The Commitment

I have just committed to my two years of Peace Corps service in Panama, and I couldn't be more excited! I will be leaving exactly one month from today for my training and although it is coming fast, I can't wait. Now I just have to make sure that I am ready to go on April 14th 2008. I will be joining the Sustainable Agriculture Systems (SAS) program in Panama. I will work in rural Panama, anywhere from 2 to 16 hours away from Panama City. About 70% of Panama SAS volunteers work in rural communities where at least 70% of the population is under the national poverty line and the other 30% of volunteers work with a few of the nation's indigenous groups. I could be doing anything from helping local coffee and cacao farmers make their practices more sustainable in order to reduce harm to their workers and land and help them get into the fair trade and shade grown coffee market or chocolate market, to working with local womens groups raising chickens and home gardens, or helping with the native seed collection project. No matter what, I will be working by the sides of small farmers in rural Panama, wielding a machete every morning. While I am there I will most probably help to install water and sanitation systems in small communities. I will find out more throughout my training. For now I am just excited and passionate about what is to come! Please feel free to email me or even to come visit me! Panama has some beautiful beaches and it isn't that far away!