Barriales

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Business

Overview


Barriales is located in the biodiverse region of Darien and celebrated its transition with Global Brigades in March of 2021. Community members have access to credit through an established and thriving community bank which will support continued investment in local businesses and home improvement projects for families within the community. People in Barriales are primarily dedicated to agriculture and the sale of artisanal crafts. The community is on the wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama.

Corregimiento: Rio Congo
District: Darien

Homes : 150
Population : 500
Water System : No
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : No
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Yes
% of Homes with Latrines : 80
Education in the Community : Up to 9th grade
Distance from Lodging Facility km : 140 km

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Barriales but has not yet begun with the Medical Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, mobile clinics and Community Health Workers training will start as soon as feasible.

Community Health Workers : Yes
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infection
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Barriales but has not yet begun with the Dental Brigades program.  Now in the planning phase, mobile clinics will start as soon as feasible.

Community Health Workers : Yes
Common Illnesses in Children : Diarrhea, Respiratory Infection
Common Illnesses in Adults : Hypertension, Diabetes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

BARRIALES’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

Community members in Barriales lack access to financial resources within the community. The majority of community members do not have bank accounts and there are only limited informal forms of credit available.  For example, a person could obtain ‘credit’ at a local store by buying something now and paying later, simply adding it to their ‘tab,’ but there would be no formalized credit transaction.  Larger financial institutions do not approve loans to community members without a fixed income, making it difficult for local micro-enterprises to grow and thrive. Most community members cite the distance to the nearest bank as the main discouragement to having a personal savings account. Even if individuals wish to travel the distance, not all community members can become members of these financial institutions–cooperatives require monthly membership fees, savings accounts often require a fixed income, and the cost of travel provides an additional barrier.

133

Loans Disbursed

Local Businesses : Convenient stores
Economic Activities : agriculture and cattle raising
Community Bank : Yes

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature