environmental brigades - pre-brigade orientation packet - el entradero

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We will be working in the community of El Entradero, located about 2 hours out of Panama City. We will be working on one of the three following projects: Eco-stoves Slow Sand Water Filters Eco Latrines/Composting Latrines

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Page 1: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

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Page 2: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

2Copyright © 2010 Global Brigades Association. All Rights Reserved

Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led international development organization. As a secular, 501c3 nonprofit organization, we empower university students and young professionals nation-wide to provide communities in developing countries with sustainable solutions that improve quality of life while respecting local culture and improving the environment.

About Global Brigades“Global Brigades” refers to one or more of Global Brigades Association, “Global Brigades USA,” “Global Brigades ASG,” “Global Brigades Ireland,” or “Global Brigades UK.”   Each of "Global Brigades Association" “Global Brigades USA,” “Global Brigades ASG,” “Global Brigades Ireland,” “Global Brigades UK,” “Asociacion Global Brigadas de Honduras,” FundacionBrigadasGlobales de Panama,” are separate and independent legal entities. 

Page 3: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

www.globalbrigades.org

CULTURAL BACKGROUND 4

TRAVEL 7

RULES 10

ALL PANAMA PROGRAMS 11

PROJECTS DETAILS 12

CONTACTS 19

CONTENT

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Page 4: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

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CULTURAL BACKGROUND

Official Name: Republic of PanamaCapital: Panama CityNationality: PanamanianPopulation: 3,410,676 (2010 est.)Land Area: 29,340 sq mi (75,991 sq Km) Age Distribution (%): 0-14 years 37.0%, 15-59 years 56.3%, 60+ years 6.7%Literacy Rate: 90%

Panama is a constitutional democracy with an executive branch led by a president who is elected to a 5-year term, a unicameral legislature, and judicial branch. The country is divided into 9 provinces and 4 territories called Comarcas. Panama has a rapidly developing economy but suffers from a weak, non-transparent judiciary. Outside the Panama City area, which has many first-class hotels and restaurants, tourist facilities vary in quality. The U.S. dollar is the paper currency of Panama, and is also referred to as the Panama Balboa. Panama mints its own coinage.

Panama has the second most unequal income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the population lives in poverty, primarily concentrated in rural areas. The wealthiest 20% of Panamanians control more than 50% of the country's wealth, while the poorest 40% only control 12%. Colon, Panama’s second largest city, has the highest rates of poverty and crime in the country. In Colon, unemployment is estimated to be 50% among youth between the ages of 15 to 25.

The poorest group of people is the indigenous native people, who make up only 8% of the population. This minority group lives in remote areas of the country where access to education and health care is limited. About 17% of the overall population is undernourished and almost half of all Panamanian children are poor. Overall, 7.4% of the population is living on less than $1 a day. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, Panama is ranked 84 out of 163 countries. Major Exports include: Banana, shrimp, sugar and coffee.

Regional Breakdown

There are 9 provinces and 7 indigenous communities (distributed in 4 comarcas). Comarcas are “indigenous reserves” where 7 indigenous groups in Panama reside. The 7 indigenous groups are: Kuna, Ngöbe, Buglé, Emberá, Wounaan, BriBri and Naso.  The comarca de Kuna Yala, better known as “San Blas” by foreigners, is home to the Kuna. They run the islands of San Blas with minimal interference from the national government. Known for their tenacity and ingenuity, they enjoy one of the greatest degrees of political autonomy of any indigenous group in Latin America.

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CULTURAL BACKGROUND

The“Pollera” is Panama’s National Dress.

The “Montuno” is Panama’s National Males outfit.

Panama’s National Flower“Holly Spirit Flower” (notice inside it looks like it has a dove)

Red Color stands for the blood of our leaders who fought for the independence. The red star stands for the liberal party. The blue color stands for the seas we have. The blue star stands for the conservative party.

Good Facts To Know

Panama’s Shield of Armors

Panama’s National BirdThe Harpy Eagle

The “Dirty Devils” (Diablicos Sucios)

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Page 6: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

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YEAR HIGHLIGHT

1821 Panama becomes independent of Spain, but joins the confederacy of Gran Colombia, which also comprises Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

1830 Panama becomes part of Colombia following the collapse of Gran Colombia.

1846 Panama signs treaty with US allowing it to build a railway across the isthmus.

1903 Panama splits from Colombia and becomes fully independent. US buys rights to build Panama Canal and is given control of the Canal Zone in perpetuity.

