Ceilings of Hope Networking

In this summer vacations I had the opportunity to know and visit a little about the project Techos de Esperanza  (Ceilings of Hope) that is carried on by the Panama government at urban and rural communities. The idea is simple, give decent housing to families that have a piece of land where to place it.

The interesting part about this project, and what catch my eye is the networking type you could do, in this communities they have to give support to each other so the project function. Imagine that one day you receive the offer for building your own house, the only thing you are asked for is to have papers of your own land, and that such place has some basic conditions to build on, like having a level ground beneath or that the place is not in a risk zone.

Once you have your part done, then you receive the visit of the government deputy and the building company inspector (this time *Atlantic Projects, S.A. invited me to review the project), once every thing is in order, then if both sides authorize the material is sent to the zone and the crew of builders are selected to build the house. In 15 days the place is in black work and in one month the house could be delivered to the family.

Another interesting side business is the economic impact that this project bring to the communities where the building is done. Since its expected that the landlord brings the basic features, once a group of people from the community get to know about the project, they usually go for job hunting to make themselves useful and productive by building the houses. This job may last form more than one year in the same region. Furthermore their experience gets better, and they have jobs for considerable time periods.

Once the region is selected for the house building, there is a rising demand on side services like road use, transportation and feeding, this becomes an indirect way to improve the economy of the place.

During my visit I get to know Doralis Reina, who works at the Salamanca town hall, and she became our guide and contact with the members of the community. Doralis identify and get to know pretty well all the places and families that have asked for the government support. She told me that one important part of her job was to help the people to hand in correctly the paperwork so they could be considered for the support.

The Ceilings of Hope project, at the beginning, was planned to help 20 thousand Panamanian families, but it has had that much success that the government is now thinking in allocate more economic resources so the number could be raised to 40 thousand houses. The project now is thought to reach families that are in further rural communities and also for families that have a member with some impairment.

What type of social work you think your government could do in support of the community? Tell us about it.

*Atlantic Projects, S.A.

Dirección: Plaza Altos de Panamá, local 10, primer piso, Panamá

Contacto: Juan Antonio Belden

Teléfono: 507-3922213

Fax: 507-3922216

Networking Rules

This holiday's I have the opportunity to watch the behavior of some of my family and friend members, so I can develop the following rules that may help you to keep up with your friends or at least leave a very good impression of you:

1. If someone let you his car, always leave the gas tank full. In this vacations I lend my car to some of my family members, and each time I went on it an drive the tank always looked at its full capacity. This is a fine way to say thank you and leave a good impression that may allow you that you get again the car for another occasion.

2.- Don't smoke when someone else is visibly altered by the situation. I came from a smoking family, and for them every place is a good spot to do it, for their particular point of view. A non smoker isn't disturbing, but a smoker usually does. What to do? use the open spaces or limit yourself to spaces where the smoke can be contained. When my sister Gabriela get sick, our Dad agreed to smoke outside exclusive to avoid disturbing her more, we all thank him for the gesture, and because we all know how hard it is for him.

3.- When someone invites you a meal or a coffee, give the follow up within a week. It is harder for a woman to do that in our Latin culture, but you will always find a way to give back the attention. 

4.- If you ask for help to your friends at some house chore, give them food in compensation. This year Javier, my friend, invited us to help him with his wedding materials. What I most recall on that event is that he prepared some food for every one and make us feel in our own house.

5.- Return the money owed as soon as possible, it doesn't matter how small the amount is. This will leave clean your image and also you will have a clean credit history. At work, we probably cover our teammates at lunch time. The best way to keep a friendship came with the moment you pay back your debts.

6.- If you spend the night at a friends house, do the bed or fold the sheets before you leave. This will help your friend to avoid having an extra house work, for sure you will have another invitation, because you showed up that you cooperate with the house chores. 

7.- When somebody cook for you, offer yourself to clean the kitchen. Also the past year Ofelia and Tania went to my house to make a cake. Ofelia baked and Tania do de dishes, I want them back to make some cookies. 

8.- If you miss a call, send a text message as soon as possible, if you aren't allowed to make the call back. This way you will show your friend how important he is for you. 

Do you have some additional recommendations to improve your networking? Share with us.