Panama Horses for Special Needs Children

My name is Melissa, a retired U.S. Citizen living in Rural Panama'. I'm here today to ask for your support. for Torio Riding Stables existing Environmental Educational Program for children without means and our wished for future Summer Program for Disabled Children . We need $ 2,500. to build a wheelchair accessible bathroom.

This program will serve the Autistic, Blind, Deaf, Downs Syndrome and Wheelchair bound children from the local area, central region and beyond. As well as children affected by disease such as Polio.

Torio Riding Stables at the El Vendaval Farm is a Not for Profit NGO that has been providing local children education in compassionate animal care, riding skills, sustainable farming practices, and love for their country's beautiful flora and fauna in the privately owned Torio Nature Reserve where the farm rents it's location in Mariato District, Veraguas Province, Republic of Panama'. The children here are taught about their tropical forests, marine life, as well as wild animal species and the importance of trees to our planet in elementary school.

Thru our riding program they get hands on experience inside the forest, river, and ocean. Those who can pay a donation do and the majority who cannot do not. Children must have grades of C or above to participate. Staff and I provide help with homework for working parents. We are looking to expand our services to include children with disabilities during the dry season.

There is only one similar program existing in the Republic of Panama at this time. It exists in the area of the Capital (Panama City). It is a therapeutic program for children with disabilities and does not include a program for the poor as we do.

We need your help to feed the horses, keep the existing program going, and start the new program, as well as to continue the Community Services such as free veterinary services via phone connection with a small animal veterinarian in the local City of Santiago. The farm keeps a pharmacy, medication for small animals and small farm animals. It also provides Emergency transportation to the Human clinic 30 minutes away as well as to the veterinarian 2 hours away.

We have largely been funded through Eco-Tourism. Nature Tours on horseback of various lengths in the Tropical Forest and on the local beach. All day excursions combined with surfing or Paddle Board and Kayak Nature Tours in Mangroves where live beautiful birds, turtles, small caiman, and white face Capuchin monkeys. Camping is available on the farm grounds. The Stable offers riding lessons, horse boarding and rehabilitation care for large and small animals. We have breeding and horse sale services. We are selling organic, pasture raised chicken eggs. All proceeds and sales made by the Farm and Stable as well as local donations stay on the farm. The backbone for the last 5 years has been the MCM Trust. During these difficult time in the world due to Sars2-Covid 19 there have been no tourists to help sustain the farm and it's programs of community service and rescue animals. The MCMTrust is now depleted and we need your help!

There exists a great need here in Rural Panama'. People do not have many services. The children who come and learn with us make new friends with other children and the animals. They learn responsibility and gain Hope for the future. Their studies are encouraged and new skills are learned. Their parents work on the local ranches, or do subsistence farming. They fish and work in rice production. They clean houses, work as gardeners, drive the buses and trucks. Do whatever construction work they can find. Their children's world view is expanded. They learn sustainable practices and the importance of the local ecology (7 different species of sea turtles and Humpback whales!) All while having a lot of fun!!!

Please help the El Vendaval Farm, Torio Riding Stable, to survive and continue to provide valuable Community Services. Come visit us on your next beach vacation!