October 2017 in Panama City, Panama
It must have been some 20 years ago that I stumbled upon a documentary I cannot forget. Heartbreaking yet eye-opening stories of traumatized Somalian orphans and their struggle for survival after having lost the parents to AIDS epidemics.
What surprised me the most was not only the fact that there was a working program to help those kids but that it was run by a team of highly educated psychologists and social workers. At that time it didn’t even occur to me that social workers and programs/centers of that sort was a possibility in third world African countries. Aha-moment.
20 years fast forward, a different part of the world, different issues, different kids. Different, yet not so different. Many kids of Panama City are in desperate need of help. A greatly successful program is being developed. Dedicated, highly educated volunteers are eager to help. And … I, I still seem to be as ignorant now as I was then. For I, once again, didn’t expect this kind of help to be provided in that kind of place. Aha-moment all over again.
Meet Dashna, psychologist educated in Spain and a lovely woman in her prime. She could be making big money in a private practice somewhere in an upscale neighborhood but instead chose to dedicate many hours a day to work as dance coordinator.
– Meet Carlos – homework coordinator.
– Meet Jonathan, Jose, Analida, Louis, Marlyn, Ilada – all professional dancers. (and there are still more)
– Meet Mayo, a Dutch dance student from Rotterdam who took two months off to volunteer her time and skillset.
– Meet Dekel Group, sponsors of the venue.
– Meet ‘no-name’ volunteers sponsoring talented children.
– Meet all other less known individuals helping in the background with the ENLACES program.
Meet ENLACES – this is what it is all about
Enlaces is a preventive program for unprivileged children living in at-risk communities, the neighborhoods of Panama City that are among the poorest of the poor, most violent and most dangerous – a no-go zone.
Enlaces is designed to empower children, give them a vision and purpose, help them to communicate, teach them to express their feelings & emotions. Through dance.
The long-term plan is to teach the children how to respect themselves and their bodies with a help of training in contemporary dance. The immediate plan is to also provide a safe haven and after-school activities to children who are for the most part unsupervised and understimulated with nothing to do.
The center is open four hours a day. After regular school, many kids come here on daily basis to participate in dance classes, do homework, get help with homework, get access to computers and Internet, have lunch. get inspired or get some guidance.
As long as they are in the center they are safe and out of trouble. And they love coming here. The activities are 100% voluntary. They come not because they have to but because they want to. Most of them have their goals for the future already set out. Starting with leaving the slum.
The daily routine provides children with stability, the psychological support provides them with a sense of belonging and makes them supportive of newcomers. The older ones automatically become very protective ‘group leaders’ and stabilizing influence for the younger kids.
Some of the kids have developed such a passion for dancing and are so talented and seriously good that they have own sponsors who not only pay scholarship for the private schools but also for travels to dance competitions all over the world.
I visited the center few times and was absolutely amazed how well it is run, how kind and well behaved the children are and what great raw models the older children are for the younger ones. What a success story.
If the mountain will not come to Muhammad then … Yes, as always it is the most unprivileged who need help the most and it is also the most unprivileged who more often than not cannot or will not get to help center. So the center (Enlaces center) takes an Uber twice a week and travels to Fatima school in El Chorillo, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Panama City. It goes without saying that the hostile environment in Fatima school differs drastically from the friendly and giving environment of the center .. but it is a start. A seed is planted.
Let it grow.The only difference between the program in first world countries as opposed to third world countries is that the latter is so much more urgent. If you like to volunteer or sponsor the project your donation will be greatly appreciated. Please visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/enlaces/
Enlaces Center
Very interesting Eva.
Take Care!!
Thank you Maj-Lis. All credits to Elaces. They really do a fantastic job. Enjoy Perth