Buenos Vecinos de Boquete Newsletter January 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Family of the Month – Rigoberto’s Family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For many years Rigoberto and his family lived up in the Comarca (indigenous reservation) but it was difficult to find enough work to feed his large family. So he packed up their few belongings and brought them all down the mountain to live with his sister and her family on the land whose owner allowed them to stay there in exchange for maintaining it. Rigoberto has a large family that includes his wife Liliana, his three daughters, Itzl 8, Darlin 6. Kelysneth 5, his two sons Royber 3, Roderick 1 and his mother-in-law. They constructed another zinc and bamboo house on the property and bought chickens and seed corn to help feed both families. There is no electricity, but they have been able to tap into a water line. During the rainy season the nearby creek serves as a washing machine for both moms and a swimming hole for all the kids.
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It turned out to be a bad time to find a job in this area. The first hit was, of course, Covid. What resulted were the consequences of shut downs, new energy policies , and then the inability to buy or afford vegetable seeds and fertilizer. Many agricultural and food-processing plants in the area again laid off workers and now the job market was flooded with these laborers. Still Rigoberto looks for work every day and plants corn and root vegetables for his family’s cook pot. He sets up a treadle-driven sewing machine out under a tree so that Grandma can sew native dresses to sell in the village. But kids are kids, and poverty is neither new nor stressful for them. There is school in the rainy season, games to play outside in the sunshine during dry season, dogs and chickens to chase, and always one another for companionship. Plus, every morning and every evening they gather around the cook-stove to each get their bowl of rice and beans. Thankfully, their situation and their daily diets have improved. It only took a couple of weeks before nearby Buenos Vecinos volunteers discovered them and saw how much assistance both families needed. They were soon accepted into the program and now every month they receive canned fish and meat, powdered milk, pasta, oil, cream cereals, flour, salt, (more) rice and beans and even a chocolate bar to share. Each month there is also a new vegetable plant to add to their garden, thanks to the BVB Food Start program. Life is looking a little brighter for these families and there are plenty of smiles and happy waves “hello” whenever they see their BVB volunteers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Global Food Providers (GFP) Feeds the Poor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In preparation for what will be challenging times in the food supply, GFP is teaching people in Panama and throughout the world how to acquire and preserve food. Buenos Vecinos is learning how to translate this knowledge to better nourish our clients. GFP has provided Super Foods, nutrient-dense dehydrated greens, to a few of our families in an initial test program this last year. Three times a week our moms have added a tablespoon of this powderized food to their families’ rice pot or soup kettle. The results have been encouraging. Kids and adults have reported that they sleep better at night, are more focused at school or work, and have more energy and a more positive attitude throughout the day. BVB will soon be ready to take our program to the next level to include more of our families. Take fifteen minutes to view the video below and hear about the ways this coming food revolution will affect us all. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Buenos Vecinos de Boquete exists to help people, who are unable to meet their basic food needs. We have provided emergency food support on many occasions and have been successful in helping families through hard times. We will help them with food support until the working age adults in the family can find enough income to become self-sustaining. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you prefer to donate by cash or local check you can see Louise Orr at the Tuesday Market or contact Trish at buenosvecinos79@gmail.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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