LEAF INTERNATIONAL.PANAMA
REALIZING DREAMS with LEAF INTERNATIONAL (LI)
LEAF International has helped a number of Panamanians realize their dreams. In 2006, LEAF made the initial donation of instruments to Casa Esperanza in Boquete, an after school program for indigenous children, mostly from the Ngobe tribe. Two of the music mentors, Humberto and Marcelino, that LEAF supports have diligently gone to both Casa Esperanza, an after school program, and Casa Hogar Trisker, a home for abused and orphaned kids, to work with small groups of children once a week. See music coming to life for many indigenous kids in the rural, mountainous area of Panama near the Costa Rican border in a town called Boquete. LI has developed a music program in both of these locations that will enhance skills, self-esteem, aid in healing, give the children focus and rhythm skills, and empower a generation of youth to carry on the musical traditions and folklore of their unique culture. The children of Hogar Trisker are also able to participate in a summer music camp as well!
MEET OUR STAR TEACHING ARTISTS
HUMBERTO, teaches keyboard and is a construction worker. When he was asked if he
would like to teach he replied, “Si,” he said, “Enseñando musica a jóvenes es mi
sueño.” He asked his boss at the construction site for a special permission to leave
work a bit early on Saturdays. Two years later he’s still teach LI programs!
MARCELINO SANCHEZ is a Ngobe Indian who teaches guitar in the Panamanian Folk
Rhythms traditions. He works in the Café Ruiz co ee processing factory just up in the
hills, and raises his grandchildren. Years ago he su ered a leg injury, and his brother
brought him a guitar as a diversion during his extended hospital recovery period. LI
has allowed him the opportunity to revive his love of music.
PEPE CALAVERA, the music camp director, is an accomplished writer, musician,
photographer and producer. He has provided music for a number of documentaries,
movies and TV programs focusing on social issues. Pepe’s humility, commitment and
dedication to the camp and the individual children saw the vision through.
DREAMS HAVE BEEN REALIZED!
Public concerts in the square by the kids. A summer music camp
for kids who literally would have been "locked in" all summer.
Co ee eld worker, Marselino, rekindling
his music talents and realizing his dream of teaching Ngobe kids guitar through LI programs.
TIMELINE
2007
• LI collaborated with Samuel Robles, Panamanian music educator, to develop the LI
music program to teach children the indigenous rhythms and traditions of Panama.
• Casa Esperanza could not afford music programs, but that didn’t stop them! The
motivated sta and kids were enthusiastic to welcome the LEAF International team
timeline
with the LI donated instruments: Keyboard, guitars, violins, bongos, recorders, sets of
claves, tambourines, accordion, xylophones and other percussion. LI provides salary
for music educators who teach weekly classes.
2008
• Another LI team led by Panamanian raised Steve Thompson (LEAF's Stage Director)
went to Boquete to deliver Instruments to Casa Hogar Trisker Orphanage so they
could also have a LI Music Program.
• LI volunteers traveled to Panama to meet with teaching artists and were amazed by
the progress of the program!
2009
• Thanks to LI, 20 children from Casa Hogar Trisker and a handful from Dolega
enjoyed a music and art camp Monday through Friday throughout the summer.
• Several Casa Hogar Trisker Children and their Teaching Artists come to LEAF!
BOQUETE & THE NGOBE BUGLE INDIANS
Boquete is located in the Chiriqui region in the north west coast of panama covering about 300 miles with 20,000 residents. This area is the southernmost boundary of the sacred Quetzal bird, revered by Latin American civilizations. The majority of the indigenous groups, the Ngobe Bugle people, live in the comarca reserve outside of the city, but many come to the town to pick coffee during the season. Many of the children migrate to Boquete with their families from the Comarca reservation, so that the parents can harvest the coffee. The Comarca is a hard place to live: many suffer from hunger and malnutrition. A couple of years ago more than 50 children died in Comarca of u-like symptoms due to lack of medical clinics and passable roads. The Ngobe Bugle population is one of the seven indigenous populations in panama and consist of two ethni-lengual populations - the Ngobe and the Bugle. The Ngobe people still maintain their language. They are the most populous native group in the country and live in the Comarca Reservation. Unfortunately, they have mostly lost the ability to use their traditional types of work to make money. Therefore they often live far from resources and tend to live a difficult life. The women create the chaquiras, or traditional beaded necklaces and chacaras, or traditional woven shirts which are both still worn by the people today.
“I can see that the music has really changed the kids. They smile and forget their problems. Irma and the Orphanage Staff have been doing physiology reports of the kids. The kids in the music programs show a significant improvement in attitude, behavior, concentration, and working together.”
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Professor Ovidio, LEAF International Panama Coordinator & an extraordinary Symphony Musician & Teacher
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
BECOME a SPONSOR
Sponsors are needed to help fund the
year around teaching artists and music
summer camp. Sponsors may also help
bring additional Casa Hogar Trisker
youth to LEAF this Ocotber!
DONATE INSTRUMENTS
Guitars • Congas • Accordions
Drum Kit
• Finger cymbals • Xylophones
contact: Outreach@theleaf.org
All donations are tax-deductible and will make
such a 100% signi cant di erence now!
LISTEN UP TO PANAMANIAN MUSIC
Panama has a rich tradition of multicultural music – from Bachata to Symphonic; the music re ects Panama’s unique position of the “Cross- roads of the World”. The melody in Panamanian folkloric music is most often carried by a violin or accordion. The traditional music is not widely taught to the children who will one day be the ones who must carry forward these traditions.