Impact

Over 20 years improving lives in 38+ communities in Honduras

The Rotary Club of Copán Ruinas has reached ~16,000 people in communities of western Honduras, with over 15,000 patients treated in medical and dental brigades since 2004.

By the numbers

The reach of our work

  • 38+ communities served communities of Copán in western Honduras
  • ~16,000 people reached direct beneficiaries in rural communities
  • 15,000+ medical patients treated in annual medical and dental brigades
  • 20+ years of service founded in 2004, serving without interruption
  • 6 project areas water, health, education, food, construction, economy
Six areas

Areas of impact

The work is organized into six complementary areas, alongside the International Project Alliance (IPA), World Vision, and Rotary International.

  • Water & Sanitation

    Potable water systems and sanitation in communities where access to water requires kilometers of pipeline across steep terrain. This is the broadest-reach area, implemented alongside Rotary International and World Vision.

  • Health

    Annual medical and dental brigades with volunteers from Asheville, North Carolina. Over 15,000 patients treated in communities without regular access to healthcare services.

  • Education

    School scholarships, rural school strengthening, and community library projects. School retention depends on factors like water, roads, and nutrition.

  • Food & Agriculture

    Food production, improved cookstoves, and sustainable farming practices in hillside communities to improve family food security.

  • Construction

    Community infrastructure: classrooms, health posts, latrines, and water distribution systems. The foundation that makes everything else work and last.

  • Economic Development

    Local productive opportunities, so that improvement does not depend on someone coming back every year. Community capacity to sustain their own development.

History

Key milestones

  1. 2004 Foundation of the Rotary Club of Copán Ruinas as the local counterpart of the International Project Alliance (IPA).
  2. 2005–present Ongoing partnership with the IPA Foundation: Rotary clubs from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. fund long-term projects in Honduras.
  3. 2009–present Asheville medical brigade: 17 consecutive years of health and dental brigades with international volunteers, treating over 15,000 patients.
  4. 2010–present Collaboration with World Vision on potable water and sanitation projects in western Honduras.
  5. 2015–present Sustained growth in reach: from a handful of communities to over 38 communities of Copán served.
Alliances

Strategic partners

Impact is possible through long-term partnerships with organizations that share a commitment to community development in Honduras.

  • International Project Alliance (IPA Foundation)

    A coalition of Rotary clubs from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. with a long-term commitment to the region. Provides funding and technical support for water, health, and education projects.

    Website ↗

  • World Vision

    An international development organization that partners with the club on potable water and sanitation projects in rural communities of Honduras.

    Website ↗

  • Rotary International

    The global service club network that provides the institutional framework, access to Global Grants, and a network of professional volunteers.

    Website ↗

  • District 4250

    The Rotary International district comprising clubs in Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, facilitating regional coordination and access to district funds.

FAQ

Common questions about our impact

Which communities does the Rotary Club of Copán Ruinas serve?
The club works in over 38 communities in the municipality of Copán Ruinas and surrounding areas of western Honduras. Coverage has expanded gradually since the club's founding in 2004.
How many patients have been treated in the medical brigades?
Since 2009, medical and dental brigades — organized in partnership with volunteers from Asheville, North Carolina — have treated over 15,000 patients in rural communities without regular access to healthcare.
How long has the club been operating?
The Rotary Club of Copán Ruinas was founded in 2004. Since then, it has worked continuously as the Honduran counterpart of the International Project Alliance (IPA).
What are the club's areas of work?
The work is organized into six areas: water & sanitation, health, education, food & agriculture, construction, and economic development. These areas support each other to achieve comprehensive community impact.
Who are the club's partners?
Key partners include the IPA Foundation (a coalition of Rotary clubs from the Pacific Northwest U.S.), World Vision, Rotary International, and District 4250. The club also works with the Asheville, NC medical brigade.
How can I support the club's work?
There are several ways: become a club member, propose a project from another Rotary club, or support as a corporate partner. Visit our collaboration page or contact us directly for more information.