Project News

(The pamphlet introducing the group.)

At one of the entrances to Chagres National Park is the Nuevo Caimitillo community where there is a group that is called simply "the group of 12 women". These are farmer women who felt bad that the visitors who came to see the native villages or to experience nature in the Park would pass by their community without stopping. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and began a tourism business. Their pamphlet below, in English, explains the purpose and circumstances surrounding the establishment of their business.

The Project decided to cooperate with the administrative office of Chagres National Park and support the activities of this group. We helped the group in setting up a small demonstration farm to show tourists how tropical crops are grown, and are following up with technical assistance.

(Mr. Isao SAKAI, Chief Advisor / Rural Development)

The group's stand for selling souvenirs. (At the Alhajuela Station of Chagres National Park. May 14, 2010)

They also sell handicrafts. (At the Alhajuela Station of Chagres National Park. May 14, 2010)

Group members watch as work begins on preparing the farmland. The person operating the cultivator is the extension worker, Mr. Carrion. (At the Alhajuela Station of Chagres National Park. May 14, 2010)

It is small, but the demonstration farm is well organized to show the tourists a variety of tropical crops. (The photo shows only a portion of the farmland.) (At the Alhajuela Station of Chagres National Park. November 26, 2010)