The Embassy of Barbados in Panama was delighted to welcome students from The St. Michael School, on August 12, as they embarked on their Spanish language immersion programme, in Panama City and Medellin, Colombia.
This was revealed by the Embassy as it shared how the students, accompanied by their Deputy Principal Vernell Woods and organisers Caroline Pennont, and Lester King, experienced “a rich cultural exchange and language learning opportunity”.
According to the Embassy, the visit included insightful presentations from Genetta Stapleton, a Panamanian with Barbadian heritage, who explained the historical connection between the two countries. Maurice Beckles, Senior ICT Associate with UNICEF and Kyle Gittens, Senior Business Development Officer, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Panama Office, inspired the students with their personal journeys and emphasised the importance of language acquisition.
Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, Ian Walcott, along with First Secretary Michelle Carter and BTMI Director for Latin America, Corey Garrett, engaged with the students, further enriching their experience.
The Embassy of Barbados in Panama noted that the trip highlights a growing trend of Barbadian schools utilising Copa Airlines’ direct flights to Panama to immerse their students in the Spanish language and culture. It further noted that these initiatives are viewed as vital for fostering connections between Barbados and its Latin American neighbours, broadening students’ horizons, and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
The Embassy had previously welcomed students from Combermere, Darryl Jordan Secondary, St. Winifred’s, and Alleyne Schools. It is hoping that more schools would take advantage of the direct flights provided by Copa, to expose their students to their Latin-American neighbours.