Volunteer In Panama
Discover our Life-Changing Panama Volunteer Programs, An Unforgettable Way to Reach the World!
Panama City and the canal are popular tourist destinations, but many people overlook Panama’s quiet and pristine beaches, rain forests, flocking wildlife, mystical mountains and remarkable history. The construction of the Panama Canal has shaped much of Panama’s modern history and economy, making the country a diverse destination. Laborers from China, the Caribbean islands and other countries as well as ancestors of Spanish conquerors have given Panama City an eclectic mix of ethnicity, culture and history. Panamanian culture engulfs visitors with an array of sights and sounds including colorful pollera skirts, dancing tamborito, hand-woven sombreros, Kuna artwork and exotic cuisine.
Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America and its economy is growing, but sadly this growth increases the country’s wealth gap. Many Panamanians are still living in poverty and deserve greater opportunity for their futures. As a volunteer in Panama, you will learn about Panamanian history, be immersed in its inviting culture, explore its tourism and enhance projects benefiting the underprivileged. Through Global Crossroad’s projects in Panama, you will gain an irreplaceable, educational and life changing experience.
Volunteer Programs in Panama
The Global Crossroad volunteer programs in Panama are situated in Arraijan, Cambutal Herrera and Los Santos. Volunteers can choose one of the five projects and share love, enthusiasm and support with locals who need it the most! Global Crossroad’s focus on the following five programs:
Dates and Prices
All projects (Volunteer, Language Studies & Cultural Immersion and travel options) begin on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month)Global Crossroad is committed to offering quality volunteer abroad programs and a very affordable price. We always strive to keep costs low in order to share these savings with our volunteers. The humanitarian side of the business is our passion and we are dedicated to perpetuating low-cost programs that enable as many volunteers as possible to cross borders and embrace the neediest souls of humanity.
Global Crossroad's application fee: US $199. The application fee covers our cost of advertising, program promotion, and office expenses (rent, utilities, and staff salaries in USA office). In addition to the application fee, volunteers are required to pay weekly program fee. The weekly program is required to cover the cost of international travel insurance, airport pickup, transport to project, meals and accommodation, salary of local staffs, rent of local offices, hostel/home base and utilities, and other field costs.
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Language and Cultural Immersion Program
Global Crossroad offers highly affordable Spanish language classes in Panama. These classes are only for Global Crossroad volunteers participating in our volunteer programs. In Panama, Global Crossroad partners with an effective and respectable Spanish school. They employ qualified and experienced Spanish teachers that carry out Panama’s most thorough and valuable Spanish courses. This Spanish program is structured so that volunteers can work within their project and learn Spanish at the same time. Volunteers may take Spanish classes from 9:00-11:00 am, eat lunch and volunteer in the afternoon. Alternatively, volunteers may work in their projects in the morning and take their Spanish classes after lunch from 2:00-4:00 am. Most volunteer projects are located near the Spanish school, so volunteers may easily design their personal schedules. As a Global Crossroad volunteer in Panama, you will immerse yourself in Panamanian culture and enhance your experience by learning and improving your Spanish.
Panama Volunteer Program: Accommodations/Meals/Field Support
All volunteers in Panama will stay at an onsite accommodation or with well-screened and respected host family. As a volunteer working with an orphanage, your accommodation will be dormitory style and you will be provided three meals a day onsite. For those working with the HIV/AIDS program, you will stay in a local hostel and take meals at the hospital. Meals for all volunteers will consist of typical Panamanian dishes. The main food staple is rice and Panamanians love it! A typical day’s meals may include fried green plantains and eggs for breakfast, rice and beans with a small salad for lunch, and rice with stewed chicken for dinner.
Each host family is socially respected and already has experience hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home and shared bathroom facilities with running water and a “western” style toilet. Volunteers can to do their own laundry at the house or the host family may offer to wash it for a small fee. Your host family will prepare three meals a day for you. If you will be out of the house during lunch, you can ask your host family for a to-go lunch or eat out on your own. Host families prepare meals that are traditional to Panama. We recommend that volunteers bring their toiletries and bedding such as toilet paper, toothbrush/paste, soap, bath towel, pillow, and sheets, etc.
Throughout the volunteer project, Global Crossroad staff will constantly stay in contact with volunteers through either onsite visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible) and volunteers are always welcome to contact the local country coordinator at any time. If project placement is outside the capital city, then our local staff members maintain communication by email and/or phone.
Frequently asked questions - Panama
Application Process/ Visa
- When should I apply for a volunteer/internship assignment in Panama?
- What happens once I submit my documents and application to Global Crossroad?
- How long does it take to process my application?
- What documents do I need to submit with my application?
- Visa Information
Placement Information
- Who manages the volunteer projects in Panama?
- What are the daily schedules of the projects?
- Where are the projects located?
- What is the language spoken in Panama?
- When are the Panama based assignments available?
- How long can I volunteer in Panama?
Arrival and Departure Information
- Who will arrange my flight to Panama?
- At which airport should I arrive?
- If my assignment begins on Monday, when should I arrive in Panama?
- Will someone pick me from the airport? If so, how will I know who they are and where they are?
- What should I do if my flight is delayed?
- How can I get to my accommodations from the airport, if I did not connect with Global Crossroad's local representative in the airport?
- What do I need prior to departure from my home country?
- When should I depart from Panama?
- From which airport shall I depart?
- Who will bring me to the airport for my departure?
- If I want to arrive earlier than when my assignment begins, where do I stay and who will organize the accommodations?
Living Accommodation / Meal Information
- Who will arrange my accommodations and what are they?
- Are singles rooms available?
- If I arrive with my friend, or girlfriend/boyfriend, can we stay together?
- Will there be other foreign volunteers/interns at my placement?
- What are the bathroom facilities like?
- What are the laundry arrangements?
- Can I use appliances if I bring them from my home country?
- What are the local cuisines? Who manages my meals?
- Can you accommodate special diets?
- Is the running tap water safe for drink?
- Are there hot and cold-water facilities available?
- Will bottled water be provided?
Health and Safety
- How safe is Panama?
- What are the principle health risks in Panama?
- Is the food safe if I buy it from a street vendor?
- What are the sanitary conditions in Panama?
Money
- Are ATMs easily available? If yes, which debit and credit cards are accepted?
- What is the local currency and how do I know the exchange rate?
- Where should I exchange my money?
- How much money should I bring with me?
- Is it safe to carry cash with me?
Communication
- How do I contact with Global Crossroad's local coordinator?
- How do I contact my family and friends once I arrive in Panama?
- How can my family members contact me?
- Can I bring my telephone from my home country?
Culture and Custom
- Is there a special dress code that I should follow while staying in Panama?
- What should I know about religious conduct in Panama?
- How do I respect the people of Panama?
More Information about Peru
- What is weather like in Panama?
- Official Holidays in Panama?
- What about tipping in Panama?
- Materials to Bring
NOTE: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is generic information and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly. Participants should consult Global Crossroad or travel advisors to verify this information.