Tara Beattie

Tara is in her final year of pursuing her B.S. in Natural Resources Ecology at the University of Vermont. After graduation, she hopes to focus on environmental and social justice issues in her community. Tara studied abroad with SIT in Panama in the spring of 2019, and did her independent research project in the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca. Tara’s research focused on the uses of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical medicine in the comarca, and how these two types of medicine are being used differently today. Through interviews, she learned that medicinal plants aren’t being used as much anymore in the community and that there is more reliance on pharmaceutical medicines. During the interviews, community members also mentioned that  other cultural practices are declining, a trend that can be seen in indigenous communities around the world. 

After living with a homestay family in the comarca for two weeks, Tara was inspired by the generosity of the community members who welcomed her into their community and who shared their stories and wisdom. One of the most memorable parts of the trip was hiking a nearby mountain to do interviews with the community who lived up there, and meeting school kids who had to hike up and down that mountain to get to school each day. Tara believes that providing access to education for all is one of the best ways to change the world for the better. By joining Few for Change, Tara hopes to be able to give back to this community that gave her such a meaningful and unforgettable experience.