Panama

Children of Colón - Walking Together: Colón is the northern port city of the Panama Canal. Once a beautiful and prosperous city, it has fallen into decay, with some of the worst slums in the world. In the midst of this poverty and despair, however, shines a bright and beautiful light -- the MUCEC Center which runs the "Children of Colón: Walking Together" program. Founded in 1985, one of the top priorities of this program is to help children who are too poor to go to school. But help to the 350 children in the program doesn't stop there. This project also provides school supplies, clothing, shoes, breakfasts, lunches, eye exams, eye surgery, glasses, dental and medical care. The children are listened to, hugged and given hope in a safe place where they receive love.

A Day Care program is offered to the pre-school 2-5 year olds, freeing up their mothers so they can work, knowing their children are cared for and well fed. School-age children receive daily academic help, and in 2005 all but one of the students passed their grade! Some of the children that have been assisted through school have gone on to attend the University of Panama. If ever miracles are worked by human hands, they are worked by the incredible people who run this very needed project. The SladeChild Foundation has awarded a $11,400 annual grant to Children of Colón: Walking Together. For more information, see www.mucec.org/english.

The children of Colón at left are being fed a good breakfast before school.

These young mothers are learning to cook at MUCEC. Young mothers, almost children themselves, are commonplace in the slums of Colón.