Heading to Coclé, Panama?
Meet your Project Director!

Hola a tod@s!

My name is Natalia Dellavalle, and I will be your Project Director in Coclé, Panamá this summer! Learn about the project here.

I am currently finishing my senior year at Colorado College, where I study mathematics and Spanish. I’m originally from Denver, CO, and with the exception of a few stints abroad, have lived my entire life in Colorado.

In my free time, I enjoy theatre, reading, swimming, and knitting. My AMIGOS adventures began in 2013 as a participant in Paraguarí, Paraguay. I then served as a Project Supervisor in Coclé in 2016. Other formative experiences have included studying abroad in Ecuador and Cuba during college and playing on my college’s tennis team.

I’m so excited for all of you in your journeys as AMIGOS participants. The position was immensely challenging for me, because everything from the food to my support system to how I spent my days was new to me. However, the relationships built with community members and host families are incredibly special and rewarding. In the end, I believe it all comes down to the strength of the relationships we build with others, which is the most important part of what you will do this summer. I am so excited to support you through this challenging and rewarding summer!

My adventures with AMIGOS continued with my “survey” trip to Coclé in February. I had the opportunity to meet with host families and our partner agency contacts in Coclé to ensure that the project runs smoothly this summer. Here is a photo of me with one of our main partner agency contacts, Profe Mendoza, environmental activist and retired schoolteacher:

This summer will mark our 15th consecutive summer working in the Coclé region. We’ll be collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment to promote personal well-being and environmental preservation through “campamentos” (daily activities that you’ll lead!) and the Community-Based Initiative Projects (CBIPs).

Looking forward to learning and growing together this summer!

Haven’t applied yet? There’s still time! Come join me in Coclé – start your application here.