Howard Walker says it was his heart that led him on various mission trips while working as a Barrie architect.

During one of his trips to Panama, however, he left his heart behind after falling in love with Mariela, an indigenous woman from Guna Yala (Guna territory).

“Guna is a different world from Panama,” Walker said. “The climate is very much like the mainland, and it’s very peaceful.”

Walker was touched by her family’s passion to support people’s basic needs, such as health and education, in the area of Achutupu.

Ten years and a marriage later, Walker is now reconnecting with Barrie friends to help out his new family and their foundation, Aid 4 Guna.

Walker has kept ties with friends and family here and regularly sees optometrist Rex Leyte, who provides annual eye examinations for the Guna people.

“The Guna women are well-known for their exquisite sewing of ‘molas’ — a sought-after colourful blouse panel and distinctive part of their dress,” Walker said.

The women also make colourful beaded bracelets called winis. Good vision is needed for the intricate details.

The sales from molas and winis provide family income to the poor area.

Aid 4 Guna has many volunteers like Leyte who dedicate their skills and time to help the area. Volunteer also includes dentists who do fillings and fluoride treatments to help with oral hygiene.

“Oral hygiene is important and it’s something we’re working on to keep teeth clean,” Walker said.

“Our area has a lot of tourists who come and give the children candy, which defeats our purpose. We’re trying to tell them to avoid sugary candy.”

The smiles on the children’s faces are evident when Walker shares pictures of them enjoying a new playground at the local school.

“Last year saw the purchase and installation of slides and swings for a children’s playground,” Walker said.

The school has pre-kindergarten classes, up to Grade 9, teaching lessons in Spanish and Guna.

“Achutupu has 2,000 residents and 600 children go to the school,” he said.

Another project Aid 4 Guna recently introduced was a fishing co-op, which bought a net that can be borrowed to help supply food and small profit for the co-op members.

“It has been a great success. They’re stakeholders in what they’re doing. They’ve become the owners.”

A major project currently underway is the replacement of an old palm-thatched roof on the local church. Fundraising is still underway for the project and Walker is reaching out to the Barrie area to help.

He said Aid 4 Guna does not receive any government financing, but it is partnered with the international aid group Devxchange, which is hosting a fundraiser Oct. 24 at the Royal Canadian Legion.

Leyte will talk about his experiences with the Guna people and will shows photos supplied by Walker as well.