Cultivating connections through educational and volunteering opportunities on small farms
Discover the beautiful ecosystems and families using agroecology to feed themselves, their neighbors and our planet.
Panama Coffee Tour
Learn how coffee can be grown in harmony with nature. Participate in harvesting and artisanal on-farm processing. Then taste the final product. On longer tours you can also harvest and process the sugar to add to the coffee.
Panama Chocolate Tour
Discover the history of cacao in Central America and its role in the ecosystem. Participate in harvesting and artisanal on-farm processing. Then taste the final product. On longer tours you can also harvest and process the sugar to add to the cocoa.
Panama Wildlife Tour
Explore ecosystems both natural and cultivated by small-scale farmers in a country known for its diversity of birds, as well as monkeys, sloths and many other fascinating creatures. On the farms, you’ll learn how farming can either destroy or restore habitats for native flora and fauna.
Mandela is proud to partner with Vamonos Tours for top-rate travel packages with Mandela providing one-of-a-kind farm experiences and Vamonos Tours providing everything else a travel group could want and then some.
Review of Mandela from Vamonos Tours’ President, Jorge Pardo:
Our recent service-learning agricultural experience in Penonomé, Panama, was truly transformative. We had the incredible opportunity to work alongside local, underprivileged farmers, immersing ourselves in the rich culture of the land and learning invaluable farming techniques. The experience went far beyond simple labor; it was a meaningful exchange of knowledge and a powerful connection with the community.
Witnessing the dedication and resilience of these farmers was deeply inspiring. Our students were actively involved in hands-on work, contributing directly to the community’s agricultural efforts. The highlight of our experience was undoubtedly the heartfelt gratitude expressed by the elder farmer overseeing our work. His words resonated deeply with us: he shared that the work we accomplished in just a few hours would have taken his community a full week to complete. This powerful testament to our impact truly underscored the significance of our contribution.
This service-learning trip was more than just an educational experience; it was a lesson in empathy, collaboration, and the power of collective action. We left Penonomé with a renewed appreciation for the hard work of farmers and a deep sense of fulfillment knowing we made a tangible difference. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity and highly recommend this program to anyone seeking a meaningful and impactful service-learning experience.”