Conducted in a rural area in the province of Chiriqui in Panama, this exploratory study identified the participation in, and perception of, development by rural youth. Twenty-eight young men and 8 women, between 15 and 28 years of age, were divided into 2 subgroups: campesinos--those who worked in the Asentamientos (a system of collective farming) and the Juntas Agrarias (agricultural cooperatives)--and those who worked in the Banana Company. The youth were from families organized according to traditional models, established hierarchically by sex and age. Using a semistructured model, nine interview sessions, each consisting of groups of three to five persons, were held. Interviews covered the person's: social situation, participation levels, awareness and action, motivations, specificity of participation, and perception of social structure. Findings included: both groups felt that they belonged to the lowest rung of the social scale; the young people were generally interested in participating in community activities through volunteer work; and structural changes perceived by the youth referred to the distribution of goods (mainly land), institutionalized credit, educational opportunities, housing, introduction of new technology, and some changes in the infra-structure (i.e., roads and trade facilities). (NQ)