Chiquita donates an Early Stimulation Specialized Center for Children from vulnerable communities
Maintenance of the building will be taken care of by the Social Development Ministry.
Bocas del Toro, Panama. More than 40 vulnerable children from the province of Bocas del Toro and specifically from the Theobroma community and surrounding areas will have, starting December 7, an Integral Care Center for Early Childhood (CAIPI).
The main objective of this center, donated by Chiquita to the State, is to provide infants with a secure space for their development and growth.
The Company's effort was supported by the German company REWE, through its Central America Fund program, as well as by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).
“This donation answers to Chiquita's second sustainability pillar ‘Being a Good Neighbor’, whose purpose is the Company's commitment and responsibility in developing a positive and long-term impact in the communities where it operates. All this is achieved through investing in social projects for children and education, among other issues,” commented Wagner Beig, Chiquita’s Director of Agriculture.
The center (CAIPI) has different rooms to provide nutritional and social care, an open area to grow different types of crops, and the necessary furniture to carry out therapies.
As of today, the Ministry of Social Development will be the entity responsible for providing maintenance and sustainability to the property.
“Investing in early childhood is investing in the present of our country. And we will manage all the necessary resources to promote and respect the rights in our children’s early childhood and facilitate access to supervised growth spaces.”
“At the same time, I would like to thank, on this occasion, the private sector for generating continuity in the necessary alliances within the framework of their corporate social responsibility programs and for continuing to contribute to the development and growth of Panamanian children. Early childhood is forever. Let us make it everyone's business,” said Markova Concepción, Minister of Social Development.
The donation ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, the Minister of Development, Markova Concepción, and Chiquita’s Director of Agriculture, Wagner Beig.
About Theobroma
Theobroma is a community in the 30s farms, a district of Changuinola in the province of Bocas del Toro which has more than 1,200 inhabitants. More than 30% of the children of this community belongs to Chiquita workers. In 2013, Chiquita carried out a social study that showed a great need for specialized care for children, and from that data, a project was developed to meet these needs in a holistic way.
About Chiquita
Chiquita is a leading global company that employs 18,000 people in 25 countries and has a presence in almost 70. At all the markets where it is present, Chiquita works continuously to be the preferred banana. It offers consumers and customers the highest quality of fruit and service while creating constant value for the Chiquita brand, its customers, suppliers, partners, and communities by respecting the environment.
