Education is Key to Alleviating Poverty in Panama By Hilt Tatum IV

Introduction• Hilt Tatum IV serves as CEO and president of iPoint

Capital Partners in Panama City, Panama. In 2007, Hilt Tatum founded Project Joy Panama to give back to the country he calls home. Project Joy Panama provides families in need with critical aid, including food and school supplies, and puts special emphasis on supporting continued schooling for Panamanian youth.

Although Panama has a relatively high per capita income, approximately 37 percent of the Panamanian population lives in poverty. Nearly two-thirds of Panamanians living in poverty dwell in rural areas.

Panama• In addition, 95 percent of the country’s indigenous

populations dwell below the poverty line. However, indigenous areas have higher fertility rates. Often, children living in poverty in Panama face malnutrition.

Panama needs to take prompt action to alleviate poverty among its citizens. Programs emphasizing continued schooling can help citizens in affected areas extricate themselves from poverty. Research has shown that each year of schooling can lead to a 5 percent increase in hourly earnings. Therefore, programs such as Project Joy Panama, which support children’s educational development, can make a major difference in Panama.