Panama
Microenterprise Consulting
Panama Business Brigades give volunteers the opportunity to take part in the economic transformation of under-resourced, rural communities. A high percentage of the rural population in Panama lives in poverty and is financially excluded.
On brigade, volunteers will work directly with clients to provide practical, effective consultations that help community members grow their businesses. To further ensure sustainability and lasting impact, volunteers will deliver financial literacy workshops to provide community members with lasting knowledge. Every brigade will consult the caja rural, or community bank, which lends capital to community members and allows members to open savings accounts. A portion of volunteer donations will go directly to the community bank to increase lending capacity.
Business Brigade –
7 Day Sample Schedule
On the first day of brigade, volunteers will go to the community to meet their clients for the first time, getting to know them personally and engaging in a community-wide cultural exchange. On the following days, volunteers will administer financial literacy workshops in the morning and meet with their clients in the afternoon to gather additional information about their business using our consulting methodologies. Every evening volunteers are provided guidance from our local business professionals and/or our Deloitte Consulting mentors with the opportunity to reflect as a group to discuss what was learned and develop their business recommendations. On the final day, as consultants, the volunteers will present their deliverables to clients and receive their feedback.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 8:00am | Safety and Security debrief/ Business Programme Introduction/ Goals for the Week | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Departure from Compound | ||
| 9:00am | Meeting with the Client | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 1 ( Mission and Vision) | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 2 | Community Bank Meeting (Presentation of Results of Income Statement) | Airport | |||
| 10:00am | Individual presentation of final deliverables and recommendations to each client | |||||||
| 11:00am | ||||||||
| 12:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |||
| 1:00pm | Preparation of Leadership Workshop for Community Bank Members | Meeting with the Board Members of the Community Bank | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 1 (SWOT analysis and actions plan) | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 2 | Cultural Exchange | |||
| 2:00pm | ||||||||
| 3:00pm | Breakout sessions per client/groups (Consulting strategy (pre-work) and seting goals per client for the week) | |||||||
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | Transport to Lodging Facility | ||||
| 5:00pm | Networking | Networking | Networking | Networking | ||||
| 6:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | ||
| 7:00pm | Settle In | Reflection: Expectations | Reflection: Debrief about clients | Reflection & Debrief about clients | Reflection & Debrief about clients | Reflection & Final Presentation | ||
| 8:00pm | Strategies for consultations on the Week | Packing-up & Networking | ||||||
| 9:00pm | Time off | Time off | Time off | Time off | ||||
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Settle In |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Safety and Security debrief/ Business Programme Introduction/ Goals for the Week |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Preparation of Leadership Workshop for Community Bank Members |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | Breakout sessions per client/groups (Consulting strategy (pre-work) and seting goals per client for the week) |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection: Expectations |
| 8:00pm | Strategies for consultations on the Week |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Meeting with the Client |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Meeting with the Board Members of the Community Bank |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 5:00pm | Networking |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection: Debrief about clients |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 1 ( Mission and Vision) |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 1 (SWOT analysis and actions plan) |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 5:00pm | Networking |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection & Debrief about clients |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 5 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 2 |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Consulting Session with Clients Pt. 2 |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 5:00pm | Networking |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection & Debrief about clients |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 6 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Community Bank Meeting (Presentation of Results of Income Statement) |
| 10:00am | Individual presentation of final deliverables and recommendations to each client |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Cultural Exchange |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 5:00pm | Networking |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection & Final presentation |
| 8:00pm | Packing-up & Networking |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 7 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Departure from Compound |
| 9:00am | Airport |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | |
Costs and Fundraising
In order to participate in a Business Brigade, all volunteers must meet a Donation Goal by fundraising as part of their commitment to a Brigades Chapter. This is not considered a payment for a specific trip, but support towards Global Brigades’ Holistic Model.
Donation Goals for Panama Brigades start at $2,550 USD*.
Once you meet a set Donation Goal, you’re eligible to join us on the ground to see your fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Business Brigade.
When you participate in a Business Brigade, your airfare, ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding you raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as brigade equipment, local professionals, translators, and support staff.
Global Brigades’ travel team will work with your Brigade to book airfare**.
Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Business Brigade.
*coming from outside the US? Talk to our team about donation goals.
** for UK and Canadian Chapters, airfare is not included in your Donation Goal
Donation Goals for 2023-2024 Panama 7-Day Business Brigades
| Volunteers | Donation Goal (USD) | Donation Goal (CAD) | Donation Goal (GBP) |
| 10+ | $2,550 USD | Talk to our team about CAD donation goals. | Talk to our team about GBP donation goals. |
*Chapters with less than 10 volunteers must be paired with another chapter.
Community Investment Fund
A portion of each Donation Goal supports our Community Investment Fund which enables year-round funding for small business loans and capacity building within community banks. Specifically, the fund supports (1) community bank capitalization for small business loans (2) on-going project monitoring and impact evaluation (3) community bank committee training and follow-up (4) caja Rural Board of Directors Training Summit and (5) program management, planning and follow up.
