M., and Robby A. to put on the great event!
April 25th, APLAFA came to Teri M.´s site to teach about STIs, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. One hundred and forty participants filled the two-room schoolhouse!
Cassie B. and Teri M. produced “The Vagina Monologues” in a combined effort with MIDES and the theater group of the Universidad de Panamá in Santiago, Veraguas. The play was performed on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Auditorium at the Universidad de Panamá. Donations for attendance were made to the Center which Attends to Abused Women of the region of Soná, Veraguas.
In attendance at the play were 30 women who will also learned about STIs, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence at APLAFA by APLAFA and MIDES earlier in the day. Over the course of the day, the women grew evermore comfortable in the presence of the others who came from five communities in Veraguas and Coclé so that by the end of the day, they were comfortable sharing and seeking help for their own problems. One woman from Coclé was so fired up that she is organizing her own seminar for her town.
Muchachas Guías:
CoCo R. is working on a guide of how to work with the Girl Scouts in your site. The guide should be ready in July and Girl Scouts information is available from CoCo.
GAD GRANTS – Each GAD general meeting five $50 grants are available to volunteers for education related to Gender and Development issues. Congratulations to:
1) Andrea G. who asked for $50 to support Women Leadership and Empowerment Through Savings and Loans. The women will benefit 20 women who will learn health, family planning, and how to financially fund their futures. The money will be used for transportation for speakers and notebooks for the women to keep track of their goals.
2) Lydia, who asked for $24 for reimbursement for a community-wide health fair held March 28, 2009. The 24 dollars was used to make fliers and individual invitations as well as transportation for 2 Red Cross volunteers and 4 Peace Corps Volunteers.
ASUNTOS VARIOS
Vida Sana Pueblo Sano (Healthy Life, Healthy Town) was reprinted. This is a Peace Corps Panama manual which easily instructs volunteers to teach HIV/AIDS, family planning, and other important life skills to their communities. It is encouraged that all interested volunteers get a copy to use this great resource!
Hot tip from Jim, G59, Bocas del Toro: Pair up with MIDES (Ministry of Social Development) to invite participants of the Red de Oportunidades (Network of Opportunities) to your trainings, be them health-related, agricultural, conservation, etc. Women in this program must attend various trainings as part of their obligation to receive welfare money.
NEXT GAD MEETING: To be announced
GAD DIRECTIVA MEETING: Will be Sunday, May 17th at 10am in Santiago, Veraguas.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Azuero regional representative, Panama Este/Darien representative (to be elected at next regional meeting)
As for me, I have really enjoyed serving as the GAD secretary. My participation in GAD has been some of my most rewarding work as a Peace Corps volunteer. It has been a pleasure and good luck to the next generation.
Teri
SecreTeri Milstein
9 May 2009
Peace Corps Panama´s Gender and Development (GAD) Committee was thrown into a whirlwind and could have been lost. Victoria F. HIV/AIDS coordinator and GAD President had her Close of Service (COS)at the beginning of April, as expected. Lisa C., GAD Vice President was unexpectedly medically separated at the end of March. The Secretary, Teri M., and the Treasurer, Cassie B., are going to COS in July. The Men´s Health Coordinator, Robby A., will also COS in July. The entire GAD directive had to be replaced. We were hoping for some great leadership to emerge and we got it!
Results are as follows…
President Isaac J. (group 61)
Vice President will be a position shared between Dorine S. (group 62) and Andi N. (group 61)
Secretary-elect Lindsay K. (group 61)
Treasurer-elect Jodianna R. (group 62)
We are very happy to have such strong leaders joining us in GAD! We are also excited that we have a mix of volunteers from groups 61 and 62 so that the next GAD directive will not have to be replaced all at once.
Mission and Vision:
Worldwide, including Panama, there are difficulties and unequal ways in which men and women relate. GAD is a working group to empower volunteers and Panamanians toward positive change through education and workshops.
GAD Youth Conference:
Each year GAD holds a youth conference open to Panamanian youth to learn life skills, such as self-esteem, leadership, communication, working in groups, and health. Escojo Mi Vida (I Choose My Life) was held February 9-13 in San Felix, Chiriqui. This year's Conference theme was "Escojo Mi Vida," meaning that choices that youth make are self-determined and that there is always more than one answer to every situation. Funding for the conference came from GAD and from VAST. We taught 60 rural youth to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
This year's GAD (Gender And Development) Youth Conference was a great success! Kids from all over Panama came back from the conference with new friendships, new goals and a new sense of self-worth. Thanks so much to our facilitators for making the kids experience so great: Victoria F., Cassandra B., Teri M., Lisa C., Robby A., Brandy B., Isaac J., Melissa J., Stephen M., Kent M., Andi N., Kate S., and Matt S.,
Regional Representatives:
Regional Representatives have new roles and responsibilities. One of which is that they are to establish and maintain contacts with GAD-related Host Country Agencies and Non-Profit Organizations in their province/region, in conjunction with their regional leaders. This could include Health Ministry, Red Cross, the Panamanian Association of Family Planning, the Ministry of Social Development, the Public Defense group, training groups, domestic violence and substance abuse institutions. This information will be compiled into a Word document to be shared with provincial volunteers and sent to the GAD secretary, Teri Milstein to compile and share with the volunteers.
