| | | | | | | | Tucked behind a cluster of small cinder block houses in the Los Naranjos area of Boquete, is a tiny one room house. The yard, like many others in the area, is full of flowers. Emerita lives by herself in the house. When you enter her home, you will see everything is sorted and stacked in a tidy and neat arrangement making her tiny space feel homey and comfortable.
Emerita is a gracious 80-year-old woman with a ready smile and kind demeanor. She, like so many of the elderly, receives only the monthly government payment to those without pensions. Also, like many other Buenos Vecinos de Boquete families, she has no family members to help support her. She earns a meager income as a part-time companion to older wealthy women who want someone to accompany them to doctor appointments or just keep them company.
Emerita has arthritis and needs medication for the pain. She also has high blood pressure and needs medication for that as well. Her other expenses are food, electricity and water. Often food was skipped to pay for her medications. Since she now receives food support from Buenos Vecinos this enables her to free her income to pay for her medications.
She is grateful for the food support and looks forward to her monthly food deliveries and always welcomes the BVB volunteer into her humble home. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Meet Our Volunteer
Luisana Morena | | | | | | | | | | | | | Luisana, affectionately known as Lulu, hails from Venezuela. She arrived in Panamá about 10 years ago and lived in Panamá City for nine years. While she enjoyed the vibrant cosmopolitan rhythm of neighborhoods such as Casco Antiguo, Avenida Balboa, and Obarrio, she decided to move to Boquete to reconnect with herself and be in closer contact with nature. Luisana says, "Boquete offers the peace I needed to continue rediscovering myself; it is my refuge."
Luisana is a licensed physical therapist but as a foreigner, she cannot practice here. Panamá opened new doors instead; she currently works at Cluster Panamá, a consulting firm that supports expats and investors with legal procedures, migration services, and project development. She also teaches Spanish lessons, something she truly enjoys because it allows her to connect with others through language and culture.
Luisana has volunteered in various organizations since her arrival in Panamá. In Panamá City, she was part of Mi Barrio 507, a grassroots initiative formed by friends during the pandemic to deliver food to vulnerable areas such as Santa Ana. She is also a member of the Barrio Vivo Foundation, which is currently in the process of becoming a registered charity. Here in Boquete, she volunteers with BVB and two other organizations.
Even with all of her volunteer work, she finds time for her passions: creative and crafty activities. She enjoys event decoration and making handcrafted objects. Luisana loves to read, and she is developing a project called El Oráculo del Café (The Coffee Oracle), which she describes as "a creative and introspective tool that combines art, symbolism, and reflection."
Luisana found out about BVB through the BCP Community Market. When she approached the table and asked if she could help, she was welcomed with open arms. She has been involved ever since. She believes in community and is a volunteer as a way to give back, stay grounded, and be connected. Luisana has assisted with translations during deliveries, as she enjoys being a bridge between cultures; she also assists with packing. She believes in working together as a team so that all benefit.
Luisana sees herself as a person in constant evolution, always seeing new ways to grow from the heart. She feels everyone has a unique gift that can be used to support others. She feels her gift is to create, serve, and connect. "My message is simple: it's never too late to reinvent yourself, dream again, or start over," she says. "No matter your age or where you're from, you have something valuable to offer the world." | | | | June…It's National Dairy Month in the US | | | | People in the United States will celebrate National Dairy Month by attending parades, eating one or more of the 300 varieties of cheese sold in the US, eating dairy products, and drinking milk which has 8 grams of protein per serving. Dairy products are versatile, showing up at many meals and desserts. Fortification of milk is not required in the US, but it is more common to find fortified than non-fortified milk.
In Panamá, there is no dairy month. The families served by Buenos Vecinos de Boquete particularly need the nutrients of Vitamins A & D, calcium, protein, and others that are found in dairy products. However, many of our families do not have electricity, let alone own a refrigerator. Refrigerated milk is expensive in Panamá, since it is not subsidized by the government as it is in the US.
Because of this great need, BVB has an ongoing donation drive for cans of KLIM, the fortified milk powder sold in local grocery stores. BVB distributes KLIM to each family. Some larger families receive an extra portion. KLIM needs no refrigeration, it can be made in small amounts, and it has an airtight lid.
KLIM represents a large segment of our monthly food purchases, so we could use your help in reducing that expense. Next time you're shopping, think about picking up one or more cans of KLIM. The small size, 360 grams, is what we are requesting. It is subsidized by the government and costs under $4 per can. You can bring donations to our Thursday Community Market table. We'll be very grateful, and so will our families. | | | | | | Artificial Intelligence – Replacing Human Workers
Panamá is developing its national AI strategy. Definition of the priority sectors is needed, as is the training of human talent. Panamá wants to ensure that no one is left behind. Many jobs, while they will not disappear, will change deeply. Other jobs will no longer be needed.
The government says it must consider "both those who will see their jobs most threatened and, in the most vulnerable groups, those who face barriers in an environment that evolves at an unprecedented speed." The government understands there is a high level of informal employment in Panamá, and while those workers are less affected in the short term, they require continuous training so the workforce can be reskilled as necessary.
The private sector must adapt as well so it can remain competitive. But it must not make AI a source of exclusion.
Many of the BVB clients are unskilled laborers, part of the informal employment sector, or children who will grow up to face a different labor market. As AI changes how jobs are performed, our clients may lose jobs, become even more underemployed, or not be able to find employment. In spite of the government's desire to have no one left behind, there may be many who are.
https://www.prensa.com/opinion/panama-ante-el-reto-laboral-de-la-inteligencia-artificial/ | | | | | | | | Carsinia Castillo Ponte Kevin and Carla | | Buenos Vecinos is celebrating 20 years of service to the community and we're throwing a party!
Our first big event, The Black & White Ball, is taking place on August 23rd at the beautiful Nomad restaurant in downtown Boquete.
Join us for appetizers and cocktails at 4pm followed by gourmet food stations and a selection of wines. After dessert, get ready to be wowed by our outstanding live entertainment. A night to remember! Tickets are $75 each, limited to only 120, so get your now at Mailboxes Etc. | | | | Buenos Vecinos exists to help people who are unable to meet their basic food needs. We have provided emergency food support on many occasions and have been successful in helping families through hard times. We will help them with food support until the working age adults in the family can find enough income to become self-sustaining. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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