Day 21

3 days of solar power for an indigenous family in Panama

Access to sustainable energy for all Access to sustainable energy for all

3 days of solar power for an indigenous family in Panama
Day 21
Protecting indigenous peoples and rainforests in Panama

"Oh, how beautiful Panama is!" - many of us know this sentence from the famous children's story by Janosch. It is about the search for paradise, but also about a new perspective on one's own home. Panama is one of the most species-rich countries on earth. Where there was previously only water, a land bridge was formed three million years ago that now connects South and North America (O'Dea et al., 2016). In the animal world, this new connection led to the so-called "great American faunal exchange" (Summesberger, 1996). New species are constantly being discovered, but at the same time they are threatened with extinction. Panama's rainforests are also home to indigenous peoples who know best how to protect these special ecosystems. But the climate crisis and deforestation, for example for the export-oriented cultivation of bananas, also endanger their way of life. Empowering indigenous peoples is essential for protecting biodiversity, the climate and the health of the planet - our home.

Protecting indigenous peoples and rainforests in Panama
need
Electricity supply for indigenous families in the tropical rainforest of Panama.
activity
Procurement of solar systems and training of indigenous solar technicians to install and maintain the systems.
Measurable performance
Number of indigenous families with sustainable access to solar energy.
Result
The families gain a new quality of life and opportunities for development. Children can learn better for school. Illegal deforestation of Panama's rainforests can be avoided.
Systemically relevant impact
The self-determined way of life and the rights of the indigenous communities are improved. In addition, the rainforests and their biodiversity are better protected.
background

Around 800 million people, about one in ten people worldwide, live without electricity (UN, 2020). They have little or no access to energy for lighting, cooking, heating, cooling or for using information and communication technologies. Those most affected are the rural population in the global South and especially indigenous peoples, who also suffer the most from discrimination, inequality and the global climate crisis. Although Panama has experienced steady economic growth for several years that is above the Central American average (HDR, 2020), some districts and groups of people remain excluded from this development. The Bribri territories, for example, are among the poorest regions in Panama. The isolation and lack of access to energy affect the quality of life of indigenous communities, their health and safety, as well as their educational and income opportunities. Food and urgently needed medicines cannot be cooled and stored without electricity. Without light after dark, children have little opportunity to study for school and do their homework. In order to strengthen the self-determined and sustainable development of indigenous peoples, but also to protect their territories, there is a lack of electricity for electrical devices such as mobile phones, computers and radios, which enable access to information, communication and education.

El Guabo and Daclé Panama
Day 21 Day 21
The good deed

With today's donation, you are giving an indigenous family in Panama three days of solar power. This good deed creates access to clean, safe and sustainable energy for indigenous communities. The families thus have up to 6 hours of electric light a day and continuous power to use electronic devices such as cell phones, flashlights or radios. This improves children's educational opportunities as well as the health and safety of families, for example in the event of medical emergencies or external dangers. Especially in the context of the climate and health crisis, it is necessary for communities to be well connected, informed and organized. By using GPS devices, they can map their territories, report illegal activities and use the data to protect the rainforest and recognize their rights. In addition to the use of renewable technology, capacities are being built locally and indigenous solar technicians are being trained to install and maintain the solar systems to ensure their long-term operation.

AboutPanama
Panama City
Panama City
Capital city
4 314 768
4 314 768
Population
12,269.0
12,269.0
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 57 of 189
Rank 57 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Panama not only connects the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, via the Panama Canal; the land bridge between North and South America is also one of the most species-rich countries in the world.