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International Service Committee
PAUR & El Salvador: A 20+-Year Journey of Impact
Mary Chigos
Chair
"Sustained Service.
Shared Vision. Lasting Impact."
For more than two decades, the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club (PAUR) has worked hand-in-hand with communities in El Salvador to deliver meaningful, sustainable change. What began in 2004 with the dream of building a single classroom has grown into a broad and deeply rooted partnership. Anchored in the rural community of Las Trincheras, Caluco, Sonsonate, PAUR has invested over $575,000 in education, healthcare, and economic development—guided by the belief that long-term relationships are key to long-term change.
This is a story of listening, collaboration, and Rotary in action.
The Need
In Las Trincheras, many families live on less than $1.20 a day. Before PAUR’s involvement, children received only a few hours of schooling per day, women delivered babies without trained staff, and farmers had no access to broader markets. Today, students attend school full-time, clean water flows from local wells, mothers give birth safely, and families have new pathways to income and stability.
The impact is measurable: Las Trincheras improved its national poverty ranking from 240th to 206th out of 246 municipalities—a significant step forward in one of the country’s most underserved regions.
Our Programs
Education
PAUR has invested nearly $175,000 in education projects, knowing that learning is essential to ending the cycle of poverty. In Las Trincheras, the club helped expand the school from just four classrooms to a full 12-grade institution, complete with a computer room. New kitchens and toilet facilities support students’ health and well-being, and an Early Childhood Development Center ensures that children start their education with a strong foundation.
These improvements have enabled students to attend school full-time, complete basic education, and even pursue higher education. The community now proudly counts among its residents a graduate nurse and a practicing lawyer—powerful symbols of what access to education makes possible.
Healthcare
With nearly $375,000 invested in healthcare, PAUR has made basic medical care accessible in rural areas where it was once virtually nonexistent. Highlights include the Caluco Maternal Health Clinic, opened in 2016, which reported zero maternal complications and 100% live births in its first year. PAUR also funded the training of 12 local health promoters, ensuring that each canton has someone providing basic medical care year-round.
Through its partnership with FUDECOM, PAUR supports weekend medical and dental clinics serving more than 200 patients each. Additional investments in water wells, hygiene stations, compostable latrines, and Justa cookstoves have significantly improved sanitation and reduced illness.
Economic Development
PAUR has committed nearly $40,000 to economic development initiatives aimed at building resilience and local income generation. Microcredit loans have helped farmers and women entrepreneurs grow businesses and increase household earnings.
Support for shrimp farms, solar energy, and drip irrigation has made local agriculture more productive. A wash and pack station now allows farmers to market their goods more effectively. Vocational training, fuel-efficient stoves, and infrastructure improvements continue to support families in building self-sufficient futures.
Who Benefits
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Children learn in safe, full-service schools with books, uniforms, and caring teachers.
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Mothers receive prenatal care and deliver babies safely in the Caluco clinic.
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Farmers grow, process, and sell their crops with new infrastructure and tools.
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Youth pursue dreams of higher education and professional careers.
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Local leaders guide the development process, ensuring that progress reflects community priorities.
This community-led approach has not only improved lives but also helped build a sustainable, self-directed future.
How To Get Involved
Join the International Committee
Help guide our work in El Salvador by attending International Committee meetings, where we assess needs, review progress, and determine how best to allocate funds. Bill Fisher from ESNA, our Arizona-based NGO partner, shares community updates and helps us prioritize projects based on local feedback.
Support a Project
Your donation can help fund a well, equip a school, or expand health services. Every dollar supports grassroots efforts in partnership with trusted local organizations and Rotary clubs.
Travel With Us
This year, members of the International Committee traveled to El Salvador to visit project sites, meet with our Rotary partners, and strengthen relationships with the communities we serve—resuming an annual tradition that had been paused during the pandemic. These trips offer a powerful way to witness the impact of our work firsthand, connect with local leaders, and experience the spirit of Rotary in action.