La Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm
Project
The bay of Bahia Honda on Isla Bastimentos is home to approximately 25 indigenous Ngabe families. There are approximately 40 students as the school with ages ranging from 3 to 13 years old. At the heart of the community is an elementary school, with which La Loma Jungle Lodge has been working for the past ten years.
In 2011, La Loma and its non-profit partner organization, Give and Surf, started a pre-school in Bahia Honda. With the help of its volunteers, Give and Surf now also runs an after school club, adult English language classes in the community, and recently opened a small library.
Books in Spanish are especially appreciated to build the library’s collection. The schools have many needs and have benefited greatly from support provided by La Loma guests and friends.
Needs
General School Supplies:
Book Bags, Chalk, College-ruled Paper, Colored Construction Paper, Colored Pencils, Dry-Erase Markers, Erasers, Glue Sticks, Handheld Pencil Sharpeners, *Lined Exercise Books, Markers, Pencils, Pencil Cases/Bags, Pens, Rulers, Solar Lantern Lights, and Roll Out Solar Panels (for charging cell phones)
Art Supplies:
Acrylic Paints, Acrylic Paint Brushes, Beads for Bead Work, Buttons, Craft Glue, Craft Scissors, Earring Hooks, Fashion Magazines, Gage Wire, Glitter Glue Guns, Old Magazines, Sewing Needles, Thread, and Wire Cutters
Reference Materials:
(Spanish) Dictionaries and Age Appropriate Encyclopedias on CD
Wall Charts:
(Spanish) Human Body, World Maps, Panama Country Map, Math, and Science
Flash Cards:
(Spanish) Math, and Word
Text/Reading Books:
(Spanish) Age Appropriate Story Books, General Science, Biology, Health, Language/Grammar, and Math
Computer Hardware/Software:
Tablets, Solar-Powered Working Laptops, and Working Laptops
Educational Games/Toys:
Bananagrams, Connect Four, Puzzles, Scrabble, Stuffed Animals/Soft Toys, Legos, Playing Cards, and Dominos
Music Instruments:
Castanets, Guiros, Maracas, Tambourines, Triangles, and Xylophones
Clothing/Shoes:
New or Gently Used Children’s Clothing, New or Gently Used Children’s Shoes, Children’s Swim Suits, *Children’s Rain Jackets and Ponchos, and *Children’s Life Vests
First Aid/Health:
Antibiotic Ointment, Band-Aids, Children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofen, and Alcohol Wound Cleaning Wipes
Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Frisbees, Soccer Balls, Team Uniforms/Kits for Soccer, Tennis Balls, Floaties and Other Flotation Devices, *Baseballs, *Baseball Bats, *Baseball Gloves, *Baseball Uniforms, and Beach Balls and Beach Toys
Kitchen:
Bowls, Serving Spoons, Spoons, Water Bottles, Durable Plastic Cups, and Baby Bottles
Initiatives Supported
Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.
Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.
Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.
