The Panama Project
Bocas del Toro, Panama · A 7 Seas Initiative

Where vision meets action.

A living laboratory in the Caribbean showing that community driven conservation can restore ecosystems, lift up communities and inspire the world.

See the initiatives Come volunteer
Illustration of the Rotary Reef at Isla Solarte: a stilt house and mangroves above the waterline, and below it coral nursery trees, reef colonies and the resident nurse shark. ISLA SOLARTE · ROTARY REEF
7Rotary Areas of Focus in one place
1archipelago, Bocas del Toro
4-7-8-17framework used to measure every project, 47817.org
Manycultures working side by side
The flagship

The heart of the 7 Seas Initiative.

Bocas del Toro is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The Panama Project brings Rotarians, local families and partners together around one shared mission, and it is built to be copied anywhere.

Community driven

Every project is built with communities, not for them.

Measured

Each initiative is scored with the 4-7-8-17 Global Success Program.

Replicable

Designed so other coastal communities can follow the same model. Scale begins with depth.

Seven dimensions of lasting change

Our initiatives.

01

Rotary Reefs

Community managed coral nurseries and protected marine zones at Isla Solarte. A nurse shark now lives on the reef full time.

rotaryreefs.org
02

Solar and clean water

Solar systems bring clean energy and safe water to island communities that are off the grid.

03

Great Green Macaw

Thousands of mountain almond trees planted at Dolphin Bay to bring back habitat for a critically endangered bird.

themacawproject.org
04

Ocean health

Debris recovery and ocean lessons for local students with One Earth One Ocean.

05

Health and dental care

Floating Doctors, Ayuda International and Rotarian volunteers bring fluoride treatments and primary care to island children.

ayudaint.org
06

Youth and volunteer travel

University students and volunteers from around the world serve side by side with local Rotarians.

volunteertourism.org
07

Culture

Honoring the Ngäbe, Afro Caribbean, Hispanic and expat communities of Bocas del Toro as a source of strength.

From the field

Bocas del Toro, in photos.

Two men stand beside a concrete reef module shaped like the Rotary wheel in an open air workshop
A Rotary Reef module before it goes in the water
A scuba diver swims above a reef module on the sea floor
On the reef
A volunteer in gloves and a mask treats a schoolboy outdoors while other children wait
Dental care for island children
Aerial view of a stilt house over the water at the edge of a forested island
Volunteers gathered on a forest trail among young trees
Schoolchildren in white shirts sit with volunteers under an open wooden shelter
Volunteers at an outdoor table with toothbrushes and supplies for schoolchildren
Orange sponges and coral growing on an underwater structure
Voices from the field

What visitors say.

Seeing the coral colonies firsthand made clear that reef restoration is possible and urgently needed.
Donna JonesPresident, Rotary Club of Ojai West
Diving the reef her club helped build showed what clubs achieve together.
Debra TroutRotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Ten days that showed the power of collaboration, community and shared vision.
Beverly SchuberthRotary Club of Ojai West

Summaries of comments shared by visiting Rotarians.

Connected projects

Part of a bigger family.

7 Seas Initiative7seasinitiative.org 4-7-8-17 Global Success Program47817.org Rotary Reefsrotaryreefs.org The Macaw Projectthemacawproject.org Volunteer Tourismvolunteertourism.org Ayuda Internationalayudaint.org

Come as a guest, leave as a friend.

Bring your club, your passion and your ideas to Bocas del Toro.

Get in touch

steve@stevebender.net

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