Kalu Yala is a sustainable, study abroad program strategically located in the Tres Brazos Valley, some 45 minutes from Panama City, Panama’s commercial capital. According to the Kalu Yala official website, students and young professionals passionate about addressing key environmental and social issues are welcomed to the tropical frontier village connected with a 2 mile patch of rough road. Guests, who include budding entrepreneurs, artists, later day romantics and scientists of all backgrounds, are also invited. A total of 13 academic programs are offered at Kalu Yalu Institute, they include: Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Hospitality, Biology and Culinary Arts.
Students also get an opportunity to score university credit for the time they spend here. The academic credit obtained from the study is worth every student’s effort; the scores range from 3 to 12 credit hours per semester. Kalu Yala was created by an Atlanta native, Jimmy Stice with partners Kimberly Hall and Scott Romsa. Stice has extensive background in real estate and investment. The Kalu Yala mission is founded on a strong platform that encourages sustainable design, frugal economics, raw adventure and communal association. A lot has been said about Kalu Yala, both the good and the absurd. According to Kalu Yala Blog, the most sticky Kalu Yala problems include:
1. Over exhaustion
Kalu Yala is a center of many activities, including mountain climbing, adventure trekking and swimming. Participants may also find themselves hauling oversized backpacks and hopping between busses in order to get to their final destination. In between the activities, students are required to attend lectures and workshops and present sustainable living projects. All these pre-occupation causes serious mental and physical exhaustion. The community has come to the aid of the students by creating a livable town with a close-knit society that encourages the free exchange of ideas and information.
2. Dirt and sweat
The reality of the jungle life demands that you embrace dirt and sweat and all else that comes with the experience. The incessant dirt may cause you to dislike everything that you own and wear. You can get your clothes tidied up by good old hand washing technique. The other strategy is to spare sometime over the weekends and to take your clothes to a laundry mart down in Panama City.
3. Expect your looks to change
Life in the jungle can change, if not transform your life. The changes include giving up on your style of dressing, albeit briefly. Although the site has mirrors, these may not give you the same freedom you have back home. The good news is that what you lose from pampering, you gain by meeting interesting people while engaging in life changing projects and activities.
4. Expect to be bogged down by bugs
Like any jungle escape, expect your body to carry all sorts of marks from bug bites. Most of these arise from engaging in outdoor activities like rock climbing, swimming and hiking. If the marks stick, they may come off as cogent badges of honor. However, the daily work routine focused on sustainable living should help you shrug off the scrapes and help you develop a positive attitude.
5. Quitting is an option
In spite of the amazing exposure students get from living in the Kalu Yala sustainable village, the setup is not meant for everyone. Statistics show that 2.5% of all students enrolled in the program drop off before completing the program, and this is mostly due to family matters, medical issues or personal decisions. It is important to point that the drop-out rate is lower compared to the 5% industry statistic. For those who stick it out to the end, the whole experience offers them an opportunity to make lasting friendship and learn new sustainable trades.
6. Finding project materials can be difficult
While living in Kalu Yala, students are required to deliver projects and research solutions for sustainable living. The projects are also designed to help students sharpen their creativity and be conscientious about solving problems. The affordable materials for the projects are usually sought from the market, in an ecological way. These materials must be gathered within the stipulated timelines. To overcome the challenges, the village supports students by offering the necessary funding, instructions and necessary support for obtaining materials.
7. Charging the phone can be a hassle
Living at a remote local gives you a few opportunities to make a call. For the same reason, making a call to your loved ones from an off-grid locale like Kalu Yala isn’t that easy because the community is fully powered by solar energy. This means power consumption is strictly tied to the duration of the sunlight. The situation gets even tougher when it comes to night charging and rainy days. To overcome this challenge along with painstaking waits, it helps to carry your own solar charging system.
8. You need to pay tuition
Learning and experiencing the tropical haven of Kalu Yala doesn’t come cheap, you have to pay for the instructions you receive and upkeep. Students also enjoy 3 meals a day. Because of the expectations, many parents cater for their kid’s expenses while other students receive assistance from their schools. Unlike other study abroad and internship programs, a comparative analysis indicates that studying in Kalu Yala costs about $450 less a week. The student’s spending habit is also greatly curtailed since there is little to buy in the jungle.
9. Not speaking Spanish is can create a communication barrier
Panama being a Spanish speaking country means you will be meeting many Spanish speakers all throughout your stay. Although there are many English and Spanish speakers, it helps to learn the Spanish language in order to navigate the country, track and buy project materials and relate with locals. The Kalu Yala education program has incorporated weekly Spanish lessons to help students assimilate.
Conclusion
It is interesting to note that all Kalu Yala Problems are addressed with the right measure of solutions. Today, the village remains an ideal incubator for students and young professionals looking for an opportunity to undertake research geared towards achieving best practices in sustainable living. The well-thought out study programs also allow participants the opportunity to craft their own class projects that can be developed into successful startups.
Because of the benefits, guests, who include established entrepreneurs and scientists have pitched camp at the village to explore new business ideas and advance their research activities. According to an excerpt on Wikipedia, the nascent Kalu Yala institute has so far attracted students from more than 250 colleges from 48 states in the US and over 20 countries. The novel village has been featured in various publications and documentaries, but the biggest selling point for Kalu Yala sustainable living program remains the referrals from past students.
