De Worken-Eley had been involved in "digital divide initiatives" to bring computers to the impoverished in the United States. That experience dovetailed well with Ureña's goal to build a community center. The two worked together to incorporate into the idea an information center with Internet access and office services like a copy machine and phone line. "We have to do it," Ureña told De Worken-Eley when they first discussed the project. "That's just all there is to it." De Worken-Eley then assembled a Peace Corps Partnership proposal to build a center and equip it with 20 computers and high-speed Internet. Through this program, volunteers can seek donations from the United States through the Peace Corps Web site. The community in turn agrees to contribute to the success and sustainability of the project. In this case, Ureña's senior group will staff the center. They will charge users for services at the center, but to keep it reasonable for the community, locals will pay a lower price than tourists.
Frederick De Worken-Eley serves in Information Technology as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama
Former UCSC student serving in Peace Corps
By John C. Cannon - Sentinel Correspondent
Article Launched: 04/22/2008 10:14:11 AM PDT
The chance to spend two years abroad makes the Peace Corps an attractive option for many recently graduated students, especially if the assignment is in a country with a thousand miles of coastline.
"Life here in Panama is great," said Frederick De Worken-Eley, a former UC Santa Cruz student who began his training in August 2006 and now serves as a volunteer in the community of Mariato. "Once I adjusted to the humidity, the bugs and the very unique accent that the people speak Spanish with, I was really able to appreciate living in a tropical paradise."
Panama is fairly safe, too, said the 31-year-old. And unlike other Peace Corps countries, there is little risk of famine.
But that relatively high standard of living can make it difficult to introduce development projects and engage the local population.
"If you aren't in dire circumstances, it may be difficult to understand the value of doing something different," De Worken-Eley said.
So like many volunteers, he started working with a motivated member of the community of Mariato, a man named Matias Ureña, the leader of the local senior citizens' group.
De Worken-Eley had been involved in "digital divide initiatives" to bring computers to the impoverished in the United States. That experience dovetailed well with Ureña's goal to build a community center. The two worked together to incorporate into the idea an information center with
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Internet access and office services like a copy machine and phone line.
"We have to do it," Ureña told De Worken-Eley when they first discussed the project. "That's just all there is to it."
De Worken-Eley then assembled a Peace Corps Partnership proposal to build a center and equip it with 20 computers and high-speed Internet. Through this program, volunteers can seek donations from the United States through the Peace Corps Web site. The community in turn agrees to contribute to the success and sustainability of the project. In this case, Ureña's senior group will staff the center. They will charge users for services at the center, but to keep it reasonable for the community, locals will pay a lower price than tourists.
"Matias' vision is a place where the old and young alike can gather to exercise their bodies and their minds -- a place that will allow the town of Mariato to overcome its divisive and destructive culture of alcoholism," De Worken-Eley said. "Panamanians know how to have a good time. Maybe a bit too well."
That fun-loving nature can be destructive without a positive outlet, and the hope is that by providing the community center, people of all ages will be given the tools to succeed.
The greatest boon from the project may be for the town's senior citizens' group, as they struggle to pass their culture and traditions on to the next generation.
"It will also give them something to be very, very proud of," De Worken-Eley added. "In the end that may be the most important benefit."
Contact John Cannon at 706-3264 or jcopeland@santacruzsentinel.com.
•To get involved, visit www.peacecorps.gov, click the 'Donate Now' button and go to 'Donate to Volunteer Projects.' Then search the projects in Panama.
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The chance to spend two years abroad makes the Peace Corps an attractive option for many recently graduated students, especially if the assignment is in a country with a thousand miles of coastline.
"Life here in Panama is great," said Frederick De Worken-Eley, a former UC Santa Cruz student who began his training in August 2006 and now serves as a volunteer in the community of Mariato. "Once I adjusted to the humidity, the bugs and the very unique accent that the people speak Spanish with, I was really able to appreciate living in a tropical paradise."
Panama is fairly safe, too, said the 31-year-old. And unlike other Peace Corps countries, there is little risk of famine.
But that relatively high standard of living can make it difficult to introduce development projects and engage the local population.
"If you aren't in dire circumstances, it may be difficult to understand the value of doing something different," De Worken-Eley said.
So like many volunteers, he started working with a motivated member of the community of Mariato, a man named Matias Ureña, the leader of the local senior citizens' group.
De Worken-Eley had been involved in "digital divide initiatives" to bring computers to the impoverished in the United States. That experience dovetailed well with Ureña's goal to build a community center. The two worked together to incorporate into the idea an information center with Internet access and office services like a copy machine and phone line.
"We have to do it," Ureña told De Worken-Eley when they first discussed the project. "That's just all there is to it."
De Worken-Eley then assembled a Peace Corps Partnership proposal to build a center and equip it with 20 computers and high-speed Internet. Through this program, volunteers can seek donations from the United States through the Peace Corps Web site. The community in turn agrees to contribute to the success and sustainability of the project. In this case, Ureña's senior group will staff the center. They will charge users for services at the center, but to keep it reasonable for the community, locals will pay a lower price than tourists.
"Matias' vision is a place where the old and young alike can gather to exercise their bodies and their minds -- a place that will allow the town of Mariato to overcome its divisive and destructive culture of alcoholism," De Worken-Eley said. "Panamanians know how to have a good time. Maybe a bit too well."
That fun-loving nature can be destructive without a positive outlet, and the hope is that by providing the community center, people of all ages will be given the tools to succeed.
The greatest boon from the project may be for the town's senior citizens' group, as they struggle to pass their culture and traditions on to the next generation.
"It will also give them something to be very, very proud of," De Worken-Eley added. "In the end that may be the most important benefit."
Contact John Cannon at 706-3264 or jcopeland@santacruzsentinel.com.
•To get involved, visit www.peacecorps.gov, click the 'Donate Now' button and go to 'Donate to Volunteer Projects.' Then search the projects in Panama.
