The Versatility of the LtN Experience: Rachel Ziemba
With my return to school rapidly approaching, I can confidently look back and say, what an awesome summer! I luckily got to spend June and July working for LtN in the sweaty yet beautiful Bocas. Seeing LtN’s Panama presence turn just one year old, my fellow interns and I were all reminded of both the progress that had been made in such short time and the great potential to grow that still remained.
Taking this potential as inspiration for action, we all divvied up the many things we hoped to accomplish in order to leave LtN Panama a little better than we found it and got to work. I took the lead on analyzing and reorganizing LtN’s metrics and evaluation methods in place for Nicaragua programs. In addition, I developed a similar system for Bocas, something that had yet to materialize due to the growing nature of our programs there.
Working in a foreign country for a small non-profit with a relatively new presence in the area, this summer proved to be equally as challenging as valuable. I learned to navigate working with limited resources, mastering the art of improvisation and problem solving. Cultivating genuine trust with the local community by immersing myself wholeheartedly also required me to take a few worthwhile steps outside my comfort zone.
“For a Biology major with aspirations to become a physician one day, what struck me most about my time with LtN was how I will be able to transfer all that I learned to my academic discipline and intended career path."
For a Biology major with aspirations to become a physician one day, what struck me most about my time with LtN was how I will be able to transfer all that I learned to my academic discipline and intended career path. While the actual work I do will change one day, it will do so in name only, as the principles that govern working to improve the lives of others using creative, modest methods and solutions will remain the same. Similarly, I know one day I’ll be able to point to my experience connecting with the players and parents of Bocas as a strong foundation for the ability to establish honest, natural relationships with patients and families.
While interning with LtN this summer, I learned to make the most of the available resources to maximize the benefit of my presence anywhere for whomever I may serve. My biggest dream for the future is to be able to care for people in the greatest need, and I’m grateful to LtN for giving me the tools to accomplish my dreams. I sincerely hope that one day I may be able to use my newly-minted background in a small, international non-profit organization to work for a humanitarian cause and help make the world a better place.
As a final sendoff I must say THANK YOU to LtN for an amazing and valuable summer. I will forever carry with me the countless lessons learned in Bocas.
Our First LtN Experiences: Summer Interns Talk
Only a short two weeks ago, we landed in Bocas del Toro ready to learn, experience and assist in all aspects of LtN programs. So far, it’s been awesome. From how to organize practice plans to understanding the value of community engagement and trust, our interns have seen so much. We spend our mornings going on runs along the water, our days with kids at practice and the local school, and our nights binging Netflix together and learning how to cook for a house of 6. By the time we reach the weekend, we are grateful for the time to explore the islands, bike around town, and catch up on some Z’s. Being able to bounce new program ideas off of each other has brought us many laughs and much learning. Here are our initial reactions of LtN in Bocas and what we are excited for over the next couple months...
Gunnar: “I’m excited to see the day-to-day of living and working here. From how to effectively get in touch with the community and help serve their needs to how a nonprofit operates, all elements are important to me - no matter how little.”
Will: “As the primary intern in charge of fundraising, I am working on growing our LtN network this summer. Learning more about how LtN connects various teams and programs to grow the game has been a really cool experience. I am blown away by how invested our supporters are in our mission and by the interest I have seen from those wanting to get involved.”
Jordan: “In my first two weeks I have seen how lacrosse extends beyond the field and brings joy, structure, and learning to kids. For example, one of our players was awarded his very own lacrosse stick due to showing respect, teamwork, and consistent effort at practice. His face lit up! Knowing the influence this sport can have on so many lives makes me really pumped for this summer.”
Rob: “The positive attitudes of kids and their desire to learn each and every day has really been inspiring. Not only do they exemplify the impact that LtN’s programs can have on a community, but the positivity and engagement of the kids open the door for further growth. As the lead intern for our Community Outreach element, I am excited to work with the community and continue mutually beneficial work here in Panama.”
Rachel: “Seeing the passion that our young players have for the sport makes me even more excited to share my love of the game with them and continue to grow the sport through LtN.
Program Director, Maria: “The kids at practice are so helpful and patient with me as I begin to develop my Spanish skills that it makes every day that much more fun! I am truly learning virtually every minute of every day.”
Lessons Learned in Colombia
Along with LtN Board Chairman Greg Bice, and two of his Resolute Lacrosse staff members, we set off to explore Bogotá for 5 days. Our objective was to see if the communities we visited would accept LtN, be open to having our programs and what it would cost to get us off the ground.
by Javier Silva
This past March I had the opportunity to take a trip to Bogotá, Colombia. Our goal was to explore the potential of opening a new site in the country. Along with LtN Board Chairman Greg Bice, and two of his Resolute Lacrosse staff members, we set off to explore Bogotá for 5 days. We visited 1 school, and 3 non-profit organizations. We also ran a clinic for the Colombia Lacrosse Association (players between the ages of 15 and 40). A HUUGE thank you to Jill Byers and Mike “Peeps “ Peeples for joining us on this trip and making it a massive success.
Our objective for the week was to see if our programs would be a good fit for Bogotá, if the communities we visited would accept us and what it would cost to get us off the ground. Below are the key takeaways from that week.
Every place we visited had a clear need for LtN programs. Each school/organization we visited did not have the resources to provide enough extracurricular activities or structured sports programs for all their participants. The challenges these kids face are things discussed in our Life Skills Curriculum and discussing those topics will definitely help them. If LtN can provide role models and mentors for these young people it will help them face these challenges head on.
The country is hungry for lacrosse. There are over 100 lacrosse players in Bogotá and club teams across 3 other cities (Medellin, Pereira, and Tunja). Both men and women have competed in the FIL World Championships. With the right support, lacrosse will explode in Colombia. This is a huge benefit for us as it adds an element we don’t have in Nicaragua or Panama. Giving our volunteers and team trip participants the opportunity to play/coach/ref at a higher level.
The only risk in Colombia is wanting to stay. Let’s face it, Colombia has a reputation for being unsafe. It was a big point of emphasis during our week. Would we feel comfortable bringing high school, college and club teams to volunteer? Can we recruit long-term program directors to dedicate 6 months or more to live in Bogotá? The answer to all of that was an emphatic, YES. Just like any other country where we operate, we have to be cognizant of our surroundings and take precautions but no more than we would travelling to NYC or London.
We need to develop more partnerships and relationships. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in ten years it’s that in order to succeed we need to work together. That means partnering with like-minded organizations, building relationships in the communities and establishing our selves as a long-term ally. The only way to do that is to dedicate time and energy in those communities. If LtN is to successfully expand into Colombia this is where we will have to invest our time.
Bogotá is a massive city. With 8 million residents, Bogotá, would be, by far, the biggest city we’ve brought our programs to. The opportunity to expand within Bogota and other cities is huge.
After spending time in Bogotá, we know it is the right place for LtN to expand to next. We also know that it will take a lot of time and resources to get us off the ground. We’ll need to rally the support of our community and put the time in to ensure its success. Launching programs in Colombia may take some time, but we hope that when we do, you will be ready to support us and be a part of it all.