[Plsugs] Panama internship/independent study abroad

[Tanya Quist]

Kalu Yala <http://www.kaluyala.com/community/interface/>  is a sustainable
community that will be built in the mountains about 45 minutes outside
Panama City, Panama. Internships take place in 3 venues: creating the town's
foundation in the Kalu Yala Valley creating relationships in the neighboring
town of San Miguel; and working on business logistics in Panama City. Since
Summer 2010, Kalu Yala has had interns from 38 states, 12 countries and 80
colleges. 

 

Programs include: 

* Business Development and Entrepreneurship in Panama City
* Community Outreach in the rural town of San Miguel

* Digital Development in Panama City

* Education in San Miguel

* Living Systems (Agriculture, Animal Science, and Biology) in the Kalu Yala
valley
* Outdoor Recreation in the Kalu Yala valley

 

Interns are encouraged to come up with and implement their own semester
project. Some interns choose to do solo projects while others work in groups
to make their dream a reality. Along the way, our Program Directors are
always happy to help them plan and lend a helping hand.

 

Some of the most recent intern projects include:

- Identification and database creation of native insects and plants 

- Building an animal shelter including its design and milling the wood

- Design, building and maintenance of a 1-acre permaculture plot in the Kalu
Yala Valley

- Building of basecamp's first structures based on indigenous designs 

- Teaching English in the elementary school in the rural village of San
Miguel

- Planning, building and planting gardens in the valley, San Miguel and
Bella Vista location

- Creation of an after-school science club in San Miguel

- The first written history and census of the town of San Miguel

- Study of women's health care in San Miguel and surrounding areas

- Designing, marketing and hosting art shows and networking events in Panama
City

- Trail creation and mapping with viewing deck construction

- Low ropes course feasibility study

- Creation of a pizza oven with natural materials from the Kalu Yala valley

- Travel and tourism feasibility studies of Panama and Central America

- Creation and design of the Kalu Yala blog which receives over 6,000
visitors a month

- Business of sustainable communities feasibility study

You can see some of the fun by watching this video by a Summer 2012 intern:
http://youtu.be/vGnLxAOn1cs

 

Upcoming semester dates:

Spring: January 14th- April 12th

Summer: May 20th- August 2nd (Early Admission Deadline: February 4th)

 

Kalu Yala is founded on the core tenants of culture, new urbanism
architecture, organic food, wellness, recreation, education, preservation,
and conservation of the natural environment. The Kalu Yala Valley is located
in the rainforest highlands of Central Panama in a 7,000-acre valley that
backs up to the Chagres National Park. The internship program allows
students and young professionals to come to Panama and gain cultural
exposure, work experience, and knowledge in order to create a project that
will ultimately help shape this sustainable community.  

 

I've attached the Spring 2013 and Summer 2013 Information Packets.  Students
can apply online for spring, summer and fall 2013 by filling in the
application form here <http://tinyurl.com/d6jum52>  or email
internships at kaluyala.com for more information. 

 

I should mention that our staff is happy to assist students who wish to
acquire academic credit and speaking Spanish is not required! 

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions,

 

Thanks so much,

Kate Stewart

Business Program Director

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