With so many sources of news and information, it may be difficult to discern which ones are telling the truth. However, learning the truth is important because it helps you figure out if you are making the right decision.
Perhaps you are a student or a professional considering diving into the Kalu Yala program. You want to find out more information about it, but there are confusing websites that show rumors about the village and even its founder, Jimmy Stice.
If you are curious about the truth about Kalu Yala, read further as this article discusses the village’s background, the story and mission behind it, and it will also be addressing the rumors that surround this remote village.
The Background of Kalu Yala
Kalu Yala is a community born out of a bold mission to change the world. Its founder, James “Jimmy” Stice, wanted to start a community that is completely self-sustaining and can serve as a model for all other communities in the world. He gathered like-minded individuals, investors, and other professionals who want to dedicate their time and skills to the creation of this village.
Since 2008, Kalu Yala started to grow. James Stice also included a study abroad program which encourages students to learn from the sustainable living practices and also contribute to the growth of the natural community.
Kalu Yala rose to fame as it was featured in many news outlets and James Stice was even invited to speak to a Ted Talk convention to share his ideas. Many students, families, and other earth-conscious individuals went to visit Kalu Yala and had a wonderful experience. This is what Kalu Yala strives to be–a model village for sustainable living that people can learn from and contribute to.
The rumors behind Kalu Yala
Although the majority of the students who went through the program gave positive reviews, some media outlets took advantage of Kalu Yala’s popularity and sensationalized the news of some students leaving for personal reasons.
The truth of the matter is, there is a very small percentage of students leaving the internship program and most of them leave for personal reasons which are apart from their experiences in the village. This is the truth about Kalu Yala. Like any other study abroad programs, some students would have to attend to personal matters at home.
Other rumors would show that Kalu Yala experienced a lawsuit. This is very far from the truth. There was no Kalu Yala lawsuit, and there are no charges filed against James Stice nor the village as a whole. These rumors of a Kalu Yala lawsuit are also a part of the sensationalism brought by media outlets.
Understanding what Kalu Yala is about
If Kalu Yala isn’t about people leaving, having issues or being the focus of a lawsuit, then what is it really about? It’s an example of a community that rose from adversity. Despite these false rumors, Kalu Yala stands true to its mission.
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Kalu Yala’s mission to contribute to mainstreaming of renewable energy
There have been attempts to make renewable energy sources a mainstream part of our energy expenditure. Sadly, corporate energy giants do not want this to happen. They are scared that businesses will crumble if people don’t purchase energy made from oil, gas, or other non-renewable sources. Thankfully, Kalu Yala is making a gradual change in that. They are providing models to create renewable energy sources that are acquired from the immediate environment. In this way, it may be possible for renewable energy sources such as water, solar and wind to be used in regular homes.
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Kalu Yala’s mission to create eco-friendly homes
Part of Kalu Yala’s goal is to develop engineering practices that help builders create sturdy homes out of locally sourced materials. These are wooden raw materials that are acquired from the forests of Panama. In this way, there is no need to leave carbon footprint from exporting materials, the extra cost of transportation, and other inconveniences of using synthetic items. Eco-friendly homes are a great way to modernize community development without harming the environment.
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Kalu Yala’s mission to produce locally sourced food
When food is locally grown, it will most likely be free of toxins, pesticides, hormones, and all other harmful chemicals that most big corporations place in their products. Locally produced food also supports the industry of the area, which contributes to the overall economy. It also saves money for the individuals because locally sourced food will always be in season, and hence there are cheaper costs to produce and purchase it.
Make your mission a worthwhile one. If you consider joining Kalu Yala, it will be a life-changing mission that can help build a better world.
