Las Marias

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Business

Overview


Las Marias is located in biodiverse Panama, and celebrated its transition with Global Brigades in March of 2021. 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 Las Marias are primarily dedicated to agriculture, coffee growing, and cattle raising. The wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama.

Province: Coclé
District: Penonomé

Homes : 112
Population : 500
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : No
% of Homes with Latrines : 30
Education in the Community : Up to 9th grade

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Marias 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 Las Marias 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

LAS MARIAS’ ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

Community members in Las Marias 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.

LAS MARIAS’ MICROFINANCE SOLUTION

The Global Brigades Business and Microfinance Team trained a new Community Bank in Las Marias 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 Businesses : Convenient store, Kiosks
Economic Activities : agriculture, cattle raising, coffee growing
Community Bank : Yes

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature