What are the best opportunities to do volunteer and charity work in Panama?

Volunteer and charity work in Panama:  There is much you can do to help.  The best way to find out is to attend ExPat gatherings like ExPats in Panamá City, Coronado and Boquete and to join the American or Canadian Societies or InterNations on the internet to look for charity events / activities.

 

One Sunday visit we helped with a spay and neutering clinic for the Panamá locals in Coronado. My wife and I were...

Volunteer and charity work in Panama:  There is much you can do to help.  The best way to find out is to attend ExPat gatherings like ExPats in Panamá City, Coronado and Boquete and to join the American or Canadian Societies or InterNations on the internet to look for charity events / activities.

 

One Sunday visit we helped with a spay and neutering clinic for the Panamá locals in Coronado. My wife and I were "taxis", which means that we carried the dogs (dogs on Sunday, cats were on Saturday; we arrived in Coronado Sat night) from the "prep" area to the Vets' tables, then after the surgery, from the tables to the "recovery" area.  Yes, it was a hot, humid (open air building) and "ugly" job, but we enjoyed helping and doing our little part to show "we care".  Photos below from the event.

 

Opportunities to volunteer abound in Boquete and it's a great way to meet people.  I've lived here a year and have now become involved in the Bid4Boquete which funds 11 charities.  I was asked right from the start to help at the spay and neuter clinics or the handicapped foundation.  More importantly I've met people who spend their time sewing blankets for indigenous newborns, knitting caps for them or delivering food to a family of 9 where the father is...

Opportunities to volunteer abound in Boquete and it's a great way to meet people.  I've lived here a year and have now become involved in the Bid4Boquete which funds 11 charities.  I was asked right from the start to help at the spay and neuter clinics or the handicapped foundation.  More importantly I've met people who spend their time sewing blankets for indigenous newborns, knitting caps for them or delivering food to a family of 9 where the father is quadriplegic.  I'm impressed and humbled by this community

My husband and have been volunteers for 43 years in Panamá City in different charity works and major events, especially with elderly, children and  re-socialization programs for women in jail; most of the time, through the Lions Club.

 

Throughout Panama there are several and excellent organizations of all kinds.  Major companies in Panamá established the "corporate social responsibility" program and sponsor...

My husband and have been volunteers for 43 years in Panamá City in different charity works and major events, especially with elderly, children and  re-socialization programs for women in jail; most of the time, through the Lions Club.

 

Throughout Panama there are several and excellent organizations of all kinds.  Major companies in Panamá established the "corporate social responsibility" program and sponsor lots of programs; but Panamanians are used to helping in any way they can, and foreigners have become a great help when moving to Panamá.  You can contribute in a personal way, or belong to an organization.  In any way, you are always welcome and there are many ways to help, not only with money, but with your time.

 

For example, a good way could be through foreign language  classes to local underprivileged children, or teaching them worldwide geography and present them the opportunities before them if they complete their studies.  Or, showing local families how to improve their lives, maybe by establishing a Thanksgiving Day in your community, or agriculture and gardening work.  There are also many churches of different denominations that are always looking for friendly extra hands.  Particularly, I'm not of the opinion to give money to every person who asks or needs it... but make the  best out of it, by teaching and helping them how to make their lives auto-sustaining and be productive within their limitations.

 

The best opportunities to do volunteer and charity work in Panama are anywhere and at any time. Whether it is helping a group of youths form their own baseball team or visiting the elderly in your local community, sometimes the best acts are the simplest.

For example, when I lived in Bocas del Toro, I worked with an organization known as BESO. Every day of every week it seemed like we were going out and doing our best to make our little island town just a bit brighter.

More...

The best opportunities to do volunteer and charity work in Panama are anywhere and at any time. Whether it is helping a group of youths form their own baseball team or visiting the elderly in your local community, sometimes the best acts are the simplest.

For example, when I lived in Bocas del Toro, I worked with an organization known as BESO. Every day of every week it seemed like we were going out and doing our best to make our little island town just a bit brighter.

More recently I have begun working with the "Ninas Guias" of Guayabal, empowering little girls to reach out and grab their dreams. Just last week we brought together female professionals from numerous vocations and disciplines to talk about  what they do and how to get started.

