Nearly two-thirds of the 781 million adults worldwide who are illiterate are female (National Literacy Institute). Gender barriers to education can cost $30 trillion in global lost earnings and productivity annually (World Bank). On the Feb 13 BELRAG webinar, Past R.I. President Shekhar Mehta’s highlighted the vital role of Girls’ Education in paving the pathway to gender equality, lucrative careers, economic productivity, health and wellness of families, digital competency, peace building, and greater agency to tackle climate change among communities......
Promoting Media Literacy
In Newport Beach, California, a Rotarian and game developer co-created a game that teaches 11- to 13-year-olds how to critically assess social media and news. The game’s design was inspired by Rotary’s Four-Way Test, an essential standard for measuring ethical behavior, blending technology with ethics education.
Foldscope Initiative
The following is a signature activity of the Rotary Club Washington Global and the non-profit organization mEducation Alliance (mEA). They are partnering with Foldscope Instruments to help bring the magic of discovery to 1000s of children in low-resource settings around the world.
We believe every child, no matter their geography or circumstances, deserves the chance to explore, question, and discover. Foldscopes turn that belief into reality.
A world where any student can see bacteria on a leaf, the structure of a fabric thread, or hidden particles in the air is a world where science is truly accessible.
From paper to possibility, we are putting discovery in every child’s hands.
Foldscope is a paper microscope that combines low-cost materials with precision optics. When purchased in bulk, each Foldscope can cost under US$5
Foldscope microscopes have a range of magnifications (50X-340X). With them, you can visualize tiny microorganisms to larger samples like insects, plants, fabrics, and tissues. Foldscopes can also attach to mobile phones for imaging and are very portable, durable, and waterproof. With that versatility, the possibilities are endless!
We invite Rotary clubs to help us:
Raise awareness of the initiative
Help us identify schools to support, and
Fund and support shipments of Foldscopes and training materials
For more information about this initiative, please see mEA's Foldscope Initiative page and/or email me at abloome@meducationalliance.