A day with a difference: 'helping' at a rural school.
A stormy, overcast day, rain falling in sheets as I set off on my trusty (ancient) bike to meet up with a group of Americans I’d met by chance who had invited me to join them doing volunteer work in a rural school deep in the forest.
An hour later I made it to the tiny wooden hut in a clearing, which housed 14 children aged between 4 and 13, with their teacher, a strong willed woman welding a machete. OK, everyone in central America carries them to harvest coconuts, but it did seem out of place! I was soaked through, steaming like a kettle in the humid heat inside the dark room.
The volunteers’ goal was to train and sponsor these school children in self sufficiency skills. Safe drinking water is non existent here, sanitation is limited, and the villagers inland and dotted along the coast depend on their own resources, farming, fishing, to survive.
In Panama education is free and in theory compulsory but in rural areas facilities are basic and attendance haphazard. By offering practical skills and resources this charity (Ancon) aims to increase both. These children were mainly Ngobe, the largest indigenous group on the islands.(The most visible are the Kuna Indians with their bright patterned dress, I see them most mornings from my balcony as they pass by).
To be honest, the pupils seemed far less keen on environmental studies than the volunteers, disappearing to play outside as soon as the adult’s backs were turned. I learnt a lot though... I am very ignorant about nature, not even realising the omnipresent coconut was imported by early settlers, which was a tad embarrassing.
By lunchtime I decided that the work was obviously 'worthy' but not actually achieving much, so rather selfishly I decamped, cycling gingerly back through the sodden water logged , potholed tracks.
A birthday phone call home to Richard followed by a quiet afternoon pedalling at leisure. The showers ceased and hazy sunlight drew out the panorama of birds with their musical songs.
This is my last week.
I am simply relaxing with a clear conscience.
A stormy, overcast day, rain falling in sheets as I set off on my trusty (ancient) bike to meet up with a group of Americans I’d met by chance who had invited me to join them doing volunteer work in a rural school deep in the forest.
An hour later I made it to the tiny wooden hut in a clearing, which housed 14 children aged between 4 and 13, with their teacher, a strong willed woman welding a machete. OK, everyone in central America carries them to harvest coconuts, but it did seem out of place! I was soaked through, steaming like a kettle in the humid heat inside the dark room.
The volunteers’ goal was to train and sponsor these school children in self sufficiency skills. Safe drinking water is non existent here, sanitation is limited, and the villagers inland and dotted along the coast depend on their own resources, farming, fishing, to survive.
In Panama education is free and in theory compulsory but in rural areas facilities are basic and attendance haphazard. By offering practical skills and resources this charity (Ancon) aims to increase both. These children were mainly Ngobe, the largest indigenous group on the islands.(The most visible are the Kuna Indians with their bright patterned dress, I see them most mornings from my balcony as they pass by).
To be honest, the pupils seemed far less keen on environmental studies than the volunteers, disappearing to play outside as soon as the adult’s backs were turned. I learnt a lot though... I am very ignorant about nature, not even realising the omnipresent coconut was imported by early settlers, which was a tad embarrassing.
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| Ngobe kids |
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| Kuna Indians who have a settlement near Bocas |
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| The 'no brakes' Caribbean bikes ..owner occupied ones have number plates. Makes sense, there's no cars here bar the yellow taxis, the odd delivery lorry and cooperative shuttle between villages |
This is my last week.
I am simply relaxing with a clear conscience.
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