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About Pueblo Nuevo

Pueblo Nuevo is a small indigenous community of 38 homes with a population of approximately 120. Located in the Darien Province in Eastern Panama, Pueblo Nuevo is a Wounaan community, one of the largest indigenous groups in Panama and Colombia. Pueblo Nuevo is a primarily agricultural community, relying on the production of rice, yucca, yams, and otoe, a local root vegetable. The women also work on the farms, make traditional crafts, or take care of the home. Working in collaboration with Business and Microfinance Brigades, Pueblo Nuevo was able to establish their own community bank in May 2014.

Pueblo Nuevos's Economic Challenge

While many of the community members in Pueblo Nuevo work in agriculture privately owned small farms, there are many local businesses within the community. Local businesses in the area consist in three small stores that sell

staple foods and snacks. Yet, The community has no access to credit, and up until the time GB's entrance to the community, no one had ever taken out a loan. Larger financial institutions, which are inaccessible due to distance and cost, also do not approve loans to community members without a fixed
income, making it very difficult for local microenterprises to grow and thrive.

Business Consulting in Pueblo Nuevo

Through Global Brigades Business and Microfinance initiatives, Pueblo Nuevo
has established their first community bank in May 2014. With the opening of the
community bank, community members have access to credit for the first time,
and access to a savings account for the first time. Further, with access to savings,
families for the first time can have preparation for the future, rather than hiding
extra money in their beds, or not saving at all.

As Global Brigades' first community to begin brigades with Business and
Microfinance instead of Medical Brigades, Pueblo Nuevo looks to receive
financial training and business consulting to expand and improve its local
microenterprises. Currently, Pueblo Nuevo plans to receive Business training and
consulting for its micro-enterprises in the Brigades seasons for 2015.

One of the cornerstones for the success of future projects is the sustainable nature of a community bank: investments are approved through loans granted to community projects; interest is then paid back on the loans—both large and small—and 100% of profits stay in the community, enabling the funding of more loans for more projects in the community. Capitalization of the community bank is directly linked to the development of Pueblo Nuevo; the growth and success of their community bank means growth and success for the community.

Last Updated: February 1, 2016

Pueblo Nuevo

Global Brigades strives to implement a model of Holistic Development in communities through a system of collectively implementing health, economic, and education initiatives to strategically meet a community's development goals. Learn more about the other programs being implemented in Pueblo Nuevo:

 Dental  Environmental  Human Rights Medical  Microfinance Public Health