Kalu Yala Study Abroad/Internship in Panama

Kalu Yala is a sustainable community that will be built in the mountains about 45 minutes outside Panama City, Panama. Internships take place in 3 venues: creating the town's foundation in the Kalu Yala Valley creating relationships in the neighboring town of San Miguel; and working on business logistics in Panama City. Since Summer 2010, Kalu Yala has had interns from 37 states, 12 countries and 77 colleges.

Programs include:

* Business Development and Entrepreneurship in Panama City
* Community Outreach in the rural town of San Miguel

* Digital Development in Panama City

* English as a Second Language in San Miguel

* Living Systems (Agriculture, Animal Science, and Biology) in the Kalu Yala valley
* Outdoor Recreation in the Kalu Yala valley

Interns are encouraged to come up with and implement their own semester project. Some interns choose to do solo projects while others work in groups to make their dream a reality. Along the way, our Program Directors are always happy to help them plan and lend a helping hand.

Some of the most recent intern projects include:

- Designing, marketing and hosting art shows and networking events in Panama City

- Design and building of basecamp's first structures

- Building an animal shelter including its design and milling the wood

- Identification and database creation of native insects and plants

- Planning, building and planting gardens in the valley, San Miguel and Bella Vista location

- Trail creation and mapping with viewing deck construction

- Low ropes course feasibility study

- Creation of a pizza oven with natural materials from the Kalu Yala valley

- Teaching English in the elementary school in the rural village of San Miguel

- Creation of an after-school science club in San Miguel

- The first written history and census of the town of San Miguel

- Study of women's health care in San Miguel and surrounding areas

- Travel and tourism feasibility studies of Panama and Central America

- Creation and design of the Kalu Yala blog which receives over 6,000 visitors a month

- Business of sustainable communities feasibility study

You can see some of the fun by watching this video by a Summer 2012 intern: http://youtu.be/vGnLxAOn1cs

Upcoming semester dates:

Spring Internship Dates: January 14th- April 12th (Early Admission Deadline: October 1st)

Summer Internship Dates: May 20th- August 2nd (Early Admission Deadline: February 4th)

Kalu Yala is founded on the core tenants of culture, new urbanism architecture, organic food, wellness, recreation, education, preservation, and conservation of the natural environment. The Kalu Yala Valley is located in the rainforest highlands of Central Panama in a 7,000-acre valley that backs up to the Chagres National Park. The internship program allows students and young professionals to come to Panama and gain cultural exposure, work experience, and knowledge in order to create a project that will ultimately help shape this sustainable community.

I've attached the Spring 2013 and Summer 2013 Information Packets. Students can apply online for spring, summer and fall 2013 by filling in the application form here or email internships@kaluyala.com for more information.

I should mention that our staff is happy to assist students who wish to acquire academic credit and speaking Spanish is not required! We also can work with students on payment plans.

Ashley Davis

Recruitment Director