1914 Panama Canal completed.

1939 Panama ceases to be a US protectorate.

1968-81 General Omar Torrijos Herrera, the National Guard chief, overthrows the elected president and imposes a dictatorship.

1981 Omar Torrijos dies in a helicopter crash.

1983Former intelligence chief and one-time US Central Intelligence Agency informant Manuel Noriega becomes head of the National Guard, builds up the size of the force, which he renames the Panama Defense Forces, and greatly increases its power over Panama's political and economic life.

1988 US charges Noriega with drug smuggling; Noriega declares state of emergency in the wake of a failed coup.

1989Opposition wins parliamentary elections, but Noriega declares results invalid. Noriega declares "state of war" in the face of increased threats by Washington. US invades Panama, ousts Noriega and replaces him with Guillermo Endara.

1991 Parliament approves constitutional reforms, including abolition of standing army; privatization begins.

1992 US court finds Noriega guilty of drug offenses and sentences him to 40 years imprisonment, to be served in a US prison.

1999 Mireya Moscoso becomes Panama's first woman president. Panama takes full control of the Panama Canal, ending nearly a century of American jurisdiction over one of the world's most strategic waterways.

2004 Panama Canal earns record revenues of $1 billion for the financial year.

2006 Voters in a referendum back a $5.2 billion plan to upgrade the Panama Canal. The scheme aims to double the capacity of the waterway. Panama and the US agree on a free trade deal.

2007 Work to widen Panama Canal begins.

2009 A US federal appeals court says Panama's ex-leader, Manuel Noriega, can be extradited to France. Noriega was released from a Florida prison in September 2008 after serving a 17-year sentence for drug trafficking.

CULTURAL BACKGROUND

Key Events Timeline

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Page 7: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

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TRAVEL

Panama Safety

Although the security situation is stable, Brigade members should take precautions against theft, stick to well-traveled areas and be alert to pickpockets. Do not display unnecessary signs of affluence or carry large of sums of cash, and be aware of your surroundings when using ATMs in public areas. Demonstrations and protest marches over various social and political issues occasionally occur in Panama City, especially near the state university, and on main streets and highways Brigades are always accompanied by local guides and we advise members to stick together while exploring the city. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs' website, which contains current the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts.

Passports & Visas

You need an up-to-date passport (at least six months valid ) to travel to Panama –check the expiration date! Before leaving, make two copies of the inside page of your passport. Leave one copy with a trusted individual at your university (i.e. an advisor) so that it can be faxed to you in case you lose the original. Stash one copy in your wallet and have it on you at all times. If you have a US Passport you don't need a Visa. If you don’t, please visit the following website to make sure you have the correct visa: www.embassyofpanama.org/cms/immigration3.php

CARRY A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES

Vaccinations

You should always check wit personal physician for advice on vaccinations and health precautions before leaving the states. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are currently seeing for other medical reasons.

Recommended Vaccinations:• Hepatitis A (most already have)• Hepatitis B (most already have)• Tetanus (most already have)• Typhoid • Malaria

DON´T FORGET YOUR MOSQUITO REPELLENT (DEET> 30%)

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It is mandatory that all travelers purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for medical attention and medical evacuation while on their Brigade. GB Travel will handle the arrangements for this policy for all Brigaders. Travel insurance is paid in addition to airfare and is non-refundable once paid. Insurance Cost: $35 per person

Coverage:$25,000 Emergency Medical/Dental Coverage$100,000 Emergency Medical Transportation24-hour Hotline Assistance

TRAVEL

Vaccinations Continued…

If you need HEP A and HEP B, they are given in doses that are months apart, so you will need as much time as possible to complete these. Vaccinations can usually be obtained at the university health clinic, through each volunteer’s personal health care provider, or through a travel clinic. For more information about necessary vaccinations, please see the CDC's website:http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/panama.aspx

Travel Insurance

Recommended packing list

Passport (Original & 2 copies) Other important documents (e.g. Visas—if needed) Spending money ($200 should be plenty) Bug spray (>30% deet) Sleeping bag, blanket & flashlight. Light rainy jackets Lightweight pants, light sweatshirt Hat, sunglasses, sun block Shorts & t-shirts Camera/ Video camera Water bottle Shower sandals, towel, toiletries Swim suit (It’s a must!) Closed-toed shoes (sneakers) Pen and notebook Long-sleeves shirts (for indigenous meetings if applicable) Below-the-knee pants (for indigenous meetings if applicable)

Pack light, yet remember the essentials. Contact your travel advisor for the lost baggage policy.

