VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0422/01 1471544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271544Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3424

UNCLAS PANAMA 000422 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND PRM/ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF
SUBJECT: PANAMA:  JULIA TAFT REFUGEE FUND NOMINATION 
 
REF: SECSTATE 14280 
 
 ¶1.  (U) Post is pleased to nominate local NGO Fundacion 
Calicanto for a 20,000 USD grant from the Julia Taft Refugee 
Fund for job training for refugees and persons under 
Temporary Humanitarian Protection (THP). 
 
Filling A Gap 
------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) A critical gap in services provided to refugees and 
persons under Temporary Humanitarian Protection (THP) in 
Panama is job training.  To satisfy their basic needs and 
better integrate into the community, refugees need access to 
jobs in an increasingly competitive urban job market.  THP 
persons, who are not legally permitted to participate in the 
formal labor sector and live in difficult-to-access areas, 
would benefit from trade skills that could fulfill local 
labor needs and bring skills into their communities. 
 
¶3.  (U) Post proposes that PRM award 20,000 USD from the 
Julia Taft Refugee Fund to assist refugees and THP persons in 
Panama obtain job training.  We propose that these funds be 
awarded to Fundacion Calicanto, an established and 
well-respected local NGO that has experience providing job 
training to low-income individuals. 
 
 
Fundacion Calicanto 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Fundaction Calicanto has operated for 15 years in the 
Casco Antiguo area of Panama City, training persons of 
limited resources in basic job skills.  In its training, 
Fundacion Calicanto has an integrated approach, so in 
addition to teaching basic job skills, training includes the 
development of self-esteem, personal finance management and 
time management. 
 
¶5.  (U) Fundacion Calicanto is eager to open up its training 
to urban and rural refugees and THP persons, and has plans to 
tailor its classes to the specific needs of these groups. 
They plan to add segments on refugee and THP rights and 
responsibilities to the existing curriculum and will assist 
job seekers by interfacing with employers to clarify the 
legal aspects of hiring refugees. 
 
¶6.  (U) The local UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices 
support this proposal, and UNHCR has agreed to supplement the 
proposal with additional travel funds for rural refugees, as 
detailed in paragraph 10.  Fundacion Calicanto's programs are 
known to Post as excellent and well-run.  Fundacion Calicanto 
has a number of corporate and NGO partners, including the 
Casco Antiguo Board of Trustees and the Bern Hotel Group. 
 
 
Training and Associated Costs 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Post proposes to work with UNHCR and IOM to identify 
20 refugees and THP persons who would benefit from job 
training and enroll them in Fundacion Calicanto's courses. 
We would like to offer courses to 12 refugees living in 
Panama City's urban environs as well as to 4 refugees and 4 
THP persons living in the Darien. 
 
¶8.  (U) The courses offered by Fundacion Calicanto and their 
associated costs are as follows: 
 
Housekeeping assistant:  1,000 USD 
Handyman's assistant:  1,000 USD 
Electrician's assistant:  900 USD 
Welder's assistant:  900 USD 
 
¶9.  (U) The cost of the courses include work permit costs, 
health certification, interview preparation and appropriate 
certification fees.  For example, the housekeeping assistants 
will receive at completion of their course a "Best Service" 
certification, allowing them to work for international cruise 
lines or five star hotels, and those completing the Welder's 
assistant course will receive an industrial welding 
certification. 
 
¶10.  (U) It is expected that urban refugees in Panama City 
would live at home and commute to classes.  However, the 8 
rural refugees and THP persons who live in the remote Darien 
province will need assistance in obtaining transportation, 
food and lodging during training.  Post proposes allocating 
the funds remaining after paying tuition for 20 students to 
supplementing these costs for the 8 individuals coming from 
the Darien for training.  As we do not expect this funding to 
be sufficient to wholly support these individuals during 
their stay, UNHCR has agreed to cover any additional expenses 
for lodging, food and transportation for these individuals. 
 
 
¶11.  (U) For further information, please contact Laurie 
Younger in Post Panama's Political Section at 
youngerlk@state.gov. 
STEPHENSON