Where We Work / Panama / Communities / Sabanas Largas «

There is one school in Sabanas Largas, and this where we typically host our clinics during Medical/Dental brigades.  The school is a primary school and instructs children between the grades of Kindergarten and 6th grade.  The school currently has 22 student, although there are 40 children in the community that are under the age of 12.  The school has one teacher and two classrooms.  The facility also has a kitchen, a dining room, and a library.  If students in the community wish to continue their education beyond the 6th grade, they must travel to the nearby community of Toabre, which is about 10 minutes away by bus.

Sabanas Largas's water system was constructed in 1991.  During the dry season, the community has had problems with the system not being able to produce more water.   The president of the Parents' Club is responsible for chlorinating the water once a week.  The whole community is connected to this water system and pays $1.25 per month to receive its benefits.

Sabanas Largas does not have its own health center from Panama's Ministry of Health.  Instead, community members must travel to the nearby town of Toabre to seek medical treatment.  The community leaders report that the most common illnesses in Sabanas Largas are common colds and fevers.  The vast majority (95%) of the homes in Sabanas Largas do not have cement floors.

Homes in Sabanas Largas are typically constructed using cement blocks, wood, mud, and palm leaves.  The primary source of employment in Sabanas Largas is agriculture.  The community members produce rice, corn, yuca, yams, bananas, and plantains for eating and for sale.  The community's one source for financial advice is a community bank that has savings accounts.

The community members of Sabanas Largas do not have access to education about the preservation of their environment; however, the community is currently enacting a reforestation project.  The community members typically dispose of trash by placing it in a local landfill.

Sabanas Largas does not have any sources of legal advice currently.  The legal disputes in the community typically involve family disputes and issues with land titling.  The vast majority of the community does have land titles, however. 

Sabanas Largas has a "Junta Local," or a local board of leaders that make decisions on behalf of the community. 

The only other organizations currently working in Sabanas Largas are run by Sabanas Largas's own community members.  The community's organziations include a water committee, a parents' club, a Catholic club, a cementary board, and a board of community leaders.

Global Brigades Panama is very excited to be working in Sabanas Largas for the first time in March 2014 with a medical/dental brigade from Indiana University!