Rotary in Mexico: Boots on the Ground and Making a Difference

With Nikki forced to make an early departure for Mexico after her beloved dog Bishop became seriously ill, Christine Marin stepped in to give us an update on the remarkable work being done by the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club in Mexico. Christine admitted that she wasn’t Nikki—and therefore didn’t have all of Nikki’s stories—but she certainly had plenty to report.

The Chapala Sunrise Club now has 52 members, and under Nikki’s leadership they have been working hard to get more members involved by giving them responsibility for individual projects. The strategy seems to be working: the club has six new project leaders, and members are becoming passionate “champions” for the projects they oversee.

Christine noted that the club has truly embraced the idea of “boots on the ground.” Their projects aren’t simply about writing cheques. Members are out in the community, meeting residents, identifying needs, developing relationships and then getting involved in making things happen.

This is particularly important because Chapala Sunrise is something of a “reverse Rotary.” They identify worthwhile projects in their community but don’t have a large enough local population to raise the necessary funds themselves. Instead, they partner with Rotary clubs like ours to provide the financial support that allows their projects to proceed. In other words, we raise the money and they put it to work!

The La Cuesta Clinic

One of the club’s major projects is the renovation of the La Cuesta Clinic, which was essentially an abandoned building when the project began. The roof had serious water damage and required major reconstruction. Much of the work is being done by hand, with local workers painstakingly renovating the building one stage at a time.

When completed, the clinic is expected to provide 24-hour healthcare services to approximately 14,000 Indigenous people in the surrounding area. It will include treatment areas, medical and dental facilities, a pharmacy and a maternity service. The clinic will also emphasize health education, helping residents become more proactive about their health rather than simply treating problems after they occur.

The project has attracted substantial outside support, including a commitment of approximately US$250,000 in equipment and supplies, along with additional Rotary and foundation funding. Government health agencies are also involved, particularly because they will provide healthcare workers and support staff.

Christine shared one sobering example of why the clinic is so important: local children have reportedly died from scorpion stings simply because the necessary anti-venom was not available quickly enough. Having a recognized medical centre in the community could make a life-saving difference.

Perhaps just as important as the building itself is the trust that Chapala Sunrise has developed within the community. Christine emphasized that the club often spends a year or more talking with residents and understanding what they actually need before beginning a project. That groundwork has helped turn Rotary projects into sustainable community partnerships.

The “Blue School”—Now Orange!

The other major project is the school affectionately known as the Blue School—although after a little help from our own Rotary volunteers, it is now decidedly orange!

The school has approximately 94 students, from preschool through secondary school and job training. Recent improvements include repainting, rewiring, renovated bathrooms, roof repairs and new playground equipment.

The next major undertaking is a new, independent kitchen that will provide meals for the students. The existing kitchen was described as cramped, deteriorated and barely functional, making the new facility a significant improvement.

The kitchen project has a budget of roughly US$143,000, with approximately US$94,000 already raised. Again, the emphasis is on creating something sustainable that will serve the school and its students for years to come.

Christine particularly enjoyed sharing comments from Lupita, the school’s principal, who expressed her gratitude for the new playground. For children with disabilities, she said, a swing is not simply a toy—it can represent freedom, inclusion and happiness. The improvements have transformed an ordinary playground into a place where children can simply be children: laughing, playing and enjoying a safe and welcoming environment.

The Bigger Picture

Christine said three things particularly struck her about the Chapala Sunrise Club.

First, they listen to their community. They don’t arrive with a project already designed and assume they know what people need. They take the time to build relationships and understand the community before acting.

Second, they give their members something meaningful to own. Every project has a champion, and those members become deeply invested in its success. It is proving to be a great way to build engagement and enthusiasm within the club.

And finally, there is that wonderfully appropriate concept of “reverse Rotary.” Chapala Sunrise finds the needs, develops the projects and does the work; clubs like ours help provide the resources to make those projects possible.

Christine’s presentation was a great reminder that Rotary’s impact doesn’t stop at our own community. Sometimes it involves travelling a few thousand kilometres, getting your feet—and perhaps your paintbrushes—dirty, and helping another Rotary club turn good ideas into lasting improvements.

And judging by the results in Mexico, our Rotary partnership is definitely boots-on-the-ground Rotary at its best.