Some photos from Panama (click on the photo to
see a larger image)
l. Maria de Jesús
Dominguez, 70, left, and “Chua”, right, and friends in front of the
newly constructed Peña Blanca de Las Tablas Elementary School. Goiter
or bosio was prevalent in most inhabitants who willingly participated
in a study of its causes in 1966-67. A nutritionist found that
the inhabitants made their own salt which did not contain sufficient
iodine and also they did not eat fish.
2. Dr. Pablo E. Fletcher
of the Panamanian Social Security Hospital examines Srta.. Dominguez
in a health study. The University of Panama was a partner in the study.
In return for their assistance in the health study, the University Rector
Bernardo Lombardo brought chicks and onion seedlings, and medicines
to the village to assist in development projects. Demonstration gardens
were set up in which irrigation and fertilization were used. Chickens
were raised to increase protein intake and supplement income. A central
well system which added small amounts of iodine to the water was
set up after Carolyn left.
3. In 1968-9 a reverse type of Peace Corps, Volunteers In Service To
America, was sent to Colorado from Colombia, Jamaica and Japan.
They were assisted by Jon Keeton, RPCV Thailand, out of Peace
Corps Washington, D.C. Carolyn, then working with Peace Corps Public
Affairs, helped to introduce them to her state.
4. Cristobol Dominguez leads his self-help team, one of 6, in a project
through the Alliance for Progress, to build the Peña Blanca school.
Gravel, sand, and labor were provided by the community and AID provided
cement and steel rebar and a construction expert who trained the men
on the volunteer teams. Cement blocks were purchased by means of raffles
and dances held to benefit the construction. The Villarreal Family in
Las Tablas graciously provided the dance floor and loan of the liquor
license to hold the annual patron saint fiesta for the purpose of school
construction. A band was brought in from the area. The typical dance
is the tamborito. Violin, accordion, drum, amall guitars called mejorana
and socavón were utilized.
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