{"id":4860,"date":"2025-12-11T06:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T06:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepanamaproject.org\/?page_id=4860"},"modified":"2026-07-03T05:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T05:45:00","slug":"the-panama-project-from-local-roots-to-global-reach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/our-story\/the-panama-project-from-local-roots-to-global-reach\/","title":{"rendered":"The Panama Project: From Local Roots to Global Reach"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4860\" class=\"elementor elementor-4860\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-153a6970 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"153a6970\" 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-7cf520b1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7cf520b1\" 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-408587be elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-heading\" data-id=\"408587be\" 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 \">The Panama Project: From Local <span>Roots to Global<\/span> Reach<\/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\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-61a31ff4 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61a31ff4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b292760\" data-id=\"4b292760\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9c87ba e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e9c87ba\" 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-2987fb07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2987fb07\" 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\/45-rpsz70z09a2dygcwzl0kk8dlpt2zbpv9s1098sg3kw.png\" title=\"45.png\" alt=\"45.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41598e83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"41598e83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4860 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"41598e83\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"47.png\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTM4OSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2RpdmFpbmQuY29tXC95YXMxXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wN1wvNDcucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDE1OThlODMifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/47.png'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"178\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/47.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"41598e83\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"46.png\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTM5MCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2RpdmFpbmQuY29tXC95YXMxXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wN1wvNDYucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDE1OThlODMifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46.png'><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1085\" height=\"814\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46.png 1085w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/46-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d2967df\" data-id=\"1d2967df\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b4b1f6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5b4b1f6f\" 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\">The Panama Project:\nFrom Local Roots to\nGlobal Reach<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6011cc3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6011cc3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What began as isolated efforts to meet immediate needs has now evolved into <strong data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"218\">The Panama Project<\/strong> \u2014 the flagship of the <strong data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"261\">7Seas Initiative<\/strong> and a recognized model for integrated, community-driven sustainability. Described as a <em data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"370\">\u201cliving laboratory\u201d<\/em> in Bocas del Toro, The Panama Project weaves together environmental restoration, cultural preservation, health services, and social empowerment under one cohesive framework: the <strong data-start=\"549\" data-end=\"567\">4-7-8-17 Model<\/strong> \u2014 blending Rotary\u2019s Four-Way Test, the Seven Areas of Focus, the Eight Pillars of Positive Peace, and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-443a7ef4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"443a7ef4\" 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-36cb4c45 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36cb4c45\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b06154e e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b06154e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5f6676 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e5f6676\" 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=\"1022\" height=\"1324\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/49.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5391\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/49.png 1022w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/49-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/49-790x1024.png 790w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/49-768x995.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b86f67a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7b86f67a\" 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 loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5392\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48.png 1080w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/48-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\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>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71ce5972 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"71ce5972\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-245f8781 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"245f8781\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"123\" data-end=\"651\">Originally inspired by the April 2019 edition of <em data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"189\">Rotary Magazine<\/em>, Steve learned about <strong data-start=\"211\" data-end=\"231\">Project Drawdown<\/strong>, which quickly became his go-to resource for evidence-based climate solutions. As RI President Barry Rassin warned, <em data-start=\"348\" data-end=\"479\">\u201cEighty percent of the land in the Bahamas is less than 5 feet above sea level\u2026 My country is going to be gone if we do nothing.\u201d<\/em> That sense of urgency \u2014 the understanding that climate change is not abstract but personal, immediate, and profoundly unequal in its impacts \u2014 resonated deeply with Steve.<\/p><p data-start=\"653\" data-end=\"1094\">Drawdown\u2019s science-driven roadmap offered not only clarity but also hope: a practical menu of actions that communities could take to protect ecosystems, strengthen resilience, and restore balance. Its emphasis on regeneration, coastal protection, and community empowerment helped shape the strategic backbone of <strong data-start=\"965\" data-end=\"987\">The Panama Project<\/strong>, ensuring that every intervention aligned with proven pathways to a more sustainable and equitable future.<\/p><p data-start=\"1096\" data-end=\"1451\">By 2025, the project\u2019s reach had expanded globally through the creation of an <strong data-start=\"1174\" data-end=\"1197\">AI-powered platform<\/strong> designed to help Rotary clubs worldwide measure, strengthen, and scale their impact. The goal \u2014 <em data-start=\"1294\" data-end=\"1327\">\u201c100 Projects in 100 Countries\u201d<\/em> \u2014 is now underway, transforming Bender\u2019s island experience into a worldwide ripple of service, stewardship, and innovation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\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\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Panama Project: From Local Roots to Global Reach The Panama Project: From Local Roots to Global Reach What began [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4198,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4860","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4860"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5521,"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4860\/revisions\/5521"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/divaind.com\/yas1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}