Bocas del Toro, Panama
Coral reef restoration, rainforest replanting, the return of the Great Green Macaw and fluoride dental care on Isla Popa, all in one archipelago where volunteers can see the work for themselves.
Visit the Panama projectsRotary Club of Newport Beach · Global Service Club
Service without borders. Impact without limits.
Building Bridges Through Rotary connects clubs, communities and partners across borders, so one club’s idea becomes shared work that restores ecosystems and strengthens the people who depend on them.
- Germany
- Canada
- United States
- Mexico
- Panama
- India
- Indonesia
Why bridges
Rivers, reefs and migrating monarchs don’t stop at borders. Neither should service.
Club to club
Sister clubs on both sides of a border plan and carry out projects together, backed by Rotary Global Grants and each other’s know-how.
People to planet
Every project pairs environmental restoration with jobs, health and education for the communities who live closest to it.
Idea to action
Models that work are written down and shared openly, so any club, anywhere, can pick one up and adapt it at home.
Rotary’s seven Areas of FocusPeacebuilding and conflict preventionDisease prevention and treatmentWater, sanitation and hygieneMaternal and child healthBasic education and literacyCommunity economic developmentSupporting the environment
On the ground
Rotarians on both sides of the border, at work together
Building Bridges Through Rotary Throughout the Americas took the stage at EarthX in 2025 with Bettina Hausmann, Dave Rice and Marko Kärkkäinen, and in 2026 Bricia ElAwar presented Mexico River Projects. We are grateful to Trammell S. Crow and EarthX for a stage where clubs from both sides of the border stand together.
Where the bridges start
Two living laboratories
The US-Mexico border and beyond
From the Tijuana River Valley to Mazatlan and the monarch forests of central Mexico, clubs on both sides of the border take on sewage, plastic, water and habitat together.
Visit The Mexico ProjectThe project family
One network, many bridges
Each project has its own home online. Start with the one closest to your club’s passion.
Ocean and coast
Rotary ReefsCoral reef restoration in Bocas del Toro, Panama, led by the Rotary Club of Newport Beach.rotaryreefs.org The Mangrove ProjectRestoring mangroves for coastal resilience and carbon, with partner clubs from Panama to India and Indonesia.themangroveproject.org The Turtle ProjectOne home for every organization working to protect the world’s seven sea turtle species.turtleproject.org The Mazatlan ProjectMarine conservation, ocean education and regenerative tourism in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.themazatlanproject.com The Plastic ProjectsA living database of plastic pollution solutions that are already working.theplasticprojects.orgLand and forest
The Tree ProjectsRainforest restoration in Panama and a protected forest in Finland.thetreeprojects.org The Macaw ProjectBringing the Great Green Macaw back to the skies of Bocas del Toro by 2030.themacawproject.org Regen RootsAn open field manual for regenerative agriculture, with a pathway for Rotary clubs.regen-roots.orgWings across borders
Monarchs Without BordersProtecting the monarch butterfly migration across Canada, the United States and Mexico.monarchswithoutborders.org Pollinators Without BordersSeeds, habitat and help for migratory pollinators across the Americas.pollinatorswithoutborders.orgWater and health
Tijuana River ProjectConfronting the sewage crisis in a river and estuary two countries share.tijuanariverproject.org Help in a Box WaterSafe drinking water and conservation resources, from the Philippines to Ghana.helpinaboxwater.org The Phoenix ProjectA catamaran with swappable modules for clinics, clean water and restoration where roads don’t reach.thephoenixproject.earthPeople and the future
Growing Green LeadersA youth climate challenge for classrooms across the United States, Canada and Mexico.growinggreenleaders.org VolunteerTourism.orgService travel that puts volunteers to work alongside local communities.volunteertourism.org LoopwayA directory of groups keeping reusable materials out of the landfill.loopway.org One Planet One PlateEveryday eating that is good for you and for the planet.oneplanetoneplate.orgHow we measure success
The 4-7-8-17 framework
Every project is checked against four frameworks at once, so it is true, fair and built to last.
4
The Four-Way Test
Rotary’s ethical test for everything we think, say and do.
7
Areas of Focus
Rotary’s seven causes, from peacebuilding to the environment.
8
Pillars of Positive Peace
From the Institute for Economics & Peace, a partner of the club since 2017.
17
Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations’ shared blueprint for people and planet.
Coming up
Bridge builders since 1927
Rotary arrived in Germany in 1927, and German Rotarians have called themselves Brückenbauer, bridge builders, ever since. The centennial year opens a new season of shared projects.
German Projects begin
A year of projects marking 100 years of Rotary in Germany.
The Mazatlan Project launches
Ocean conservation meets community on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Rose Parade
The countdown to Pasadena shares a new project every day.
Earth Day showcase
Growing Green Leaders students present their local climate projects.
Get involved
Cross the bridge with us
Rotary clubs
Adopt a project model, or find a sister club across a border and build one together.
Partners and experts
Bring your science, skills and technology to projects that already have people on the ground.
Volunteers and travelers
Plant trees, outplant coral and give back alongside local communities.
our contact form