Licda Patricia Mendoza Becker de Villagra

Patricia Mendoza Becker de Villagra is an educator, promoter of ancestral medicine, and advocate for the cultural rights of the Ngäbe-Buglé people in Panama. Her life is a testament to resilience, community vocation, and a deep faith in the transformative power of education.

She was born and raised in a remote coastal community in the province of Bocas del Toro, where from a young age she lived without access to roads, basic services, or nearby schools. As a child, she walked more than three hours a day to attend school. Her childhood was marked by working in the fields, growing food, and caring for animals alongside her family.

A mother of six, Patricia has been the cornerstone of her household. In challenging economic conditions, she worked long hours to ensure her children could pursue their education. As her children trained in various disciplines—from education to medicine—she also resumed her own studies. She graduated with a high school diploma in Commerce with an emphasis on Information Technology and later earned degrees in Educational Sciences and Secondary Education from the Autonomous University of Chiriquí.

Patricia sees education as a tool for liberation and equity. Thanks to her example and perseverance, all of her children have become professionals committed to their communities. Her story reflects a deep conviction: that it is never too late to learn, grow, and lead.

In her community work, she has been a driving force in promoting traditional medicine. Since 2011, she has worked with the Association of Traditional and Natural Health Agents of the Ngäbe-Buglé (ASASTRAN), coordinating networks of midwives and traditional healers across various regions. As the association’s Secretary General, she has led efforts with the Ministry of Health to gain recognition of these ancestral practices within the national health system.

Since 2020, Patricia has collaborated with Phalarope as a consultant in intercultural health, supporting training and supervision processes for traditional midwives in the regions of Nedrini and Kädri. Her approach integrates ancestral wisdom with community-based public health tools, fostering culturally relevant and sustainable maternal and neonatal care models.

She has facilitated workshops on maternal and child health, leadership, HIV prevention, and community empowerment in partnership with organizations such as the Peace Corps, INADEH, and AMPYME.

Today, Patricia Mendoza Becker is a respected and admired voice—an example of Indigenous leadership committed to human development, social justice, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge. Her work continues to pave the way for new generations of women, leaders, and educators in Panama. We are honored to have her on our team, guiding our programs in rural Panama.