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Description
We are a family of four based in Switzerland / Panama who was sailing the oceans and decided to start a new adventure in Panama creating a large marine reserve in one of the most beautiful and untouched corners of Bocas del Toro. We are looking for volunteers helping to build the dream with us. We will need help four building infrastructure, and later for scientific research, coral restoration , fundraising, marketing, legal and much more.
We are setting up a co-management structure with the local indigenous community which supports the project and are backed by the ministry of environment in the early stage of the project.
Get in touch if you feel that you have any skills which could be helpful to get things going!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Carpentry
Music
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Beach
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are a multicultural family from switzerland, living our dream creating a place where nature shall be preserved for future generations. You will be living in plain nature with little comfort (for western standards) at the beginning, far away from any crowds, DJ's, pub crawls and all that noisy tourist stuff. Only pure and beautiful nature, where your next neighbors are miles away.
Our house is built on the water and is currently being modernized. Only a settlement of the indigenous Ngäbe community is living in the greater area, and a few small eco resorts can be found nearby as well. We are mostly visited only by indigenous people in their dugout canoes. You will meet locals of the Ngäbe comunity and can learn their language if you want. Spanish is the main common language though.
A large reef only visited by these same locals is right in front of our house. We regularly see the resident dolphins swimming nearby, as well as eagle- and two other species of rays living in the area together with two species of sharks, one of which, a small species of hammerhead shark, will be one of the key species of our project.
You can talk to us in italian, german, spanish, english and french.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Task 1 / Infrastructure:
build a new boat house and solar system for the project boat and help renovating the main building. (Solid carpentry skills mandatory as you will lead the project with local workers, and either english, spanish, french, italian or german speaking). Help building more simple structures on the adjacent island. If you can help with plumbing or electricity this is a plus.
Task 2 / marine reserve (after task 1 is finished or underway): participate in early stages of the strategic project positioning, communication with the indigenous community (good spanish and english skills mandatory for this part, as well as being able to deal with an education and culture gap) and other stakeholders, scientific research planning and exchange. If you have experience with environmental or other non profit projects in a multicultural setting and/or a background in ecology, biology, geography or a related field this is a big plus.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Accommodation
A house built over the water: you will live with us and share our daily family life. You have your own separate room with a comfortable queen size bed. All the rest is shared. We will work-, but also cook together, so you are part of everyday life. As sourcing food is not very simple and limited in selection we have to be creative at times. At the moment the house is being gently renovated and will have some drawbacks especially in electricity and running water, until the new structure is built. Be prepared to shower with buckets and to use a composting toilet until the new solar system and distribution both of electricity and fresh / waste water is in place. The house is simple (for western standards) but functional, safe and comfortable. We are moskito free and only have no see-ums (chitra) for 2 short times a day and only when the wind is not blowing: making it less of a big deal. We almost always have a fresh sea breeze and you'd rather ask for a blanket than aircon (which we don't have anyway).
What else ...
We are living off the beaten track in a place only reachable by boat, but living the dream in paradise. We do not have electricity and internet all the time and cell phone reception is limited, depending on phone type and provider. We are working on it though! You can enjoy the beautiful nature around us and wake up with the sunset over the water. You will have to be fine with sharing spaces and life with us andf 2 (well educated) kids and a few chicken on the island. There are no bars, no parties, no fancy restaurants or anything similar anywhere around. Literally all you can do is enjoying pure nature!
Please tell us about any health issues or food limitations /allergies beforehand: the next hospital is 1hr+ away mainly by boat and the trip can be very demanding at times. Groceries availability is limited and often quite basic: so this is not the best place for too special diets.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We cannot guarantee constant internet availability but are working on that. We have Starlink, but no power at times, mainly during the night we turn it off.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
chicken
Photos
