Igarwala

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Business

Overview


Igar wala is located in biodiverse Panama, and celebrated its transition with Global Brigades in December of 2016. 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 Igar wala are primarily dedicated to agriculture. The wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama.

Province: Panama
District: Chepo

Homes : 10
Population : 50
Water System : No
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : No
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : No
% of Homes with Latrines : 30
Education in the Community : No school

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Igar Wala 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.

Community Health Workers : No
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 Igar wala but has not yet begun with the Dental Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, mobile clinics will start as soon as feasible.

Community Health Workers : No
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infection
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

IGAR WALA’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

Community members in Igar Wala 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.

Local Businesses : Convenient store
Economic Activities : agriculture
Community Bank : Yes

IGAR WALA’S MICROFINANCE SOLUTION

The Global Brigades Business and Microfinance Team trained a new Community Bank in Igar wala in March 2021. 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 Reference Points

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

  • Feature