{"id":4796,"date":"2025-12-11T05:07:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T05:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepanamaproject.org\/?page_id=4796"},"modified":"2026-07-03T05:41:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T05:41:33","slug":"a-crisis-becomes-an-opportunity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/our-story\/a-crisis-becomes-an-opportunity\/","title":{"rendered":"A Crisis Becomes an Opportunity"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4796\" class=\"elementor elementor-4796\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322f8025 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"322f8025\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7761ce11 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7761ce11\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51968746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-heading\" data-id=\"51968746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" ><div class=\"ekit-heading elementskit-section-title-wraper text_center   ekit_heading_tablet-   ekit_heading_mobile-\"><h1 class=\"ekit-heading--title elementskit-section-title \">A Crisis <span>Becomes an<\/span> Opportunity<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13f0b083 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"13f0b083\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-608cced5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"608cced5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a76e49 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a76e49\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4924ff8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4924ff8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14f0a58b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"14f0a58b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/33-rpsrvh0892ygqad7kg2ywxi10zdkdoy76nr3fdzxlc.png\" title=\"33\" alt=\"33\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f401b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6f401b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"632\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/34.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-4800\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/34.png 632w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/34-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a11e20 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9a11e20\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5aabd953 elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-heading\" data-id=\"5aabd953\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" ><div class=\"ekit-heading elementskit-section-title-wraper text_left   ekit_heading_tablet-   ekit_heading_mobile-\"><h2 class=\"ekit-heading--title elementskit-section-title \">A Crisis Becomes an Opportunity<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<div class='ekit-heading__description'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>With borders closed and supplies dwindling, the isolation of the outer islands of Bocas del Toro became painfully clear. Seniors, Indigenous Ng\u00e4be-Bugl\u00e9 families, and small fishing communities suddenly found themselves without reliable access to food, fuel, or medical supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Refusing to stand by, Bender drew on his Rotary training and logistical experience to organize a grassroots emergency supply and delivery network. Using small boats, he began transporting essentials to the most vulnerable \u2014 medicines for the elderly, staple foods for families, and fuel for Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n<p>Within weeks, his ad hoc effort had evolved into a coordinated lifeline connecting remote communities. Out of a global crisis, a new kind of service was born.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRotary teaches us through its motto,\u00a0<em>Service Above Self,<\/em>\u00a0that true leadership begins with helping others.\u201d<br \/>\u2014\u00a0<strong>Steve Bender<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-461cbfa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"461cbfa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"contact\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ef8a71 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8ef8a71\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c401e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1c401e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-208\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RotaryReefsBanner8x8v2PressQuality-1_page-0001-1-1-min-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f871d8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0f871d8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b549708 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b549708\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sponsoring a reef supports the sustainability of the entire 4-7-8-17 inspired project\u2014funding vital community programs like coral and mangrove restoration, turtle protection, solar innovation, education, healthcare, and local development. Your contribution helps power real, lasting impact across the region.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b83c652 elementor-button-align-stretch elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"b83c652\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" name=\"New Form\" aria-label=\"New Form\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"4796\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"b83c652\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"A Crisis Becomes an Opportunity\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"queried_id\" 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