Coco Solo News
For anyone who still checks this blog, maybe there is one of you still out there, I've been a little out of commission as of late. Blog world has just seemed a little irrelevant in my recent life, however I am hoping to make a comeback, dont mark my words but you can expect a little more from me...
I am writing this from a beach in Costa Rica. Just a beach, Im not saying which one cause well I am completely in love with it and its lack of people. It is high tourist season down here in Central America and yes there happens to be hardly anyone here...I am staying in a beach front cabana with one of my best and longest friends, Suzi. In the mornings we are surfing and in the evenings we are working on grad school applications, and yes they have wifi. If anyone wants to go hide out and work on writing I totally suggest this scenario.
So ok ill stop bragging the real point of this blog is about a much worthier cause than my gradschool apps and my surfing endevours.
I sent out an email a week or so ago asking my dear family and friends to donate to my cause to create a xmas party for the children of the Coco Solo community in Colon, Panama. If you didnt receive this email and want to be on my CocoSolo email list, please email at rosecromwell@gmail.com, and PLEASE feel free to forward to anyone who might be interested in CocoSolo and charity. I meant to send it to everyone but was kinda in a rush so this might be the first time you are hearing about Coco Solo, also if you want to be removed from this list please contact me as well.
My friend and fellow Panama Fulbrighter Larnies Bowen wrote this little snippet about Coco Solo for those that didn't receive my email:
"Coco Solo is a former US Naval Air Base that now houses some 200 families who were displaced after the1989 invasion to oust Noriega. Fast forward 20 years later, and many of these families continue to live in these squattor settlements without running water, proper sewage, or trash removal. These families live in those very same buildings the Americans built during the early 20th century. The Panamanian government has promised to move these tenants to more humane living conditions, but residents are still waiting for that and many other empty promises to be fulfilled.
Let me introduce you to some of the people we've had the pleasure to get to know over the past six weeks:
Michael "Mikey"; Brown: A thirty-something Pastor and former rude boy who moved to Coco Solo (from Jamaica) some 15 years ago and hasn't looked back. Known as the "governor" of the small community, Mikey, resolved to do his part to encourage the youth of Coco Solo by adopting five young males. He provides for them on the smallest of budgets, and insists that they put God, education, and family as their top priorities in order to remain under his loving care.
Brenda: Founder of "De Mujeres"; a women's empowerment group, and Bishop of an Afro Antillano church in Juan Diaz, Brenda was the catalyst who introduced me and Rose to Mikey. Brenda is a warm and charismatic woman who organized a Holiday Party last year to bring some holiday cheer to Coco Solo's youngest and must vulnerable residents. Through door-to-door fundraising, she was able to raise $70 and purchase $1 toys for the children much to their delight. As you can see, a little truly does go a long way here in Panama.
Diana: A reluctant resident of Coco Solo, Diana has lived there for the past twenty odd years. She has witnessed the community's downward spiral first-hand. Despite a serious illness, Diana was eager to speak with us so that we may better understand the challenges she and other Coco Solo residents face. Were it not for a health fair organized by Mikey earlier in the year, it remains very likely that would not have gotten her illness diagnosed for access to healthcare is very limited.
Naomi, Isela, Augustin, and others: With no after school extracurricular activities, these children roam the trash-strewn streets of Coco Solo barefoot, exposing them to numerous disease-causing agents. During the rainy-season, many of them play around in the large puddles of water in front of their buildings. Unfortunately, due to the area's poor sewage system, this water is oftentimes contaminated with fecal matter and trash."
The Xmas party was a huge success, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, WITHOUT YOU IT WOULDNT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. We were able to raise over 700.00 dollars through PayPal. Mikey and Brenda are gracious and very thankful for your donations.
We bought really nice toys for over 150 kids, gifts for 20 teenagers, food to make arroz con pollo for all the kids and their families, and a load of flipflops and shoes for all.
Brenda, Mikey, some of their church friends, and Larnies did the shopping in under two days- they worked really hard. The cooking was done by some ladies from CocoSolo and Mikey. They were working extra hard as well. So you can see this was a joint effort between many people and every little bit helped whether it was from the United States or right from CocoSolo.
My paypal account will remain open and if any one feels like donating at anytime please feel free. My paypal account is under RoseCromwell@hotmail.com. The next order of business is to buy a used wheelchair for a 7 year old kid that has muscular paralysis. He has outgrown the wheelchair he has been using and needs a new one. He is really getting too big for his petite mother to carry him around. I have so far received 20 dollars in donations for this cause. I am guessing I may need about 200.00 to buy a wheelchair. I am going to do more research about where to get one in Panama when I return from vacation.
here is the young boy that is in desperate need of a wheelchair-
In January I will start teaching english classes once a week to kids in CocoSolo as well continuing to take black and white portraits of the residents.
So here are the photos of the party...ENJOY and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
these fantastic photos were mainly taken by a friend Jackie Misla. and some by Vladimir a 13 year old aspiring photographer who kidnapped my little digital during the party. thank you Jackie and Vladimir! Ill post some of my personal photos from CocoSolo at a later date...
( CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE PHOTOS ) 
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