San Martin

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

San Martin is located in the biodiverse region of Panama, and celebrated its transition with Global Brigades in December of 2020. People in San Martin are primarily dedicated to agriculture, animal raising, and the sale of artisanal crafts. Global Brigades is currently working with Medical and Dental brigades in San Martin and the community is on the wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama.

Community members in San Martin have access to credit through an established and thriving community bank which will support continued investment in local businesses and home improvement projects for families within the community. When asked about the top needs in the community, the community members mentioned the need to improve health centers and the improvement of the water system.

Corregimiento: Veraguas
District: Santiago

Homes : 250
Population : 400
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Yes
% of Homes with Latrines : 80
Education in the Community : Up to primary school
Distance from Lodging Facility : 70 KM

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Martin but has not yet begun with the Medical Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, mobile clinics and Community Health Workers’ training will start as soon as feasible.

Distance from Nearest Health Center : 10 KM
Community Health Workers : No
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infections, Allergies, Skin rash
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes, Rheumatism, Body cramps

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Martin but has not yet begun with the Dental Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, mobile clinics will start as soon as feasible.

Distance to Nearest Health Center : 10 KM
Community Health Workers : No
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infections, Allergies, Skin rash
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes, Rheumatism, Body cramps

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Martin but has not yet begun with the Water Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, the installation and/or improvement of the water system and connectivity will start as soon as feasible.

Water System : No
Type of Water System : N/A
% of Homes with Access to Water : 0
Water Council : No

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

SAN MARTIN’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

San Martin’s community members lack access to financial resources within the community. The majority of community members do not have bank accounts and there are only limited informal forms of credit available. Usually, larger financial institutions, do not approve loans to community members without a fixed income, making it difficult for local micro-enterprises to grow and thrive. Furthermore, these financial institutions require members to pay monthly fees that are usually high.

SAN MARTIN’S MICROFINANCE SOLUTION

The goal of the Business Program is to stimulate the local economy by organizing community volunteers around a community bank, or “Caja rural”, which is entirely owned and operated by its members. The Business Program provides training and support to help strengthen these community banks. In order to pool their limited funds together, increase the capital available to the community bank, and expand the impact of its financial services, each member contributes a capitalization fee for which they receive a proportional amount of the bank’s dividends at the end of its fiscal year. Upon the completion of six months of executive board training, the community bank begins giving out loans to bank members to spur economic growth and home improvement projects.

The Community Bank in San Martin helps the community members by providing them with accessible savings and credit accounts to help them invest in agribusiness and other small business ideas. The community bank was established in December 2020.

Local Businesses : Convenient stores, chicken production, agriculture producers
Economic Activities : Agriculture, artisan goods, skilled labor
Community Bank : Yes
Number of Members : 10

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Martin but has not yet begun with the Public Health Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, the delivery and installation of household health products will start as soon as feasible.

% of houses with latrines : 160%
% of homes with flushing toilets : 0%
% of homes with water storage units : 0%
% of homes with traditional stoves : 160%
% of homes with concrete floor : 120%
% of homes with bath/shower : 0%
Common house materials : Cement blocks, wood, bricks

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature