For many years now I’ve had this idea, this concept dwelling in my head. I wanted to do something meaningful and bring opportunities to my home town of Panama. A country with a lot of social disparities and poverty. In the process, I came across a lot of ideas but none of them seemed to take off. After living 12 years away from Panama and having had the opportunity to travel the world, I discovered an amazing way to travel the world by helping those in need.

After spending most of my career working in tech corporations, I decided to give back for 3 months in Bali, Indonesia as an inexpensive way of discovering new places while meeting people and making a difference in their day-to-day lives. During my experience my work involved teaching English in a remote, rural area in Bali. As part of the program, I taught English for 4 days a week and had 3 days remaining to explore amazing Bali, which I definitely did!

Panama is a lot like Bali, both have beautiful beaches, islands, and scenery, but unfortunately, a lot of poverty as well. What a better way to get to know a country by submerging yourself in it and actually helping the people around the community by just being there and sharing with the community, sharing with them about places and cultures that they would hardly have the opportunity to discover otherwise! And in the meantime, you will even have the chance to explore stunning beaches and places you can’t even begin to imagine.

Once I returned to Panama from my adventure in Bali, I decided I was going to fully dedicate myself to create something that involves giving back and exploring!! I met with several volunteer program organisations and NGOs and began shaping my ideas one step at a time.

I decided to do it in Pedasi because this is one of Panama’s most authentic and charming places, and it has a lot to offer. Tourism is booming here so we better get those kids here learning English so they can secure better jobs in the future!!

I met with the parents of the children that will be involved in the pilot program. I am not going to lie, I was very nervous! I kept thinking to myself, am I out of my mind?

Well, it turns out that 30 parents out of 36 parents showed up to the meeting. I WAS IMPRESSED! I was amazed and thankful that they were all on board and eager to begin the pilot program!