Caring for Children Means Building a More Sustainable Future: The Progress of New Routes Foundation

New Routes Foundation, the social outreach arm of Puerto Barú in David, presented its comprehensive child development model and the key milestones achieved since its establishment in July 2024 during the Coffee with La Prensa event. Guided by the motto, “Caring for Children Means Building a More Sustainable Future,” the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to creating opportunities that strengthen communities through education, healthcare, nutrition, and community development.

The Foundation was created following an assessment of the social and educational conditions in the communities surrounding the project. Studies on poverty and child malnutrition helped define a strategy focused on addressing the most pressing needs of children while building long-term capacities that generate sustainable impact. Today, the Foundation works in close coordination with Panama’s Ministry of Education in four public schools located in the Township of Chiriquí: La Pita, Chorcha Abajo, Chiriquí, and Veladero.

Its development model is built around five pillars: nutrition, education, healthcare, family support, and community development. This roadmap begins by addressing urgent needs, progresses through capacity building, and ultimately aims to achieve self-sustainability for schools and their communities. We believe that investing in children is the most effective way to transform the future of our communities. Our commitment goes beyond meeting immediate needs—we strive to empower schools and families to build their own capacities and, together with a network of partners, create stronger and more sustainable communities.

Mónica Suero, President of New Routes Foundation:
Just two years after our founding, we have provided eye care services to more than 130 children, organized six medical outreach missions, and distributed over 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies. Through our partnership with the Food Bank, we have also delivered more than 17,500 kilograms of food and served over 11,500 meals to students attending the four beneficiary schools. More than 550 students and their families have directly benefited from these initiatives.

A dos años de nuestra creación, hemos brindado atención oftalmológica a más de 130 niños, realizado seis giras médicas y entregado más de 1,000 mochilas con útiles escolares. A ello se suma nuestra alianza con el Banco de Alimentos, que ha These achievements have been made possible through collaboration with private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, and civic clubs, whose support has expanded the reach of every initiative and strengthened local development. Among the Foundation’s flagship programs is Leader in Me, implemented in partnership with Greatness Center, which promotes leadership skills and values among students and teachers, while also supporting family engagement and community strengthening initiatives.

Looking ahead, New Routes Foundation will continue investing in school infrastructure through potable water projects and electrical system upgrades, expand preventive healthcare programs, develop tutoring initiatives in partnership with universities and community organizations, and promote school gardens and composting projects as part of its long-term sustainability strategy.

Because investing in children is the most powerful way to transform the future of our communities.