What Happened
As part of March’s “Mes de la Mujer” initiative, the Alcaldía de Panamá organized a day of services and encouragement for women experiencing homelessness at Estadio Santa Rita de Santa Ana. The event provided medical attention, personal hygiene services, clean clothing and food, alongside beauty and grooming treatments aimed at rebuilding participants’ self-esteem.
Activities included haircuts, styling, makeup and accessories, as well as music, dance, a runway presentation and gift distributions. The programme culminated with remarks by Lizbeth Cunningham, director of Gestión Social, and the proclamation of María Esther Ellis as queen of the event. Microentrepreneur and former street resident Mariluz Baloy shared her testimony about the causes that led her into homelessness and the steps she took to reclaim her life.
Background
The Alcaldía framed the initiative as part of efforts to reconnect women in vulnerable street situations with improved physical and emotional well-being, helping them regain a productive and active role in society. Offering immediate services — medical care, hygiene, food and clothing — served both practical needs and the goal of restoring confidence that can motivate longer-term decisions toward stable housing and employment.
What This Means
Organizers presented the event as a first step: practical assistance to address urgent needs and human-centered activities designed to strengthen self-worth. The inclusion of a former inhabitant of the streets who is now a microentrepreneur illustrated a recovery pathway the Alcaldía aims to promote. By combining social services with symbolic gestures — a fashion presentation and the proclamation of a queen — the municipality sought to create a moment of dignity and visibility for participants.
While the activity focused on immediate support and encouragement, it also highlights the municipal government’s use of outreach events during public campaigns such as “Mes de la Mujer” to address social vulnerability. The Alcaldía’s approach underscores the role of municipal social services in offering entry points to longer-term support for women experiencing homelessness.
Next Steps
The event serves as a reminder that medical care, hygiene, clothing and emotional support are often the first tangible steps toward reintegration. The Alcaldía presented this activity as an invitation for participants to pursue definitive decisions leading back to a home, and used personal testimony to show that recovery and entrepreneurship are possible outcomes for those who receive targeted support.