After a great start with our new partners, Children, Incorporated, and our “sponsor a child program,” we are very happy and honored to announce that we have received our first grant! Children Incorporated submitted a grant proposal to work in partnership with Tropical Adventures Foundation to build a farmer's market in the Indigenous community of Bambu on the Talamanca Indigenous Reservation.

The idea came in response to the devastating flooding that has hit the region not once – but twice – in the last 7 months. The communities’ entire crop of plantains and bananas were destroyed, wiping out 18 months of income. We wanted to find a way to help this community find a more stable and sustainable form of income to support themselves.

The grant we received provides a total of $25,000 to create the areas’ first farmer’s market. After many trips all the way to Bambu, over the span of several months for town meetings, to work and communicate with the community, conference calls, research and crossing our fingers has been rewarded and we are ready to begin construction of the market. Our fantastic new intern, Rebecca Uncles, has been named Project Manager, and will be living in Bambu for 6 months to oversee the project.