Panama, Casco Antiguo

It is a fact: if you want to get a neighborhood to really change, you have to get the women involved. And once they "get it".... it is a beautiful thing to see.

Especially among a local population not used to get organized and/ or to think ahead. But once motivation and the right tools are in place, wonderful things happen, and this is how a neighborhood can get trully integrated into the revitalization process rather than just see it happen from a distance. At any scale, this is the right step towards a better future!

Today I just passed by a brand-new-great-example of this: VIP Fruit and Sandwiches! right beside VIP Barber shop at Avenida A and Calle 4ta.

For those who are not familiar with the "VIP" venture, this business started as a barbershop run by a local group of ex- gang members who went through an intense re socialization program. Once they took several trainnings they decided to keep the "gang" structure (since it worked well as an organization) but basically to change their "business" focus. Now they run a barbershop, which they have had for quite a while.

Today, walking by, I saw they "expanded" to the commercial space next door. To my amaze there it was: VIP Fruits and Sandwiches! the idea was from one of the girls in the band, since her mother´s business was selling fruit down the street. Positive Entrepreneurship! plus, the milkshakes are actually very good. Haven´t tried the sandwiches yet, but will surely do very soon...