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TRAVEL Packing Tips

• Panama is hot, humid, and wet. When on community visits, whatever you wear may get wet, muddy, and dirty– so don’t bring your favorite jeans.

• In the city you’ll want to look presentable, but there is no need for high heels, expensive jewelry, or formal clothes.

• Leave hair dryers and most major electronics (iPods are O.K.) at home.

• Try to pack light. A large backpack or duffle bag should provide plenty of room for everything thatyou need to bring.

• We may be moving back and forth daily between your accommodations and the project site, so you may want to bring a small backpack for day trips.

• Medicine: keep them in their original prescription bottles and always in your carry-on luggage. Be sure to follow security guidelines if the medicines are liquids.

• Bring some plastic zip-lock bags to keep your personal belongings (e.g. camera, wallet) dry.

• Leave some room in your bag to bring presents home!

Food & Accommodations

While in the city, lunches/dinners will be either prepared, ordered in or in a restaurant type setting. While in the rural community, traditional Panamanian food (e.i. rice, chicken, vegetables) will be served. If you have any special needs (i.e. vegetarian or allergies), please notify a Brigade staff as soon as possible. While in the city, brigaders will be staying at Hostal Doña Victoria, located in Cerro Campana, 45 minutes away from the center of the city. Tel.: +507 6618-8370. While in the community, the brigade will be staying at local accommodations, like the community’s school or another safe place to sleep and keep the personal belongings. All accommodations are pre-checked for safety, cleanliness, amenities, access to project site and emergency needs.

Upon Your Arrival

Make sure you keep your passport and other important documents in a ziplock bag and in a secured place. Your emergency contact will be notified by email of your safe arrival in Panama. Every student will receive an wallet-sized card with emergency contact numbers and accommodations’ addresses of the hostel to keep you on while in Panama. Most U.S. cellular phones do not work in Panama unless an international phone plan is pre-arranged. All transportation and lodging is provided. Global Brigades ensures that you are taken to and from lodging, projects sites and any other brigade activities conveniently and safely. There will always be at least one and generally two adult advisors on each brigade. A trained Global Brigades Coordinator will lead the week-long brigade, as well as a trained logistics coordinator. Water is potable in Panama City, and brigaders will always have access to safe drinking water during community visits.

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RULES Things To Keep At The Top Of Your Mind

Brigaders! Your are just a few months away from living this gratifying and adventurous experience! Here are a few ground rules for you to always keep in mind.

REACH OUT TO LEADERSHIPEvery brigade will be assigned a brigade coordinator and interpreter. GB staff has been previously trained to carry-out brigades according to their specific roles and responsibilities. Reach out to your Brigade Coordinator for itinerary, workshops, food/medication allergies and overall brigade issues. Reach out to your interpreter for cultural sensitivity and language issues.

HANDLE YOUR TIMETime at the community will go faster than you think! It is of utmost importance that the brigade handles time efficiently and wisely. Debrief sessions during the night can and will extend for many hours. Take advantage of this free time to prepare and to get together for your workshops. Be considerate to your team and the community members; everyone's punctuality is requested. Even when the locals do not share this best practice.

FOLLOW THE ALCOHOL POLICYIt is completely prohibited to drink alcohol while in the community. We do not want to have any issue or an uncomfortable moment. We can’t control situations when alcohol is involved and this can cause irreversible damage to the relationship our organization has with our partners, schools, brigaders and community members. Carrying liquor with you during the brigade is prohibited.

BE CAUTIOUS OF ANIMALSPanama is a tropical-rainforest country, this means we have many different species of animals anywhere you go. Regardless of if you’re in the countryside, the jungle or on an island, DO NOT walk around by yourself without letting anyone know –especially at night. Snakes like to go out at night and they are not necessarily the friendly ones.

STICK IN GROUPAlways stay with the group. It is important that we stick together so that we avoid having anyone get lost –this includes city or country side.While at the city tour, inform your coordinator if you are separating from the group to go the bathroom. If we’re all together, it’s safer.

