Global Brigades is thrilled to partner with Deloitte Consulting to pilot Deloitte’s Going Global, Giving BAAC (G3B), which offers international community services opportunities to Deloitte’s Business Analysts, Consultants, Managers, Senior Managers, and Partners. In June, twenty-five professionals from Deloitte will be traveling to Kuna Yala, an indigenous reservation in the northeast of Panama to work on 4 projects in 3 different communities.
(Kuna woman in traditional clothes)
During their week in Panama, the team will develop a sustainable plan to help the Kuna Yala indigenous tribe better leverage the local island tourism market, improve existing small businesses, and launch new a one. The group will also help educate tribe members who are running businesses on core business concepts such as profit, supply/demand, and pricing. Specifically, the four projects the brigaders will work on are: helping a local store develop ways to improve use of space and resources, assisting a bakery in managing capital and record keeping, improving how a wholesale deposito manages merchandise, and delivering development workshops and providing follow-up business analysis for a proposed bakery/restaurant. In addition to providing business consulting, delivering targeted workshops, and working on business proposals, the brigaders are also each contributing $100 to be invested directly into a project of their choosing as the Community Investment Fund. The purpose of this fund is for the community in conjunction with Global Brigades to use the money to purchase materials/equipment that will benefit the successful development of the business and strengthen its operations.
(Meet the GB Staff)
In Panama, about 17% of the overall population is undernourished and almost half of all Panamanian children are poor. Overall, 7.4% of the population lives on less than $1 a day. The poorest group of people is the indigenous native people, such as the people of Kuna Yala. The need for local businesses to receive support in business planning and resource management is clear; both for the development of a thriving local economy and for the residual impact successful businesses will have on all aspects of community life.
We are excited to see the impact that Deloitte Consultings’ brigade will have on the community in Kuna Yala, and we will bring you additional updates and media pieces showcasing the brigade’s work once projects are underway.