...and that is only the short list! Just ask around, and I am certain you will find a way to help out.

There are endless varieties and opportunities to do volunteer or charity work in Panama. We have lots of non-profit groups here doing various work.
 
As just one example, we have one program that expats set up here to provide spaying for dogs and cats. Basically we had a large population of wandering animals and it was getting out of hand, but it’s expensive to do anything about it and nobody wanted to kill the animals. A number of expats and Panamanians work together to...

There are endless varieties and opportunities to do volunteer or charity work in Panama. We have lots of non-profit groups here doing various work.
 
As just one example, we have one program that expats set up here to provide spaying for dogs and cats. Basically we had a large population of wandering animals and it was getting out of hand, but it’s expensive to do anything about it and nobody wanted to kill the animals. A number of expats and Panamanians work together to provide the service.
 
That’s an odd example but it’s one of many hundreds of examples.  As just another example, we have expats who end up getting involved with the local school. When you get to know your community, you know the areas where they need help. If you want to be a volunteer, then you can certainly be one. Hundreds and hundreds of expats are involved in local volunteer work all over Panama. It’s common. 

• We provide a poor family with a home that didn’t have one.

• We help to rescue the tradition of building the quincha homes, which is slowly falling in dis-use. 

• Many of the teams that build the homes are part of companies that use the experience to build teamwork and as part of other workshops including using ropes.

• And last but not least, I must say that building a quincha home is tremendously fun… 

There are many different types of charities here in Panama.
 
You can volunteer through a church or a synagogue that represents a segment of the population in Panama or you can volunteer in an organization that is countrywide in scope.  As an example of a countrywide charity, one person 50 years ago created the blood bank, which still exists.  Another example is the charity that my wife and I are involved in that brings in doctors from other countries (primarily Israel)...

There are many different types of charities here in Panama.
 
You can volunteer through a church or a synagogue that represents a segment of the population in Panama or you can volunteer in an organization that is countrywide in scope.  As an example of a countrywide charity, one person 50 years ago created the blood bank, which still exists.  Another example is the charity that my wife and I are involved in that brings in doctors from other countries (primarily Israel) to train our doctors in Panama in the set up and treatment in trauma centers. Recently, five doctors came and stayed here in Panama for 10 days to teach our doctors here in Panama how to attend to patients and how to set up the trauma centers.  We offered that seminar to 60 doctors and 860 showed up, so we had to expand.  To organize this, there is a group of around 50 women working with my wife. 
 
In the B’nai B’rith, we used to distribute powdered milk for a few thousand kids every morning. The kids received milk and biscuits, so they would have the nutrition they needed. 
 
We also have Rotary in Panama.  Every major charity in the world is here.  

 

(Providing a center that gives support in science, English and vocational training for poor youths, the B’nai B’rith, Panama, pictured.)

Here in Panama, there are a lot of foundations for volunteer and charity work. There are people who work with kids, hospitals, and animal rescue. There are groups of very nice people working with animal rights and things similar to that. In general foundations that focus on education are the most important ones, along with rescuing children from the streets.
 
Some of the foundations in Panama are Nutrehogar and Ayudas.  These organizations get volunteers from different...

Here in Panama, there are a lot of foundations for volunteer and charity work. There are people who work with kids, hospitals, and animal rescue. There are groups of very nice people working with animal rights and things similar to that. In general foundations that focus on education are the most important ones, along with rescuing children from the streets.
 
Some of the foundations in Panama are Nutrehogar and Ayudas.  These organizations get volunteers from different places in Panama and provide back up to small foundations. We also have Doctor Yaso (derived from ‘payaso’ which means clown), a volunteer who makes custom clowns and goes to hospitals. 
 
There are also foundations specifically for expats and people coming from all over the world. We find that expats and other foreigners are very interested in being part of these organizations. Here in Boquete, these organizations are very organized and often do charity work for the town. We need to consider the positive side of having people coming and living in Panama.  

 

(Alta Boquete Condominios's Christmas party for the native children around Boquete, Panama, pictured.)