Panama, Costa Rica, & Peru

 

on a gap program in 2013 through Panama, Costa Rica, and Peru. This was where I was first exposed to food sovereignty issues in Latin America, and how local and international organizations partner with local communities to improve related conditions. Throughout the three months, I loved learning about the vast diversity between and within each country. I looked forward to our regular Spanish courses, as I realized my desire to improve my language skills was driven by my yearning to better communicate and exchange information with my host families and the local people I was meeting every day.

Since then, I have done my best to explore more of the rich and diverse cultures the continent possesses. After This led me to real life application, being able to partner with organizations to participate in projects working towards common goals was also inspirational to me. Equally inspiring were the local people I met and spoke to in the different communities, many of which were personally affected by the projects. Food justice issues in Latin America soon became my passion, and I have since actively sought opportunities to gain experiences and expand my knowledge in such a widespread and complex subject.