REMEMBER: CULTURAL SENSITIVITYWorking with rural communities in Panama can be a challenge. This is not because they are unwilling to cooperate, but it more so because of their cultural tradition. Fortunately, this is not a huge obstacle. Here are a few pointers to follow in order to be culturally sensitive:INITIATIVE Take the initiative to make contact with the community, even if language is a problem at first. (Remember you will count with a interpreters)RESPECT Show respect for their culture and language. Ask yourself, "How would I feel if I were in their shoes?" NAMES Learn how to pronounce names correctly (even if it is in dialect). Their name is as important to them as yours is to you. FEELINGS Be sensitive to their feelings about their homeland. Developing nations are not as poor, backward or uneducated as it sometimes assumed.AUTHENTICITY Be yourself. Show our interest & that you care about them as people and are here to learn and help. LISTEN Take time to listen. You will be amazed by the reasons behind many of their decisions.

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Page 11: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

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PANAMA PROGRAMS

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The first step in addressing the needs of the community is to provide medical relief and develop a sustainable health initiative.  Once this is established focus can be turned to; mitigating ecological degradation through sustainable environmental solutions, fostering human rights by providing pro-bono legal service, and supporting under-sourced micro-enterprises with business consulting and strategic investment plans.  

Programs connected by needs

Global Medical Brigades provides a holistic model for sustainable health care in under-served rural communities by conducting preliminary needs assessments, treating patients to the highest ethical standards, sponsoring referrals to those with needs beyond our capability, recording data for the production of quantitative reports, and working with other GB programs to improve the overall health, and economic infrastructures.Global Environmental Brigades projects promote environmental health and education in at-risk communities.Global Environmental Brigades projects will focus on empowering and educating people to take action in order to reduce their environmental impact, preserve their natural ecosystems, and improve their personal health.

Law Brigades is an international network of students, volunteers and law professionals who collaborate with local and international partner organizations serving developing communities to improve quality of life by implementing legal empowerment, legal capacity building, human rights, property rights, environmental protection, and business law strategies.

Global Business Brigades seeks to create sustainable economic development solutions toimprove impoverished communities and their individual inhabitants. We advance this goal by empowering students to identify, improve and expand micro-enterprises in local communities.

Work with organic products

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YOUR PROGRAM

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GEB’s main objective is to support projects that help promote education and environmental health through sustainable initiatives. These projects should focus on educating and empowering people in their communities to run projects that help reduce environmental degradation and improve health.

Along with our partners we have identified at-risk communities in need of projects that help to conserve the environment as well as improve the health of the people who live there. Your brigade will benefit the well being of the community by building either eco-stoves, slow-sand water filters and eco-latrines! The environmental workshops will have the objective to educate about day to day relevant environmental issues, such as waste management, global warming, the 3Rs, etc.

In this guideline, we have compiled the most useful information about the project itself, the community, our partner. Remember that we will be having calls in which we will go over the content of this guide and answer any questions you may have.

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YOUR IMPACT IN A NUTSHELL

Your activities and projects will help to:

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• Give dignity and social standing to people in these communities • Positively impact the life of 300+ people!• Empower people to become environmental leaders in their

communities • Reduce the impact of household waste on the environment• Break disease cycles produced by air, water and soil pollution• Preserve Panama’s natural resources by preventing deforestation

• Less wood consumption, therefore reduces deforestation• Reduce health problems (respiratory and waterborne diseases)• Both eco-stoves and slow sand water filters are cheap to make• Simplicity of operation and maintenance• Effective and Reliable: No mechanical power required for the eco-

stoves or the filters• Slow sand water filters don’t need chemical treatment

Benefits of the projects:

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PARTNER ORGANIZATION

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Our Partner for this project is Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), an organization that works to help families to subsist with family crops using environmentally friendly methods, such as organic fertilizers. this is a significant change in the way these people have been farming for generations, they have worked their land with techniques that are harmful to the soil.

SHI-Panama has established itself in the Coclé region of Panama as a preeminent organization working on sustainable rural development.   In the last year, SHI-Panama participants successfully converted 59 acres to sustainable land use practices, while reforesting 22 acres with 15,986 trees!

For three years now, Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) has been giving technical support to 56 low-income families in El Entradero. In this community they currently work with about 50 families that have shown interest in better farming techniques. Most of these families depend on their own harvest, because all they have is their land and their labor. Some of the things that SHI has been able to accomplish in El Entradero during the last trimester are:

• About 36 families have planted about 20,000 m², between corn, beans and rice with sustainable farming techniques.

• Of all the communities SHI works with, El Entradero, has been the one with the highest amount of reforestation. They established a greenhouse with a total of 3,750 tree seedlings which were planted in July.

