Meet a Just Hope Hero: Carolina Patiño Bermudez

March 18, 2016

Raised in a loving, close-knit family in Columbia, from a young age Carolina developed a heart for sharing the love of God and helping others.

An occupational therapist by trade, Carolina’s life intersected with Panama’s oldest orphanages, which simply do not have the capacity to help their children once they age out of care. These young adults leave the only home they have ever known and face a reality where prostitution and crime may appear to be their only options.

Just Hope commissioned Carolina to develop a curriculum and pilot a program to teach these young adults survival skills. The students will learn things like how to safely use public transportation, what a healthy relationship looks like, and how to interview for a job. English lessons will also be part of the program, as being fluent in English can greatly improve the students’ career options.

Carolina has hired and trained local teachers to teach the survival skills and English classes. It’s impossible to know exactly how this class will fare, but we do know that the students’ very survival is on the line, as they venture out into one of the most dangerous environments in the world.

Check back to follow Carolina’s journey as she and her team empower young adults to plan for their future and provide for themselves.