Giving A Hand Up, Not A Hand Out

In the tiny village of San Carlos sits a bright, yellow ray of sunshine known to the locals as “Finca La Maya.” It is there, in the large cultural arts center, that the lives of local children have been changed. Giving them hope for a better tomorrow.   When Starr and Stephen McCamant moved to Panama they had planned to downsize and live a quiet life in a beachfront casita. Instead their lives took a different turn, when they stumbled upon a 40 acre, fixer-upper farm. While it was not at all what they had envisioned their life in Panama would be, it turned out to be exactly where they were supposed to be. The area was poor and the children, in desperate need of a better education that could improve their future. Starr and Steve decided to do something about it.

The Finca La Maya Center (FLM) was born to teach local children English and computer skills. Relying on volunteer teachers and assistants, the first language and computer sessions began attracting students in the area. With Starr’s own artistic skills and the many expat artists in the area, adding Arts and Crafts to the curriculum was a no-brainer.

Since the inception, every Saturday, four separate free English classes are offered at the center. The classes draw students of all ages. Parents and grandparents bring kids as young as 4 years old and stay with them, so adults are learning too. Panamanians are beginning to realize the importance of becoming bilingual in order to pursue higher education and to ensure better employment opportunities. With 40 to 50 children in attendance on any given day, the center always needs more volunteers to give of their time and talent.

Alex Martinez is just one Finca La Maya’s success story. “I wanted to learn English to improve myself,” he said. Since his rural school didn’t teach English, he attended classes at the center. Alex applied to The University of Panama but his application was denied since his English wasn’t good enough. He continued to study English at Finca La Maya and two years later was accepted into the university. “Finca La Maya has changed my life,” said Alex. “Now I use English everyday, I am a university student, and have a well-paying bilingual office job,” he added. Every Saturday Alex returns to Finca La Maya to volunteer his services to help teach others English.

In the afternoons eager students are taught much needed computer skills along with arts and crafts. “I like to use art projects to make the students think,” said Starr. “It’s fascinating to give them some supplies and see what they come up with by making simple suggestions.” Past projects have included such mediums as modeling clay, cement, paper, paint, mosaic tiles, sewing and much more. Donations of art supplies are always appreciated along with donations of old laptops or computers that are still in working order.

In 2009 an extensive library opened at the center. With the generous help of sponsors, the center was able to provide books in both Spanish and English, along with a large selection of DVD’s for both education and entertainment use.

The Finca la Maya Center is a seed for a brighter future for Panama’s youth. Word of the center has spread and these day children arrive from further away. Operating entirely on donations and volunteers to support a growing need, the Center is in constant need of help.

Last year Finca La Maya started a new program linking a student to a sponsor, giving the donor a personal glimpse into the life of a student. For a minimum donation of just $20 a sponsored child will receive a study kit in a zippered pouch. The kit includes a notebook, pencils, pens, erasers, scissors, a ruler, colored paper, markers, glue, and colored pencils or crayons. Kids love these kits as it gives them a place to store the things that they need every week for class.

With permission from sponsors, students can writes notes back or send an email from computer class letting the sponsor follow their English and computer skills progress.

A one time $20 donation does not go a long way. A scarcity of volunteers means that Starr and Steve have to hire paid help to keep up with the demand.

Saturdays are a busy day at Finca La Maya and volunteers are always needed to provide an extra set of eyes, ears, hands, or help wherever needed. It’s not necessary to speak Spanish, or have any knowledge of teaching in order to help out at the center.

If you would like to volunteer, help with an art project, dontate an old computer or send money to improve the life of a Panamian child, Finca La Maya would like to hear from you. PayPal donations are accepted at http://www.fincalamaya.org/. For more information contact Starr at 507-240-8281