Representatives will be regionally appointed and elected at their regional meeting. However, since all volunteers have equal opportunity to attend the All Volunteer Conference meeting, Regional Representatives were nominated at this time.
Regional reps will:
• Attend the thrice yearly General Meetings (with partial to full travel reimbursements).
• Act as the liaison between GAD and their region.
• Provide regional support for the GAD charlas dealing with themes such as self-esteem, life skills and sex education.
Regional Updates:
Azuero: Regional Rep vacant—no attendees, no updates.
Chiriquí: Regional Rep elected Kalli B.
Angela O. was medically separated from Peace Corps. Allie H. was medivacuated. Lydia S. is now the acting Regional Leader of Chiriqui. Kalli had a successful women´s sewing exchange, supported through a GAD grant. The women are planning to learn more sewing techniques on their own dime! Chiriqui volunteers are organizing three 2-day charlas in colegios in different communities.
Colón: Regional Rep Elena P.
Domestic abuse charlas in the Chagres area are being planned.
Bocas del Toro: Regional Rep Jim F.
Bocas volunteers have taught 12 rural communities about HIV/AIDS, STIs, and family planning in Bocas. Funding from the VAST grant ran out but work has continued from help from MIDES.
Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle—no updates at this time.
Panama Oeste/Coclé: Regional rep Melanie V.
Brianna M. had HIV/AIDS education in her site. Melanie V. brought five women to HIV/AIDS and domestic violence charlas and “The Vagina Monologues” in Santiago on April 30th.
Darién/Panama Este: Rep position to be filled at next regional meeting
No updates at this time.
Veraguas:
Kevin and April C. held a health fair on their island of Isla Leones de Montijo and 118 people people attended! They coordinated with Cruz Roja Panameña, SINAPROC, INADEH, and PCVs Steph W., Jim F., Lee M., and Robby A. to put on the great event!
April 25th, APLAFA came to Teri M.´s site to teach about STIs, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. One hundred and forty participants filled the two-room schoolhouse!
Cassie B. and Teri M. produced “The Vagina Monologues” in a combined effort with MIDES and the theater group of the Universidad de Panamá in Santiago, Veraguas. The play was performed on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Auditorium at the Universidad de Panamá. Donations for attendance were made to the Center which Attends to Abused Women of the region of Soná, Veraguas.
In attendance at the play were 30 women who will also learned about STIs, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence at APLAFA by APLAFA and MIDES earlier in the day. Over the course of the day, the women grew evermore comfortable in the presence of the others who came from five communities in Veraguas and Coclé so that by the end of the day, they were comfortable sharing and seeking help for their own problems. One woman from Coclé was so fired up that she is organizing her own seminar for her town.
Muchachas Guías:
CoCo R. is working on a guide of how to work with the Girl Scouts in your site. The guide should be ready in July and Girl Scouts information is available from CoCo.
GAD GRANTS – Each GAD general meeting five $50 grants are available to volunteers for education related to Gender and Development issues. Congratulations to:
1) Andrea G. who asked for $50 to support Women Leadership and Empowerment Through Savings and Loans. The women will benefit 20 women who will learn health, family planning, and how to financially fund their futures. The money will be used for transportation for speakers and notebooks for the women to keep track of their goals.
2) Lydia, who asked for $24 for reimbursement for a community-wide health fair held March 28, 2009. The 24 dollars was used to make fliers and individual invitations as well as transportation for 2 Red Cross volunteers and 4 Peace Corps Volunteers.
ASUNTOS VARIOS
Vida Sana Pueblo Sano (Healthy Life, Healthy Town) was reprinted. This is a Peace Corps Panama manual which easily instructs volunteers to teach HIV/AIDS, family planning, and other important life skills to their communities. It is encouraged that all interested volunteers get a copy to use this great resource!
Hot tip from Jim, G59, Bocas del Toro: Pair up with MIDES (Ministry of Social Development) to invite participants of the Red de Oportunidades (Network of Opportunities) to your trainings, be them health-related, agricultural, conservation, etc. Women in this program must attend various trainings as part of their obligation to receive welfare money.
NEXT GAD MEETING: To be announced
GAD DIRECTIVA MEETING: Will be Sunday, May 17th at 10am in Santiago, Veraguas.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Azuero regional representative, Panama Este/Darien representative (to be elected at next regional meeting)
As for me, I have really enjoyed serving as the GAD secretary. My participation in GAD has been some of my most rewarding work as a Peace Corps volunteer. It has been a pleasure and good luck to the next generation.
Teri
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