By Alexei Oduber, Rotary Club of Panamá Nordeste, Panama
As a past president of my club and district Rotary Foundation chair, I have seen and participated in many successful Rotary projects. A recent water sanitation project has shown me that, even after nearly 30 years, there are still new ways to take action with Rotary.
The project focused on improving lives in Panama’s Darién province, home to several indigenous communities. Accessible only by canoe and small boat, the region is cut off from many of the resources that keep Panamanians healthy and safe, from roads and electricity to clean water and advanced medical care. As families rely on untreated river water for bathing and drinking, deadly illnesses endanger learning, lives, and livelihoods.
With the support of a global grant, a partner club in Roswell, Georgia, USA, and the non-governmental organization Solea Water, my club embarked on an initiative to strengthen Darién communities via access to clean water.
Rotary’s Action Plan lays out Rotary’s priorities for increasing impact, expanding reach, enhancing engagement, and increasing our ability to adapt. The plan has helped me reflect on the water project’s initial wins and identify key takeaways to enhance future efforts.
Breaking barriers to expand Rotary’s reach
The Darién region is more than 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) away from my Panama City club, and without road or utility access, we had to get creative to meet community needs. At the suggestion of our partner club in Roswell, we formed a new relationship with Solea Water, which specializes in water access. Because Solea Water already had connections and expertise in the Darién region, they helped us identify innovative solutions. By building solar panels, for example, we worked together to find a way to operate water treatment machinery in an area without access to an electrical grid.
The project’s success also hinged on empowering local leaders, who received specialized training to oversee the installation and maintenance of a solar-powered water treatment facility. These leaders helped to build trust and bridge language barriers between Rotarians in Panama City, and locals in Darién. And now, with local expertise in place to conduct vital maintenance and repairs, Darién communities will have lasting and consistent clean water access.
Involving communities
By expanding its reach into the Darién region, the Panama Nordeste Rotary Club has made a profound positive lasting change. To date, the initiative has provided hundreds of families with safe, clean water.
The benefits extend far beyond physical health. Children go to school because they don’t have stomach issues anymore. Teachers say, “It’s amazing I can see my students, when before my classroom was often empty.”
And while students are participating more fully in school, adults have found they have increased time and energy to work and support their families. The community can continue to farm and do other things because they don’t have to go to the river and strain their bodies to get water.
Darién residents have grown to trust and see Rotary and Solea Water as true partners in improving their communities. They have begun to speak up about other sanitation needs, from latrines to additional maintenance training. My club hopes to continue partnering with organizations like Solea Water to support communities in the region.
Working with Rotary’s next generation
Looking ahead, I am confident we can take on more large-scale projects. It pays off to get a little uncomfortable. While we were initially concerned about the level of commitment of a global grant and a project this size, what we’ve found is that it has really excited and engaged members.
I believe this is particularly true for newer, younger members – and for any member looking to balance Rotary’s incredible social connections with opportunities for large-scale, meaningful impact.
We need to make Rotary exciting and relevant. Bigger, bolder projects like these not only address critical needs but also inspire a new wave of Rotarians dedicated to making a difference.
Alexei Oduber is a past president of the Rotary Club of Panamá Nordeste and the 2024-27 district Rotary Foundation chair in District 4240.
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/04/10/rotarys-action-plan-in-motion-clean-water-in-darien-panama/