UF Law alumni team up to empower indigenous rights

in Rural Panama
Two organizations founded by University of Florida alumni are teaming up to raise funds to
support a unique trip to Central America.

Village Rights International (VRI) is a non-profit organization that supports legal education and
advocacy for rural indigenous communities in Latin America. CrowdLaw is the first and only
online platform to cater exclusively to legal advocates and clients. Through a CrowdLaw-funded
campaign, VRI hopes to further its mission to help poverty-stricken native peoples in Panama
mount legal challenges against corporate and state interests that threaten their communities.
Over 25% of Panamas population lives in poverty. Nearly half of those living in rural areas
suffer from poverty, and a quarter of those people experience extreme poverty. For
Panamanian natives, the numbers are worse 80% live below the poverty line and 50% are
extremely poor.
VRI Director Benjamin Goodman (UF Law 12) founded Village Rights International after he
witnessed first-hand the legal issues faced by indigenous communities in Latin America. VRIs
vision is to prepare indigenous communities to meet legal challenges arising from development
and conservation. VRI is currently addressing the legal needs of the Kuna community of Morti
as it deals with the challenges of conservation and development in Panama.
CrowdLaw.net a University of Florida Innovation Hub startup founded in 2014 by Henry
Perlstein (UF Law 12) enables advocates and clients to create a campaign to raise funds for
legal advocacy. Donors can choose to remain anonymous or identify themselves. Clients and
advocates may also choose to seek funding privately. All donations are secured by PayPal, and
all funds are distributed transparently to benefit advocacy. There is no charge to users of the
platform, which makes the service unique.
Bringing VRI and CrowdLaw together was a natural fit, says Perlstein.

VRIs work isnt just about providing access to resources, he says. Its also about providing
access to justice. And thats what CrowdLaw is about, too.
Perlstein believes that the advocacy landscape is changing, and sees donation fees and other
markups as obstacles to making meaningful social impact.
Crowdfunding as a tool of disruption enables us to rethink previously unsustainable models,
says Perlstein. Platforms like CrowdLaw.net, and others that will surely emulate it, will
empower the next generation of change-makers."
VRIs upcoming trip to Panama funded through a recently launched CrowdLaw campaign is
essential to the success of its program and the continuance of assistance to its clients. The trip
will be divided in two phases.
Week one will be dedicated to development. Goodman will meet with Panama Director
Teobaldo (Teo) Martinez and Director of Projects Wilfredo Lopez to discuss the progress and
future of VRI. These meetings will be used to evaluate the progress of VRIs Legal Education
Campaign, to develop strategy, and build team morale. Goodman will also interview other
community members as potential volunteers.
In the second week, Goodman will partner with Solea Water (www.soleawater.org) to initiate a
clean water project for the Kuna village of Wala, one of Mortis neighbors in the Wargandi
Comarca.
VRI is currently seeking funds via CrowdLaw to make this trip a reality. See funding site for
further information: https://campaigns.crowdlaw.net/campaigns/vri-panama-trip-march25th-april-8th/
Contact:
+1 (352) 575-0504
Twitter: (@)crowdlawnet
Website: http://crowdlaw.net