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Location
  • Panama
Industry
Business Sustainable Development

Program Details

Compensation
N/A
Housing
Host Family
Language
English
Weekly Hours
0

Pricing

Starting Price
2000
Price Details
Cost varies based on length of program and location.
Jun 20, 2016
Feb 12, 2015
Wish List
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

At the Panama Institute for Social Innovation, you'll work in the field to develop both social entrepreneurship and cross-cultural interpersonal skills applicable to any profession.

Guided by a team of experts, community members, and local changemakers, ThinkImpact scholars have worked on and created a wide variety of projects, from improving traditional cooking tools to developing water management technologies for rural farmers. Scholars also benefit from direct access to entrepreneurs, micro-finance organizations, community-based organizations, and local leaders. You'll take an asset-based approach to community development, prototyping an enterprise and then testing your product or service within the community.

In addition to your Institute curriculum, you'll be living and engaging with local families and immersing yourself in the culture of Panama.

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Program Highlights

  • You refuse to settle for an average experience abroad. You're looking for something extraordinary--a program that will push your limits and bring you outside your comfort zone.
  • You understand that in order to succeed in a global marketplace, you need hands-on experience that will not only enhance your resume, but give you tangible, real-world professional skills.
  • You're passionate about social innovation and are searching for a crash course in entrepreneurship that will change the way you see the world.
  • You have an interest in global development, but want to go beyond the typical international volunteer program and make a real impact.
  • You will come back changed forever... in the very best way possible.

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Program Reviews

4.67 Rating
based on 3 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 66.67%
  • 4 rating 33.33%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.7
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.35
  • Housing 4.7
  • Safety 4.7
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Default avatar
Cassandra
31
Female
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience

Feb 12, 2015

I had a great experience! The staff was great and the community members were incredibly warm and welcoming. There was never a time when I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. Despite being a little apprehensive about the program at first, by the end I really enjoyed my time in Panama. I believe the experience really helped to shape my view of the world for the better.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish there was more time with the translators in the group. It would have been nice to get to know our host family better, but the language barrier proved to be a difficult obstacle in bonding with them.
130 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Nitya
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful opportunity for personal development!

Feb 12, 2015

I stayed in a rural community in Panama as part of a ThinkImpact Social Innovation program in January 2015. It was a wonderful experience to stay with the community members and experience life as they would. They were very friendly and we experienced a very different life from what we are used to. The concept of the program is wonderful - using local assets to bring about social change. I learnt a lot-importance of non verbal communication, interacting with community members to discover details about their lives and integrating ourselves in the community to help being sustainable change. It was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend this program!

What would you improve about this program?
I would lay more emphasis on learning some useful words in the local language relating to food items, time of the day, family, etc. in advance before arriving in the country to start the program.
120 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Mingfei
39
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I really enjoyed it!

Feb 5, 2015

I participated in this program in January 2015. I think I made a very good choice. It was so exciting to be exposed to a fundamentally different culture than mine. I learned a lot from this program, such as team work, communication skills, etc. People there were very very friendly, cooperative, and supportive. To be honest I was a little bit surprised at their sincerity and friendliness. I made a lot of friends with the locals, mostly children. At the end of the program, I set up a poster board with the help of the locals and our program interpreter, Mr.Carlos. I was extremely happy with my work and I hope this could help the community better deliver information and become more unified.

If you want to have a different and meaningful vacation, especially the winter one, Panama is strongly recommended.

107 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Adriana Piñeiro

Program
ThinkImpact: Panama Institute for Social Innovation
Job Title
Country Coordinator
Adriana Piñeiro, was born in Costa Rica, raised in Panama and graduated with honors from the USMA University with a Bachelors Degree in Social Communications. She has 9 years of experience in the social entrepreneurship sector, first as entrepreneur herself and later on working for international organizations such as Global Brigades, Save the Children and Thinkimpact. Adriana's roles have included program development focused on micro-enterpreneurship in rural Panama with indigenous and non-indigenous communities, building partnerships and managing internal communications.

What position do you hold at ThinkImpact and why do you like working there?

Adriana: I am Country Coordinator for Panama and I like working in ThinkImpact because it promotes social entrepreneurship, cultural exchange and youth empowerment which are concepts that I am passionate about. There is nothing better than working in what you enjoy the most. It is fulfilling to be able to empower youth and community members to work together in social entrepreneurship initiatives.

How does your organization differ from other ones in the industry?

Adriana: ThinkImpact is about the relationships you build, the connection and the empowerment you can give to others by believing in their ideas and creating something together.

It's different because every homestay experience is unique on its own but also because it goes one step further enabling the community members and students to surpass any cultural barrier and create something together. Its unique because there is no other program like this that connects social innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange in such a deep level.

What is one thing you would tell any future scholar?

Adriana: There is nothing more powerful than a smile and a positive attitude. Even if they can't understand you, they will feel you. Just by being present and coming all the way to their home, shows you care and that for them means the world.

How do you think learning abroad will change over the next 10 years?

Adriana: I really hope learning abroad will become not a trend but a norm for every university on the planet. These experiences promote the tolerance and open-mindedness of students allowing them to experience and more importantly understand other cultures and ways of thinking.

With more learning abroad opportunities in universities there will be more peace. I hope in 10 years we can realize how important learning abroad opportunities are as vehicles to peace and prioritize them in universities' curriculums.

What do you find most fulfilling about your interactions with scholars?

Adriana: When scholars start talking in Panamanian slang to community members, they make my day. It means they have truly immersed in the culture and that they are enjoying it!

About ThinkImpact

ThinkImpact offers unparalleled immersion experiences in social entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa and Latin America. We aren't your average abroad program—we create life-changing, mind-blowing international learning experiences. Our scholars are imaginative, capable leaders who seek out extraordinary opportunities and thrive when pushed...

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