Get Involved on Global Community Engagement Day!

The first Global Community Engagement Day was celebrated on January 28th, 2018. It is a day for individuals, businesses, and organizations to broadcast how they practice community engagement and encourage others to find ways to do so in their communities and connect with others who want to do the same. It aims to highlight the value and benefits of community engagement. By engaging with different groups within the community, relationships are both built and strengthened, and the outcome is intended to benefit all. 

Global Community Engagement Day began as an idea started by Engage 2 Act, an organization that aims to progress community engagement practice by bringing people together to talk about important issues in their community. Engage 2 Act started as a small group in Southern Australia that wanted to reach out to people all over the world about what they do for community engagement. In an effort to put the holiday on the global map, they began a poll where they asked their social media followers what pioneer of community engagement stands out to them most. The top voted person’s birth date would be used as the date to commemorate Global Community Engagement Day. The poll resulted in Dr. Wendy Sarkissian as the top choice, and thus her birthday, January 28th, was chosen as the international day to celebrate and encourage community engagement. 

Community Engagement is critical for decision making, as well as for meeting the needs of the community and its people. Businesses and organizations can better address specific issues by putting the people and their needs first. This helps those making decisions gain perspective so that decisions are not being made one-sided. This process also empowers people within the community by allowing their voices to be heard, which builds trust and increases commitment between community members.

There are simple ways you can take part in #GlobalCommunityEngagementDay. You can begin by learning how you can become more involved in your community. You can donate to a cause in your community. You can discuss with your coworkers or give ideas to your employer of how your company can be more involved in the community. You can think of a list of things on your own that could help better your community and find ways to begin addressing them. Be sure to learn ways in which you can involve diverse and hard-to-reach communities. You can also help spread awareness for this day on your socials using the hashtags #GlobalCommunityEngagementDay and #CommEngageDay.

We are constantly practicing community engagement here at LtN and working on new ways to do so. We engage with our communities by building and strengthening relationships with schools and organizations on the ground to be our eyes, ears, and trusted advisors. These local leaders help provide us with the necessary infrastructure to bring lacrosse to new communities. No two LtN programs look alike because of the unique circumstances of each community. We collaborate with local leaders to identify how LtN can best help our student-athletes and community members, and then adapt our programs to address their specific challenges.

Now that you’ve learned the story behind this day, the importance of community engagement, how we do so at LtN, and different ways that you can engage with your own community, help celebrate the day with us by taking action in your community today!

#GlobalCommunityEngagementDay #CommEngageDay

Join Us on International Volunteer Day!

International Volunteer Day is a day that was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power of volunteerism and the potential it has to make a difference in the world. It gives volunteer organizations an opportunity to raise awareness for their cause and gives both organizations and volunteers the chance to gain understanding for the contributions they are making to their communities.

By volunteering, you help to improve the lives of others, make the world a better place, and you are able to gain a greater sense of belonging to your community. By donating your time, you gain valuable life skills, as well as life changing experiences and relationships. 

We would like to take the opportunity on this day to highlight the various volunteer opportunities that we have here at Lacrosse the Nations. Volunteering with LtN abroad is an incredibly unique and rewarding experience. LtN is an integral part of the communities where we work, providing volunteers with genuine connections, invaluable community development and nonprofit experience, and lifelong memories. 

You can volunteer for a one-week service trip, a 1-3 month internship, or a 6+ month fellowship. Our service trips give you a chance to see the power that lacrosse has to do some serious good in the world and will expose you to a new community and culture. 

Through our internship, or short-term volunteer program, you will be able to help implement LtN programs and player development, while also working with a wide range of community development projects. See the full internship description here. 

As a long-term volunteer, you will be a Program Director at one of our sites where you will oversee LtN program implementation, help with coach and player development, and implement community development projects. See the full Program Director position here.   

You can find more details about our volunteer opportunities and apply here! Take the leap in honor of International Volunteer Day and join our LtN team!

Celebrating Panama Independence Day!

Each year, Panamanians celebrate their Independence Day on November 28th. This day marks the independence of Panama from Spain in 1821. 

An equally important national holiday for Panama, known as Separation Day, is celebrated earlier in the month, on November 3rd. Separation Day celebrates the formal separation of Panama from Colombia in 1903. When Panama gained independence from Spain in 1821, they gained their freedom from colonizers and were a part of Gran Colombia - a union of independent states along with Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and others. Having voluntarily joined Gran Colombia, they enjoyed sovereignty and statehood within the union.

However, Panama's separation from Gran Colombia eighty-two years later is what resulted in the establishment of the Republic of Panama. This is when Panama became a truly independent country in which the power was held by the people through their own elected representatives.

Many Panamanians differ in which day marks true independence for the country but both are celebrated with equal importance throughout the country. Aside from these independence days, there are other important dates throughout the month of November that relate to the country's political independence. This is why the month of November is considered to be the Month of the Motherland or “El Mes de la Patria”, a month dedicated to the Motherland of Panama. 

“Fiesta Patria” generally refers to the patriotic holidays celebrated by Spanish-speaking countries. In Panama, it refers to the series of non-religious holidays celebrated in November. Fiesta Patria in Panama is made up of five official holidays. In addition to Separation Day and Independence Day, there is also Flag Day, celebrated on November 4th, Colon Day, celebrated on November 5th, and Los Santos Uprising Day, celebrated on November 10th. 

Panama’s independence days and all of Fiesta Patria is celebrated with various military and civilian parades, commemorative political speeches and cultural events that highlight the identities of Panama across the country. Locals wear traditional costumes and traditional food is served throughout the country. Student and civilian-led parades are filled with marching bands, firework displays, and traditional dances and music. El Mes de la Patria is also a time of strong internal tourism. There is no work in government, banks, schools and other non-tourism private companies. Cities tend to be rather empty as families and locals head towards the beach and visit local tourist destinations. 

Another unique holiday specific to wear Lacrosse the Nations operates in Panama, is Bocas Day! Bocas Del Toro became a province of the new Republic of Panama on November 16th, 1903, just days after Panama’s separation from Colombia. Events and activities are held across the province, with the largest celebrations happening right here in Bocas Town! It has clearly been a very exciting month here in Bocas and our staff here on the ground has loved being able to experience the various cultural activities happening in town. 

#PanamaIndependenceDay #FiestaPatria