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ORFIDA is a non-profit organization with

goals of helping indigenous people survive

and grow through self-empowered enterprises.

EduQuest helps link these goals

with today's young people through

educational adventure programs.

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It's all about people ...

and the Rainforest World.

ORFIDA invites you to work with the Embera-Waunan rainforest people of the Darien region of the isthmus of Panama. These people were first met by Balboa on his trek through the wilderness to find the South Seas. They were called "Choco" by the Spaniards, a name accepted but not appreciated by these sensitive people, and have been threatened by colonization ever since.

The Embera-Waunan are strongly tied into the Forest and the Ecology. Like many other indigenous people, the rain-forest is their life. If both Peoples and Ecology are to survivein this "modern" world they will need to learn how to adapt their ways to co-exist with the fast encroaching Western Civilization. With your help, ORFIDA hopes to be one of the catalysts to a sustainable existence between these worlds. One of the most promising ways of preserving the Embera-Waunan and their natural heritage is by finding new sustainable values for their resources. Through EduQuest and interaction with today's students we hope to discover what these values may be and work to apply them successfully.

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The Embera-Waunan People

of the Darien,

Isthmus of Panama'

These are the people of the village of Sambu'and their almost lost paradise.

Get to know these people and their struggle to stay free and keep their rainforest and dignity intact...

They are represented here through photography and the artist's palatte.

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Javierlito, a proud grandfather, carves a toy boat from iron hard Coco Bolo wood from the rainforest. He chooses from fallen branches the pieces that best match the shapes he wishes to carve.

Grandmother Nispera is making an heirloom quality reed basket. She selects and prepares the stalks herself. The old weave technique she uses is so tight that the basket will hold water. She hand colors the basket with natural earth pigments in traditional family designs.

The chiefs daughter with traditional ceremonial head-dress. Thick necklace of old silver coins top off the adornments.

At rivers edge the village of Sambu' surrounded by the lush tropical forest. The dense growth discourages road building, leaving transportation to river boats. Homes continue with the tradition of thatched roofs.

The students will be shown different enterprise themes and resources to learn about and discover how to "link" in an entrepreneurial way with their own homeland. Some examples of resources are :

Basket Making -high quality reed and straw baskets in different shapes and styles

Wood Carving-salvaged rainforest woods are made into exotic carvings of animals

Tagua Carving-small ivory nuts are transformed into miniature carved artpieces

Bead Work- shells, wood carvings and beads are joined together into beautiful jewelry

Pottery- ancient themes are artistically captured in hand formed clay and baked into rare pottery

Students are encouraged to explore and discover new resources from the rainforest and its peoples that may be used to maintain this environment intact.