My Lumos project has officially come to a close! No lo puedo creer!! These last few weeks have been full of reflection as I prepared for my final reports and convo presentation at Belmont. I have been continually struck by the generosity of my Panamanian friends, the kindness and patience of the Calicanto team, and just how much I have grown and changed for the better from this experience. What a gift! It was a privilege to have been welcomed onto the Calicanto team and trusted to support their impact in Panama through practical systems development. I am a more grounded, experienced, and confident professional because of the opportunities they gave me.
Thank you for following along this last year as I’ve grown, struggled, learned, and changed. Settling in another country has taught me just how dynamic life is – how close to everything can and will change. The sheer amount of differences and challenges I have adjusted to over this last year have helped me determine what I want to hold onto and what I want to let go of in my life. I am a lighter but more resilient person and have a sense of hopefulness that surprises me at times. This year-long project was a large undertaking and I am happy to have finished successfully while being in a better place than when I started.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Attached is my final report summarizing my projects and experiences as a recipient of the Lumos grant in 2022. If you are interested in applying for the Lumos award, please feel free to reach out! Would be happy to share more about my application experience and help in any way.
Que este año sea llena de más crecimiento, conexiones, y posibilidades!
Renée Ramirez