Help out on our organic chocolate farm, jungle lodge and with teaching English to local indigenous kids in Panama

Panama

Favourited 998 times

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Feedback
19
Last activity
23/10/2020
Nº of Facebook friends
980
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Availability

2020

Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Description
We're looking for an adventurous, sociable, and conscientious person enthusiastic to experience work at a well-established jungle lodge and chocolate farm in Bahia Honda on Isla Bastimentos in Bocas Del Toro.

We have been running our small (4 cabin) lodge, 5 hectare chocolate farm and organic gardens for the past 14 years. We also work on a variety of programs in collaboration with the indigenous Ngabe community in which we live, including after school classes and tutoring for local children.

This is what we need help with:

- Working with a small group of children from the local community to run 2 weekly English language classes. Right now, this is our main goal for volunteers and we are looking for someone with experience teaching English as a foreign language.

- Help with the day-to-day running of the lodge and guest relations.

Our lodge has garnered a great reputation over the last decade, our standards are high and exemplary customer service is a must.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Language practice
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our place is full of unique learning opportunities:

- Chat with local children and staff to learn about Spanish and Ngabe languages and culture

-Spend some time in the kitchen to learn about our highly-praised farm-to-table cuisine!

-Help in the gardens and gain knowledge about permaculture and cacao production

-Visit nearby beaches or enjoy the trails on our property

-Enjoy sharing a home with the local wildlife: sloths, capuchins, night monkeys, boas, and more!
Help
*️️️️️️️️For over 12 years we have worked with the local Ngabe community on a variety of education and development initiatives. The latest project focuses on English language acquisition through technology for the community's children and tablets have been donated to do this. A small number of adults from the community have also expressed an interest in the classes so a certain amount of your time may be dedicated to working with older students. Currently, classes are being run at the lodge 2 days per week with a duration of about 2 hrs per class.

*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️You'll also be asked to lend a hand hosting and welcoming guests at the lodge. Meals are taken with guests. Cooking and cleaning are covered by our wonderful team of full time staff.

Yoga instructors will have the opportunity to offer classes and private sessions to our guests.

There's always a new project in development at the lodge and farm and we may well be able to put your specific skills and interests to use.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
You'll have a beautiful jungle home in a one bedroom cabin with bathroom and basic kitchen (with a cooler for refrigeration). Please note that we are totally off the grid. Living here is not for the nature phobic - there are all kinds of bugs and critters, sometimes irritating but not deadly (no vipers!)

Meals will be shared with guests when the lodge is in operation. Expect to be well-fed here: fresh, homemade breakfast, lunch, and a 3-course dinner! We regularly close the lodge to guests in order to have time to work on projects on the farm. During these periods you'll be responsible for your own meals (usually just 2 days a week at the max).
What else ...
Bastimentos is a stunning island in the Bocas Del Toro archipelago. Our farm can only be accessed by boat and you'll be able to enjoy living in a relatively remote and peaceful environment. You'll be immersed in nature, forge friendships with our local friends and neighbours and spend time with the diverse and interesting guests that stay with us at the lodge.

You'll have a great many opportunities to explore the awesome forest and, when possible, will be able to hop on trips to the nearby beautiful beaches. There's great kayaking in our bay. You'll also be able to catch a ride into Bocas town (Isla Colon) when our boat makes the journey.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours per day, 5 days a week

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Feedback left by and about host (19)

27/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Julia)

Julia stayed with us for over a month and was a huge benefit to the lodge and all that we do here, including interacting with guests as well as developing our English programme with the kids in the local bay. She always got stuck in to any projects and was proactive, coming up with new tours or adventures we could offer our guests. The guests… read more

(Excellent )

07/03/2019

Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host

A beautiful place! An ecolodge, immersed in the jungle, surrounded by mangroves and dotted by delicious fruit trees! One of the best places in Bocas del Toro to experience true nature! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the local fruit and vegetables while giving chocolate tours and being able to share my own knowledge through nature tours.… read more

(Excellent )

05/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Susan ) for host

I've done a lot of workaways before and hands down this is my favorite one I've ever done! Zabrina and Arial are amazing hosts: kind, open-minded, and very passionate about the project. My work consisted of helping with meal service for guests and teaching 1-2 English classes to the local Indigenous children each week. In exchange for my work (~5… read more

(Excellent )

09/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Colin) for host

Wow, volunteering here was an absolute blast. A truly ideal manifestation of workaway as a medium for connection and cultural exchange. I cannot thank Margaret, Henry, and Lucho enough for making my stay so special. From the moment I stepped off the dock, they always made me feel like an important part of the operation. My time and labor always… read more

(Excellent )

26/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Colin)

What a privilege it has been to get to know Colin and to have him as part of our crew for a month. The dedication, enthusiasm and commitment he brought to each and every task was incredible. Our 9 year old son could not have had a better tutor. Colin’s intelligence, creativity and endless patience with him were boundless and this was the case too… read more

(Excellent )

26/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Pepijn & Hananja)

Hananja and Pepijn were a total joy. The enthusiasm, compassion and dedication to all they put their hands to was boundless. In addition to tutoring our son, at which they did an exemplary job, they went way above and beyond their roles as language teachers for the community students. Concerned that a group of families could not easily access the… read more

(Excellent )

09/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Pepijn & Hananja) for host

Two words: (workaway) paradise!

