elpais.com
Panamanian NGO Uses Surf to Combat Rural Poverty
In Isla Cañas, Panama, Waved, an NGO founded by Bastian Barnbeck, combats 50% poverty rate (vs. national 21%) by offering surf lessons, language classes, and educational support to youth, aiming to create sustainable community development and tourism.
- What is the potential for Waved's model to be replicated elsewhere in Panama and the region, and what challenges might it face in scaling up?
- Waved's model, combining vocational training with community development, could serve as a template for addressing inequality in other regions. By promoting community-based tourism and connecting rural areas with the capital, Waved aims to reduce Panama's geographical economic divide and create sustainable opportunities.
- How does Waved's approach in Isla Cañas directly impact the high poverty rate and limited opportunities for Panamanian youth outside of the capital?
- In Isla Cañas, Panamá, 50% of the population lives in poverty, significantly higher than the national average of 21%. Bastian Barnbeck founded Waved, an NGO that uses surf instruction and language classes to empower youth and improve their prospects.
- What systemic issues in Panama's education and employment sectors contribute to the disparity between Isla Cañas and Panama City, and how does Waved aim to mitigate them?
- Waved addresses Panama's stark economic disparity between the capital and outlying areas by providing education and job skills to underserved youth in Isla Cañas. The program combines surfing with English and Spanish classes, directly tackling a skills gap highlighted by a 2023 UNESCO study showing 73% of Panamanian businesses struggle to find sufficiently qualified young people.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative heavily frames the story around Bastian Barnbeck's personal journey and the success of Waved. While highlighting a positive initiative is valuable, this framing could overshadow the broader challenges of regional inequality in Panama and the limitations of surf-based education as a comprehensive solution. The headline (if any) likely focuses on the Waved project, further emphasizing this framing.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and informative. However, terms like "youths marginalized" could be considered slightly loaded. More neutral alternatives could include "disadvantaged youth" or "young people from underserved communities". The description of Isla Cañas as having "palpable social gaps" is slightly subjective, although it accurately reflects the situation described.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the Waved project and its founder, Bastian Barnbeck, potentially omitting other initiatives addressing similar issues in Panama. While the article mentions the national poverty rate and the Unesco study highlighting the need for skilled young workers, it doesn't delve into alternative solutions or programs implemented by the Panamanian government or other NGOs. This omission could create a skewed perception of the scale and scope of the problem and available solutions.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between Panama City and "the exterior," implying a stark contrast in development levels. While this disparity exists, the reality is likely more nuanced, with varying degrees of development across different regions outside of Panama City. The article doesn't explore the complexities or exceptions to this broad generalization.
Sustainable Development Goals
The initiative focuses on providing educational opportunities to marginalized youth in Isla Cañas, Panamá, addressing the lack of education and its consequences like unemployment. The program combines surf training with language classes and academic support, directly impacting SDG 4 (Quality Education) targets related to equitable access to quality education and skills development.