Donations - sports equipment and clothing.
Kids program - showing off the puppets they have just made.
Kids Progam - making puppets.
Kids Program - the finished work of art.
Kid program - watching Bob print out the picture.
Kids Program - Bob takes a photo for the kid to place in his newly designed frame.
Kids Program - Liz helps one of the kids designing his picture frame.
Builders - and the last bundle of hose connected reaches the homes.
Builders - the hose is run through the brush and cactus.
Builders - The hose gets hooked up to the the well first, then run approx. kilometer to the homes.
Builders - Setting up hosing to bring freshwater from the well down into the homes of the community.
Builders - JP hammers in the last palm frond finishing the Palapa.
Donations - clothing to include baby wear.
Builders - an ongoing project started back in May 2010.
Builders - Delivering the palms to the island of Isla Pardito.
Optometrist - Imagine receiving a pair of glasses for the first time.
Buliders - Cargas de Palmas (palm fronds) purchased for the completion of a Palapa.
Optometrist - Check ups and issuing prescription glasses donated by Canadians.
Dental - Dr. Cruz offers lessons on dental care and hygiene to the children of the communities visited.
Dental - A youth receives a dental check and minor work.
Dental - one of the elders, of a local community, gets his teeth cleaned.
Dental - the team works on an elderly patient.
Medical - the nurses put together First Aid Kits for the communities visited.
Medical/Dental - the entire expedition team help organize the medical/dental supplies.
Medical - the nurses take blood pressure and blood sugar levels of the community members.
Medical - Dr. Rosario takes a moment to fill prescriptions.
Medical - Dr. Landa checks a patient using an ultrasound.
Medical - Dr. Lizarraga consulting with her patients.
The first "Journey of Giving" medical expedition team.
Dental - the Canadian dental team organize the donations they brought down with them.
Far away, on the coast of the southern Baja Peninsula and the desert islands of the Sea of Cortez, there are small communities of people living in harmony with the land and sea. Practicing traditional fishing, farming and agriculture these folks are without many of the amenities we have in our own homes and communities.
Over the years these beautiful Mexican people have opened their doors to Panterra allowing hundreds of Canadian students to explore the surrounding land and sea and experience a simple way of life. Some people would say that the living and working conditions are harsh and unbearable in this desert climate. Some people stop and wonder how they can possibly survive the way they do. Through all of the challenges they face, when you meet these beautiful people you see there is a contentment and happiness that is not experienced by most North Americans. The most important things to them are family, subsistence and community.
Panterra, in an effort to give back to the people that have always welcomed us with open arms, has teamed up with the Secretaria de Salud (Department of Health in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico) to offer assistance to communities accessible only by sea, onboard our ship the MV Adventure.
“The Journey of Giving” Medical Expedition has been designed to provide services, that cannot be otherwise obtained by the communities. We will be coordinating a volunteer medical/dental team from both Canada and Mexico consisting of doctors, dentists, nurses, certified dental assistants and dental hygienists.
Since the program started two years ago we have added two additional teams. In addition to the medical/dental team we have added a builders team that will provide building materials and labor for the construction of water tanks, palapa’s and other structures that will enhance the well being of the community.
The third team added, is the “kids program” team which puts the volunteers to work on arts and crafts projects with the kids in the community. By engaging the children in arts and crafts they are given the opportunity to develop skills, experience new ways of seeing and doing, recognize their own abilities and express themselves artistically. It is simply an exercise in discovering skills and connecting with themselves.
The mission of the Journey of Giving Expedition is to promote the well being of the communities through the thoughtful volunteer work from both Mexican and Canadian participants.
2012 Expedition:
(please click on title for Expedition Brochure in PDF format)
Journey of Giving Medical/Dental Expedition
– May 30 – June 6 - 4 spots left
Participant Information Form – this form is required at time of deposit to hold your spot.
Click here for Thoughts from Past Participants
Donations
If you are interested in contributing to this project there are two options:
1. Material Donations:
- Sewing supplies – material, needles, thread and accessories.
- Clothing – baby clothes to adult sizes
- Toys – baby toys and stuffed animals, sports equipment to include baseballs, gloves and bats, soccer balls, volleyballs and pumps.
- School Supplies – backpacks, notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, pens, coloring pencils, crayons, coloring books, pencil cases and scissors.
- Medical Supplies – band aids, tensor bands, adhesive tape, glucometers (to include extra strips). – Dental Supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss.
2. Monetary Donations:
We have created 3 packages and 2 projects which you can choose to donate any dollar amount towards.
- $20 – Food Staples Package – We are hoping to purchase 75 boxes of food each including the following food staples: rice, beans, sugar, corn flour and flour.
- $25 – Fruit Tree Package - We are hoping to purchase at least 18 mango, orange and/or lemon lemon trees to plant in the 6 communities we visit.
- $75 – Community First Aid Package – Each of the 6 communities we visit will be given a first aid kit filled with the following items: hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin, cough medicine, bandages, aspirin, antibiotics, muscle pain cream, baby aspirins, Tylenol, temperature gauge, glucose meter and strips, gauze, tensor bands, slings, cotton baton, etc. In addition there will be medicines added to the kit by the Dept. of Health and Social Services of La Paz.
- Project 1 – Building of a One-Room Schoolhouse - Approximate cost is $400. Monies donated to this project will help purchase supplies to build a 12 x 18 schoolhouse including plywood, 2×4, 4×4, nails, screws, hammer, drill, paint, primer, cement.
- Project 2 – Purchase of a Portable Dental Unit - Approximate cost is $1000. Monies donated to this project will help purchase portable machine for dental services such as fillings, root canals, etc.
Monetary donations can be made in any denomination through PayPal on our website or mailed to our BC office at:
Panterra
9601 Sixth Street
Sidney, BC, V8L 2W1
In total, we are looking to raise approx. $4000.00. Please note these prices are approx. costs based on fluctuating Canadian/US and Pesos currencies.
Lela’s Project 2012:
In the communities we visit many of the women have expressed interest in sewing machines. I am looking for 8 sewing machines (Treadle or pump models, non-electrical would be best) that will go to four communities where the women will form a co-op and sell there sewn crafts to a buyer in La Paz. This will allow the women to contribute to the economic well being of their family and community. So, if you know of anyone who has such a sewing machine and would like to donate it or sell it please let me know.
If you would like to be part of the expedition team, have any questions or would like to discuss your contribution please feel free to contact us at 1-800-665-6639.
If you want an unique vacation experience that is fun and rewarding, our all inclusive adventure travel expeditions are exactly what you are looking for.
Our Sea of Cortez expeditions leave from La Paz, Baja California Sur Mexico. La Paz is a few hours north of the famous Cabo San Lucas and south of scenic Loreto.