We had a wonderful month here with Henry, Margaret, Lucho, their amazing staff and the nicest animals (we miss the dogs, cat and chickens a lot). They are an amazing family who have done so much for the local community and if everybody was like them, a lot of worldproblems would be solved!

We worked mostly as… read more

(Excellent )

23/02/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (PAMELA)

Pam is a phenomenal person. Without a moment's hesitation we would recommend welcoming her into your home and including her in projects of any type. Within hours of her arrival she had made herself invaluable in helping with a variety of task around our lodge and farm. She is charming, enthusiastic, a joy to spend time with and full of amazing… read more

(Excellent )

14/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (PAMELA) for host

I can't say enough good things about my wonderful month on Bastimentos Island with Henry, Margaret, Lucho and their whole team. I felt like I arrived a stranger and left a friend.
The setting is gorgeous, dense mangrove welcomes you to this lodge set amongst 50 odd acres of jungle and chocolate farm. I spent most of my time there in guest… read more

(Excellent )

11/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Carol) for host

Me and my boyfriend Kenny had our first workaway experience and we were welcomed tremendously by Henry, Maggie and their charming son Lucho. At this place we lived in the jungle for over a month and we felt completely safe despite all of the bugs that one can imagine living in the jungle. We were helping with bits and bobs around the lodge and… read more

(Excellent )

31/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Carol)

Carol and Kenny were thoroughly delightful. They were endlessly ready to help at whatever we needed them to do. Their tasked varied from conducting chocolate tours, to teaching and playing with our son, to starting a new English-language program with the children in the nearby indigenous community, and of course plenty of help with the guests.… read more

(Excellent )

14/10/2016

Left by Workawayer (Mason) for host

I can't say enough good things about Henry, Margaret, Lucho, and everyone. It was an incredible experience in every way. They instantly made me feel as if I was a part of the family, including me in meals, games, and weekly viewing of British baking.

I spent the majority of my time working with Lucho, a creative, high energy, and very fun 8 year… read more

(Excellent )

03/10/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Mason)

We’ve only just said goodbye to Mason and want him to come back right away. He is a stellar guy. With his warmth and enthusiasm, he immediately became part of the family. He’s a total self starter, is easy going, funny smart and was always happy to help with whatever task we asked of him - these ranged, for example, from building a tortoise home… read more

(Excellent )

21/03/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Lucila)

We were very sad to have to say goodbye to Lucila. She was a wonderful volunteer and a thoroughly lovely person. She is independent, confident, intuitive and intelligent. She contributed many great skills not least being instrumental in helping us start cooking workshops at the farm. She picked up tasks super quickly and was incredibly helpful… read more

(Excellent )

17/03/2016

Left by Workawayer (Lucila) for host

I stayed five weeks here and I can say that it is a wonderful place. Everything there is amazing and everybody tried to make me feel really comfortable. I had my own place and plenty of time to do what I wanted. The meals were incredibly delicious and the time with the guests very nice. Henry, Margaret and Lucho are a really nice family and they… read more

(Excellent )

17/01/2016

Left by Workawayer (Katrina & Scott) for host

Wow. After finally settling in to our snowy homeland (a month has already gone by!) we can only look back on this experience with the utmost of full hearts. Henry and Margaret are exceptional hosts, although 'hosts' seems an unjust label as they truly became family. Each day was as diverse as the jungle around us; from helping with guiding across… read more

(Excellent )

08/12/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Katrina & Scott)

Kat and Scott are exceptional people. Their warmth, enthusiasm and humor meant that they immediately became part of our family and were loved by people, pets and jungle critters alike. Both Kat and Scott were more than happy to turn their hands to any task and were accomplished at all they did - be it leading chocolate tours, giving wonderful yoga… read more

(Excellent )

03/12/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Erin & Samuel)

Erin and Sam were a fantastic couple with lots of skills and enthusiasm. Erin gave some of our best chocolate tours--really informative and engaged with the guests. She was brilliant with our son--taught him guitar and a lot of wilderness activities (he still asks about her). Sam made the very best vegan and gluten-free muffins and cookies we've… read more

(Excellent )

10/03/2015

Left by Workawayer (Erin & Samuel) for host

Volunteering for a month was an amazing experience. The food alone was worthy payment and the setting is remote and beautiful. The five hours a day is arbitrary, but really the work apart from small projects consists of interacting with the lodge guests and helping with tours. We were able to participate on beach hikes, snorkeling excursions,… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 344793576224

Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Panama Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Central America Family Panama Other Panama

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