Finca La Maya Center for the Arts offers free courses to local residents in Panama.

Finca La Maya built and opened the Culture Arts Center to the public in January of 2007.

As a way of “giving back” to our community, La Maya offers classes every Saturday: English classes (for all ages), “Art for Kids”, a computer lab, and a bi-lingual library was completed in February.  Since January 2007, the number of students has grown steadily and new students appear every month. Up to one hundred participants have attended the weekly community programs at La Maya, coming from Panama’s Pacific coast interior communities as far away as Chorrera and Rio Hato. And there are success constant stories! Several students’ applications have been accepted to universities because of their progress in La Maya’s English classes.

Finca La Maya’s goal is to enhance education and cultural opportunities for local Panamanians. Most primary schools in Panama’s “interior” (countryside) communities cannot afford to hire teachers or provide materials for English or Art instruction. New luxury resort communities in Panama are developing extremely fast and the local residents’ world is already changing profoundly. Learning new skills can help equip them with better employment possibilities and enriched lives for their families.

The number and quality of our programs at La Maya is dependent on the talents and generosity of our supporters. La Maya’s ultimate goal is to provide learning opportunities, cultural enrichment and a greater appreciation for the arts within Panama’s smaller, poorer, “interior” communities.

Teaching materials and art supplies have all been donated by friends, a few private sponsors, and local residents. Instruction is also on a volunteer basis. La Maya hopes that businesses and other supporters will join our efforts by donating materials needed for the no-cost programs. Books, paper, audio visual aids, tables, chairs, and other teaching supplies are always needed. Please contact La Maya directly for details, or come visit us!

La Maya’s new 500 square meter Arts Center is located near San Carlos on forty scenic acres just over an hour from Panama City.

The spacious and light-filled structure is versatile and is also available for instructors or leaders of any kind to bring their groups for deeper investigations of whatever disciplines they teach: writing, painting, photography, yoga, business meetings, holistic medicine, or other types of retreats or group activities. La Maya welcomes session proposals from private groups. A minimum of ten participants is required and group rates are available.