Come June next year I am embarking on a brigade to Panama to a rural community. I will be working in a legal clinic we set up in order to provide the community members with legal advice on their human rights. As part of my brigade I am to raise as much money as I can and I kindly ask for any donations however small!

You may think why the hell does this concern me, it's in Panama? I understand, however I am also appealing to your better human nature. The people in this community are isolated and cut off from resources, expertise and life that we take for granted in the western world. Not everyone is as fortunate as ourselves. We live in a civilized system where we feel protected (mostly) and have the option to be heard should things go wrong. But when these Panamanians experience crime or violations of their human rights that cut to the unimaginable core of human dignity, they have no one to help them, they simply have to 'put up' with the abuse. There is a complete lack of access to justice, no one to help or listen to them. Can you imagine the disgust and frustration you would feel if you were ignored and brushed off, if no one cared or would help you receive the legal justice you deserve and you had no choice but to live with it? ... (a mild PG example, imagine you want to divorce your partner and no one will help you or let you)

The brigade will help bring justice to this community and provide them with the relief and resources that, in some cases, they need to help rebuild their life. Your donations will go towards achieving this, and will be put towards implementing sustainable programmes which will continue to help them even once we have gone. I like to think that if it was me in that position those who were more fortunate than myself would be willing to help, the community and myself would be HUGELY grateful for any sort of donation you can give!!