Safety
Volunteer safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all brigade operations. A full explanation of safety precautions and procedures can be found on our “Safety & Insurance” page.
A Quote from Askari International Security
“I was asked to review Global Brigades safety and security procedures for their operations in Central America. I always use a “litmus test” by assessing whether I’d be happy to send my own daughters (late teens early 20’s) on one of their events. The answer was a resounding yes. I hope I was able to help them improve their processes and procedures, but what was already in place was good, but better still was the culture of safety and security. All the staff were concerned with safety and security and keen to improve. Nothing can ever be 100% secure or safe, but with Global Brigades I can genuinely say they care and take things very seriously.”
– Bryan Hemmings, Managing Director, Askari International Security
Safety Highlights in Panama
- Global Brigades is an active member of OSAC (the Overseas Security Advisory Committee) and receives up-to-date security and safety briefings from the U.S. State Department;
- Established relationship with Senafront to provide security escorts to those groups working in the Darien region;
- Full-time local Global Brigades medical personnel on-call at all times;
- Adherence to the IVPA standards of international volunteering.
Lodging Facilities
Global Brigades does an annual safety review of all lodging facility partners each year. Lodging facilities provide pillows, bedsheets and towels. Facilities have showers, toilets and sinks with running water (no hot water) as well as filtered clean drinking water dispensers onsite. 24-hour security is provided at all facilities. Conditions are most similar to a comfortable summer camp, with dormitory-style sleeping and shared bathrooms.
Business Brigades are assigned to lodging facilities based on proximity to the partner community they will be working with.
Asamblea de Dios
Campamento Asambleas De Dios, San Carlos, Panama is a large facility that sits only about 800 meters from the main road(Via Panamericana) approximately 2 hours from Panama City. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. Global Brigades Panama has been using the San Carlos facility since March 2015. Emergency medical care is available at the Health Center in the town of San Carlos, approximately 2 minutes from this facility.
El Palmar
The El Palmar hostel sits along the Pan-American highway, approximately 30 minutes after passing Lago Bayano and approximately 10 minutes before reaching the town of Torti. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of a landscape full of green mountains and farms’ pastures. Global Brigades Panama has used El Palmar for several years, and it has housed hundreds of brigaders. Emergency medical care is easily accessible in Torti.
Hotel Avicar
Hotel Avicar sits along the Pan-American highway, approximately 40 minutes after passing Lago Bayano and is in the center of the town of Torti. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of a landscape full of green mountains and farms’ pastures. Also, brigaders staying at Hotel Avicar get see how life plays out in a rural town in East Panama. Emergency medical care is available
in Torti.
Hotel Tonosi
It is located on the Pan-American Highway in the Meteti sector, it has cozy rooms, of four and five people, with color television and air conditioning. It has a covered terrace and countryside landscapes. He is known for his good food and great hospitality.
Pro Niños
Pro Ninos was one of the first lodges used by GB in its trajectory in the Darien area. It is a beautiful camp in which you can enjoy its variable flora and fauna. It has wooded areas and open spaces to recreate in contact with nature.
Iguana Eco Resort
It is a wide place that offers the experience to the volunteers of being in contact with nature. It offers various activities such as hiking. It has cozy rooms with air conditioning, 2 swimming pools and a meeting area. It is located near the city of Penonomé. It is the ideal place to rest after a long day of work in the brigade
Oasis de Bendición
As the name implies, it is the ideal place to relax after a hard day. It has beautiful landscapes, spacious bedrooms with cabins to encourage coexistence among volunteers. It has a terrace for meetings, multiple areas for indoor recreational activities. It is located a few meters from the main road which provides good access to it.
Hostal Finca Ely
Hostal Finca Ely is located in Tambo, Coclé about 2 a half an hour drive from Penonomé Centre, in West Panama. The facilities of the hostel gives the brigaders a good place to spend time, they offer great spaces to reflect or to organize a good game in our sports area and on the other hand you will enjoy the pool and their Comfortable rooms.
Hacienda Doña Victoria
Hostal Hacienda Doña Victoria is located in the county of Campana, Capira District, just 40 minutes from Panama City (West Panama). The facilities of the hostel gives the brigaders a good place to spend time, they offer great spaces to reflect or to organize a good game in our sports area and on the other hand you will enjoy the pool, hammocks, BBQ and their Comfortable private rooms with air conditioning.
Hotel NOVOTEL
Novotel sits in the center of Panama City, about 40 minutes from Panama’s international airport. Global Brigades Panama began using this hotel in 2018 to accommodate any brigades that needed to stay in Panama City. Brigades do not typically stay in Panama City; Global Brigades Panama only uses this facility during emergencies and cases involving extenuating circumstances. Emergency medical care is available in several hospitals in the city.
