Scholarships donated by individuals

In October 2007, Mary Tellie from Electric City Roasting Co. in Pennsylvania donated a scholarship to Yanibeth Rodriguez, the child of Angel Rodriguez, a harvester at Hacienda La Esmeralda, for the 2008 academic school year (school year in Panama runs from March to December). The scholarship is  in the amount of $350, which is the amount the government of Panama has established for public high-school level scholarships. Mary Tellie (center of the above photo with arm around Angel Rodriguez, harvester and father of Yanibeth) was visiting the farm with her husband Nick (second from right to left), as well as two friends, Helen Beers (far left in the photo) and Christine Caverly (far right in the photo).

Helen Beers and Christine Caverly also donated a scholarship each. One of these scholarships will go to Eusebio Santos, shown below. The other recipient hasn't been selected to date. To be considered as a scholarship recipient, the child must have above at least average grades and maintain them throughout the year.

The thank you note was written by the scholarship recipient, Yanibeth Rodriguez, in the name of her father, Angel Rodriguez.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scholarship recipient, Eusebio Santos, holds up the Scholarship award he received.

 

 

 

 

Our social programs include:

  • A nursery, where children are cared for, fed a snack and a hot cooked lunch, and educated by certified teachers while their parents are harvesting,

  • Food: every week each adult on the farm (not only the pickers) receives a bag of rice and either a bag of beans or a large can of sardines

  • Organized medical tours to the farm, where a doctor and a dentist go up to the living quarters every weekend and provide healthcare, including medicines,

  • A toy for every child on the farm at Christmas,

  • A Christmas party,

  • Two bonuses, one with their final paycheck when they are on their way home at the end of the harvest in February or March, and one in June

In addition to the above, permanent employee benefits include:

  • Scholarships to a private school for high school and university students with passing grades

  • A donation of $50 at the beginning of the school year for every permanent employee with a child in school (to help buy uniforms and supplies)

  • A large basket of food at Christmas,

  • An expedition to the beach for an all day outing once a year

Other social programs:

  • Donations to the two local elementary schools of most needed items requested by the teachers, among them construction materials,  supplies and food

  • Sports (teams) sponsorship