• Just from April to June they produced almost 14,000 pounds of organic fertilizer to improve soil fertility and productivity of crops in an environmentally friendly way. Most families have accepted the organic system, though there are some families who still do not. stop

• They prepared about 27 gallon of insecticide made out of natural repellents such as chili pepper.

Sustainable Harvest Int. (SHI) / Panama

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Province: CocléTravel Time From Panama City: 2.5 hours

Coclé, where El Entradero is located, is a province with many natural and tourist attractions with extraordinary cultural and folkloric richness. El Entradero is a rural community, located in the province of Coclé, northwest of the central part of the Republic of Panama. It is located a distance of 32 km from the city of Anton in an area close to the Cordillera Central, 600 m above sea level, where it rains 9 months.

WHERE IN PANAMA?

Community: El Entradero

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El Entradero

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WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? Deforestation

Open fires are used for cooking by many families in Panama and many other developing countries. Most of these families only have access to wood as their fuel source and cannot afford to buy electric or gas stoves - so there is no alternative. In this type of open “stoves” fire is inefficient, which means more fuel is needed, which means more three cutting, which eventually leads to deforestation.

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An open stove

Indoor Pollution

In high-mortality developing countries, indoor smoke is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of the overall disease burden, making it the most lethal killer after malnutrition, unsafe sex and lack of safe water and sanitation. To find out more go to: Indoor air pollution and health and Indoor pollution: Silent and Deadly

Water, Soil Pollution and Sanitation

Meeting the United Nation Millennium De MDG1 2015 target on Drinking Water

In El Entradero people drink water from the nearby creek, this creek is also used for washing their clothes and even dumping trash, human, animal waste, and chemicals used for agriculture. These trends result into the growing competition for water and the decrease of forest cover and biodiversity.

Pit latrines are perfect breeding grounds for disease-carrying flies and parasites causing the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera and hepatitis. Even though these latrines can last from 8 to 10 years, they are not the best sustainable solution in the long term if we take into consideration their health and environmental repercussions.

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THE SOLUTION

Eco-Stoves

What is a Justa Stove? The Justa stove, named in honor of co-developer Doña Justa Nunez, is essentially an insulated masonry box. The key to the higher combustion rates and efficiency achieved by this stove is the "Rocket elbow”. The elbow, is a L-shaped combustion chamber that allows wood to burn up to 70% more efficiently. To find out more about the technology behind the stove click here: Justa Stove

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Slow Sand Water Filters

It is quite difficult to reverse the effects of water pollution in rivers and creeks. In the mean time, one of the most sustainable solutions that SHI has come up is to support projects that bring clean water to people. No known negative impacts of using this technology on the environment. In fact, because it is a low-energy consuming process, slow sand filtration can actually help protect the environment, as compared to other water disinfection techniques.

Eco-Latrines / Composting Latrines

These toilets are all urine-diverting toilets, meaning that the solid and liquid portions of each person's "deposit" are kept separate by means of a funnel-shaped insert in the toilet seat. The urine is piped to plastic container and the solids fall into the chamber below. Some of the benefits of the eco-latrines are that they offer freedom from smells and unsightly conditions, prevent the pollution of surface and groundwater, increasing soil fertility and compost waste in order that it can be used as a fertilizer for the crops.

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THE SOLUTION

Education

Your group will be presenting 2-3 workshops to 20-30 of the community members in a school or central building in the community. As a group, you will all have the opportunity to present each workshop and educate the community about important topics related to your project. Here are possible topics you could cover:

• Indoor pollution• Water pollution• Global Warming • The impacts of mining • Waste Management • Impacts of burning, what are other options?• Use, benefits, and maintenance of stove and slow sand water filters• Importance of Reforestation (Depending on the season, you will also be

able to do reforestation work)• Impacts of slash and burn (what are other options?) • Use, benefits, and maintenance of the latrine • How waste should be treated. What can you do with it?

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Best practices for presenting the workshops:

Be interactive Hear the community As questions Get the project members involved! Involve your whole group Use visuals Think about what can you leave behind that will

make the educational workshop really stick?

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#

Page 19: Environmental Brigades - Pre-Brigade Orientation Packet - El Entradero

www.globalbrigades.org

Tania Brathwaite, Environmental Brigades Panama Lead [email protected]

Michelle Menclewicz, GB Director of Student [email protected] 949.290.0986

Danielle Starry, GB Travel [email protected] 330.605.3576

Catherine Berman, GB Panama Co-founder/CEO [email protected]  310.806.0204

GB CONTACTS

Panama Team

Home Team (U.S)

19