Chichica

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Business
  • Public Health
  • Human Rights

Overview

Chichica is located in the Province of Ngabe-Bugle and started working with Global Brigades in September of 2019. Community members 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. People in Chichica are primarily dedicated to agriculture and cattle raising. The community is on the wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama.

Corregimiento: Ngabe Bugle
District: Muna

Homes : 300
Population : 1500
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 High School

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Chichica 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 : 250 kms
Community Health Workers : Yes
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infection
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Chichica 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 : 250 kms
Community Health Workers : Yes
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infection
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

CHICHICA’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

Community members in Chichica 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.  For example, a person could obtain ‘credit’ at a local store by buying something now and paying later, simply adding it to their ‘tab,’ but there would be no formalized credit transaction.  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. Most community members cite the distance to the nearest bank as the main discouragement to having a personal savings account. Even if individuals wish to travel the distance, not all community members can become members of these financial institutions–cooperatives require monthly membership fees, savings accounts often require a fixed income, and the cost of travel provides an additional barrier.

63

Loans Disbursed

CHICHICA’S MICROFINANCE SOLUTION

The Global Brigades Business and Microfinance Team trained a new Community Bank in Chichica in September 2020. They also helped the community bank acquire its first Eskala loan in November 2020. This encouraged the opening of more savings accounts, growth of seed capital, and upon the completion of six months of executive board training, the Community Bank began giving out loans to bank members to spur economic growth and home improvement projects.

Local Businesses : convenient stores, poultry
Economic Activities : cattle raising
Community Bank : Yes

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Chichica 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 homes with latrines : 83%
% of homes with eco-stoves : 0
% of homes with water filters : 0
Common house materials : Cement blocks and bricks

Human Rights

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in [Community Name] but has not yet begun the Human Rights Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, the legal clinics and the opening of family cases will start as soon as feasible.

Type of Local Government : Indigenous council
Most Common Reported Legal Needs : land titles, child recognition
Main reason reported for not seeking out a lawyer : Lack of financial ability

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature