This week's speaker, Margaux Charpentier, is the Grants Manager for One Heart Worldwide, an NGO whose mission is to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for all, with a particular emphasis on the underserved women and infants of Nepal.

Margaux has a background in anthropology and is currently completing a Master's in International Development from University College Dublin in Ireland. At OHW, she is in charge of communication with donors, providing grant reports for partners, and researching new funding opportunities.

Each year in Nepal, 1,500 mothers and 12,000 newborns die from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Many health workers lack the specialized skills to deliver quality maternal and newborn care, and even those who participate in government programs such as the official certification training to become Skilled Birth Attendants lack follow-up or opportunities to gain new information or updated techniques. Further complicating these factors, health providers, particularly in rural areas, frequently cite isolation and lack of opportunities as impacting their overall satisfaction and, ultimately, a loss of skills retention.

To better address the training needs of maternal and neonatal healthcare (MNH) service providers and improve the quality of essential obstetric and newborn care services in rural Nepal, One Heart Worldwide developed, piloted and is now deploying an innovative simulation-based training and mentorship program (SBMP) for rural healthcare providers. Simulation-based approaches create rich learning environments by providing MNH providers with opportunities to practice their clinical and decision-making skills through various real-life situational experiences. Practicing in realistic scenarios builds competencies to manage emergencies and rare adverse events, directly impacting patient outcomes.

OHW, with support from a Rotary Global Grant, is currently expanding the SBMP into each of our active program implementation districts as an integral part of our intervention.

To learn more, go to: https://oneheartworldwide.org/

Natün Guatemala is a majority Maya-led organization passionate about elevating Indigenous leadership, rights and capacity. They equip local change agents and use existing local resources to effectively and sustainably build healthy, vibrant Maya communities.

Natün has been through a period of intense transition in the last few years, moving from a problematic model of external intervention, hand-outs, and short-term thinking, to embody a locally-led, long-term systemic change model which centers Indigenous culture and expertise. Along the way, they have failed, learned, evolved, and ultimately stepped into doing impactful development work.

Our speaker, Elena Wason, has been Natün Guatemala’s Executive Director since 2023, after having worked in leadership in the organization for four years.

Prior to leading Natün, Elena served as Programs Director and Strategy and Operations Director in nonprofits in Guatemala, spent two years working on the ground in Honduras as a Field Facilitator, as well as multiple years in the UK’s non-profit sector and think tanks in roles ranging from fundraising to policy.

Elena holds a Masters’ degree in Governance, Development and Public Policy from the Institute of Development Studies as part of the University of Sussex. She has published a book and numerous articles about the development struggles faced by communities in Central America.

They post regular updates on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages, where you can find out how to get involved:

https://www.facebook.com/gtnatun

https://www.instagram.com/natunguatemala/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/natunguatemala

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with Sankalp

Sankalp, named after the Hindi word for ""resolution,"" is dedicated to empowering marginalized women in small businesses. Through over 100 hours of entrepreneurship skills training, mentorship from industry experts, access to credit support, and connections with a robust alumni network, our program provides women with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. We also assist in establishing market linkages, helping them scale their businesses and overcome the unique challenges they face. Our mission is to close the gender gaps in business and create a sustainable, inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs.

Breaking Barriers for Women's Economic Empowerment

Women worldwide face significant barriers—gender disparities, lower labor market participation, and higher unemployment rates—that hinder their economic growth. In India, women-owned businesses represent only 14% of enterprises, with many operating in the informal sector. Sankalp addresses these challenges by offering essential training, financial support, and access to key networks, promoting not just economic empowerment but also social upliftment.

By supporting women entrepreneurs, we help foster gender equality and contribute to broader economic growth.

"We believe that when women thrive, economies grow." – UN Women

Our speaker, Aishwarya Rai, has been actively involved in supporting women's entrepreneurship projects, focusing on the implementation of a project backed by the German Embassy in Delhi and the NCR region. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work with a specialization in Criminology and Justice from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and a Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Delhi.

As a social work trainee, Aishwarya contributed to the implementation of various initiatives in education, urban policy management, health support, youth skilling, and gender-related issues. Her primary areas of interest include addressing gender inequalities and tackling climate change, with a strong commitment to pro"To learn more, go to:

https://empowerfoundation.net/sankalp/

or send an email to:

[email protected]

Stories about the women Rai's group has empowered -

"Karishma's Triumph: Breaking Stereotypes and Redefining Boundaries""

https://youtu.be/urz02Z_6IZQ?si=rK0HobVpL7D3Fo5E

"Vasheela's Journey: Transcending Social Constructs and Redefining Identity"

https://youtu.be/cawU7syYpFc?si=YOyZgKL36wRMLOnx

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:

http://rotary.cool"moting social justice and empowering women.

Lyndon Barrois' works as an artist in the commercial, exhibition, and feature film visual effects world, as well as in the patronage space. We'll expand the artistic umbrella and its many disciplines' impact on culture, commerce and society as a historical tool or mirror that reflects our world.

Lyndon J Barrois, Sr is based in Los Angeles, and is an artist, animation director, and filmmaker. An AMPAS VFX Executive Branch member, Lyndon boasts a long career in art and animation. His film credits include The Matrix Trilogy, Happy Feet, and The Thing, where he directed pivotal character animation sequences in those features and many others.

He regularly wins accolades for his unique gum wrapper sculptures and stop-motion animations of contemporary and historic figures and events, whose portrait and Sportrait films are produced entirely on iPhones. Within the art world, his work has been featured in major institutions like the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the MOCA Los Angeles, the Massachusetts MOCA, The Hammer, the SFMOMA in San Francisco, and most recently added to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent collection, and the SR Foundation in Seoul, Korea.

His subject matters range from gender inclusion and excellence in the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, America’s Covid-19 crisis, to past racial uprisings & achievements, and current political or social climates.

A New Orleans native and HBCU graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, Lyndon serves on the boards of The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, California Institute of the Arts (his MFA Alma mater), YA/YA (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), Inc., the Academy Museum’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, the Smithsonian’s Regents Advancement Committee, and a member of the Black Trustees Alliance, fostering programs and supporting exhibitions.

See and learn more about Lyndon's work at:

https://www.instagram.com/itsawrapper/

https://itsawrapper.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0057624/

Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett (PhD, MD, FACOG) is the CEO and owner of Augusta Women's Health & Wellness Center.

Dr Adams-Pickett's message to us:

It's called a miracle for a reason. Any pregnancy that ends in a healthy baby and mother reaches that outcome through a miraculous culmination of science, medical know-how, genetic fortune and most of all, luck.

Unfortunately, in the United States, because of varying legislative measures, access barriers, and rapidly diminishing resources, the luck for many women in our country is vanishing. As we continue to outpace other industrialized countries in astounding technological advances, we also continue to outpace those countries in our maternal morbidity and mortality rates.

How did we find ourselves here? Is there anything we can do to change this trajectory or does the current political landscape leave us to believe that we are destined to less than greatness when it comes to women's health? For those of us who have dedicated our lives to their health and well-being our roles remain clear--protect birthing women. However, navigating our ability to do so successfully has now taken on a new level of complexity. Are we truly prepared for the challenge?

Dr. Adams-Pickett is a graduate of Howard University, the Medical College of Georgia where she earned a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree.

She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Adams-Pickett is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

As a tireless advocate for women's health concerns, her expertise has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Laura Coates Show, Vice Media and the PBS Newshour. She was most recently featured in the documentary "Birthing Justice," a look at the Black maternal mortality crisis facing the United States. Dr. Adams-Pickett is dedicated to community advocacy and education. She is the author of two books on puberty, Big Sis' Guide to Growing Up and Buddy's Big Guy Guidebook. Dr. Adams-Pickett is the founder of McStuffin Mommies, a collective of over 1400 physician mothers of color. She is also the founder of Mocha OB, a community of over 800 OB/GYN physicians of color. She has dedicated her life to increasing health education in and about historically marginalized communities.

"To learn more, go to:

PBS News Hour: ""Brief, But Spectacular Take on Being A Women’s Health Care Warrior""

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3suzU2RFrM

Vice Media: "Inside Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Crisis""

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0rL4TvX-I

The New York Times: Unwanted Epidurals, Untreated Pain: Black Women Tell Their Birth Stories https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/upshot/black-births-maternal-mortality.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

The Superpowers of salt marshes as a vehicle of hope for our climate.

You'll learn about the Steart Marshes of England and their impact globally, covering history, design, and management, as well as how the work being done in the marshes influences policy and has become recognized as a solution to the challenges we all face.

Our speaker is Alys Laver, who has always had a passion for nature, and growing up on Somerset's Levels and Moors inspired a particular love for wetlands. After completing her Zoology Degree at Cardiff University, she went on to work for the University at the research field center. This involved working on a wide variety of research projects, the biggest being a countywide river improvement project.

After this, Alys started working on areas of conservation all around Somerset, delivering works to improve wetland habitats and supporting the species that use them. Alys was then hired as part of the Somerset Wildlife Trust as a Reserve Warden and was responsible for managing some of the rarest and most valuable areas of the United Kingdom.

In 2013 Alys started working for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) on one of the largest habitat creation schemes in Europe. Taking on the management of a site with a whole new direction for the organisation didn't come without its challenges. But since its completion the WWT Steart Marshes coastal project has developed into an exemplar for landscape scale habitat creation, a hub for cutting edge research and a demonstration site to showcase what wetlands can do for people and wildlife.

In 2022 Alys assisted with the delivery of a £1.5 million government-funded scheme, getting Steart Marshes designated as a National Nature Reserve.

To learn more, go to:

https://wetland-data-explorer.wwt.org.uk/

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/steart-marshes/

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:

http://rotary.cool

In the mountains of Guatemala, many indigenous women prefer to give birth at home with a midwife who speaks their language and understands them. Yet, sometimes, high risk complications occur.

How can we lower maternal mortality that is 16 times higher than the United States when women live hours from the hospital and do not speak the language of the doctors?

Wuqu’ Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance is eliminating avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths by repairing the disconnects that prevent mothers from receiving timely hospital care.

The Mobile Maternal Health Program equips indigenous midwives in the highlands of Guatemala with a checklist-based smartphone application to detect high-risk complications early and provides Maya care navigators to accompany mothers when hospital services are required. Midwives get the tools and clinical support they need to make timely referrals and mothers benefit from the security of having a knowledgeable advocate who speaks her language by her side. This solution, from the phone app to the navigation strategies, was co-designed and continues to be run by the communities it serves: indigenous Guatemalan women.

Since the Program began as a pilot in 2016, successful hospital referrals among the approximately 800 births attended annually by participating midwives have increased by more than 50% and maternal deaths in the pilot region have dropped from 8 a year to 0-2 a year.

Wuqu' Kawoq is a community-led organization created in 2007 to transform healthcare and foster health equity in rural Guatemala. As one of the only organizations in Guatemala providing comprehensive healthcare in indigenous Mayan languages, it serves more than 11,000 patients in over 35,000 visits annually in seven languages. More than 80% of the staff is indigenous, 85% are women and 95% are Guatemalan.

Our speaker, Anne Kraemer, is an anthropologist and a co-founder of Maya Health Alliance | Wuqu’ Kawoq, an organization created in 2007 to transform health in rural Guatemala.

She has served as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer since 2009. Her passion is amplifying the voices of women and girls to foster community-driven, high-impact, culturally and linguistically appropriate programs that promote health and reproductive rights in underserved indigenous Maya communities.

Anne trained as a cultural anthropologist at the University of Kansas, where she received her master’s degree and completed doctoral coursework. She received a Fulbright scholarship in 2007. Anne lives in Guatemala with her daughters. She speaks Kaqchikel and Spanish.

To learn more:

https://www.mayahealth.org

The research page: https://www.mayahealth.org/research/

Maternal-infant health page: https://www.mayahealth.org/maternal-health/

Video showing our maternal-infant health in action: https://vimeo.com/824788956

Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease impacting tens of millions globally, and the number is expected to triple by 2050. Common symptoms of dementia include poor recollection, confusion and paranoia. Although there are medications to alleviate some of these symptoms, remembering to adhere to the medication is often a challenge for seniors with dementia.

Seeing this, our speaker, Joy Akinkunmi, created the Pill Smart. The Pill Smart is an automatic pill dispenser for seniors with mild and moderate dementia.

Designed with adaptive features, such as reminder settings, the device aims to increase medication adherence among this demographic.

The Pill Smart is completed with an app for a caregiver to track device activity. Hopefully, the Pill Smart will be the future of assistive devices for medication adherence in people with dementia.

Joy is a high school student and an aspiring doctor and innovative thinker dedicated to enhancing healthcare through technology. Inspired by her experience caring for her grandmother with dementia, she developed "The Pill Smart," an automatic pill dispenser complemented by an app tailored for seniors.

In addition to her project work, Joy is deeply committed to her community. Her passion for healthcare extends to leading "Healthcare Horizons," a club at her school that offers workshops and insights into the healthcare system, empowering her peers with knowledge and skills. Joy also plays an active role in student governance on the Student Advisory Council and serves on the RCMP National Advisory Youth Council. Outside of STEM, Joy enjoys playing basketball at her school and volunteering at her local library.

In the future, Joy plans to pursue a post-secondary education focused on medicine and biomedical engineering. She aims to continue developing healthcare devices that improve the quality of life for patients, particularly those with cognitive impairments. Joy’s commitment to innovation and community leadership reflects her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare.

To learn more about the Pill Smart 2.0, go to:

https://partner.projectboard.world/ysc/project/pill-smart-2-0

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/inspired-by-family-member-with-dementia-n-s-teen-creates-automated-pill-dispenser-1.7410835

To learn more about Imhotep’s Legacy Academy (the mentorship group from Dalhousie University that Joy mentioned), go to:

https://www.imhotep.ca/en/

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:

http://rotary.cool

Why does it seem that so many issues just don’t seem to be getting any better? We think of issues with healthcare, climate change, pollution, education, standards of living, immigration, inequality, and more - does the list end?

Our speaker, Mitch Weisburgh, contends that no real progress in any of these areas is going to happen until we have a critical mass of people who understand mindsets and what he calls "Mindshifting."

Since 2018 Mitch has been curating concepts and techniques from diverse fields, including psychology, neuroscience, business strategy, education, coaching, economics, cognitive science, and military strategy, among others. He will show how this comprehensive set of Mindshifting tools can be the foundation for real progress and transforming the world. Mindshifting is how we can learn to enroll each other instead of enraging each other.

Mitch Weisburgh co-founded Academic Business Advisors in 2005, which helps organizations that want to make a difference reach more students in US schools, and started various nonprofit organizations in education such as Games4Ed and Edchat Interactive. Since 2018, Mitch has been creating content and teaching Mindshifting and Sensemaking and has started a Mindshifting Community for educators.

Mitch writes a newsletter at Mindshifting Educators about ways to inspire the mind to learn, centered on his goal is to grow a critical mass of people who understand the Mindshifting techniques, and who can be resilient and resourceful in the face of obstacles, adversaries, and unintended outcomes.

Find Mitch's Mindshifting Newsletter at:

https://blog.mindshiftingeducators.org/

Background info on Mindshifting and Mindshifting courses:

https://gamma.app/docs/Mindshifting-yxxkbmv122p5bzw?mode=doc

Short video: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success:

https://us02web.zoom.us/clips/share/a7su0KAZXEmUo22aXuUGGms5cU6acyzOxhgy1xtGpzUosDVv6JMKpPS4InRTJMUgy_wXaD4i9f5k5gOllzbrvi_N.JF6hRArXRiIMTqST

"You can't? Maybe you can!" short video:

https://youtu.be/4giFVzTDAUg?si=j1xMQqv0I-lZFtU3

Christine has been a German Rotarian since 1995, elected to become a member of the Rotary International Board of directors for the period of 2025-27. Her passions are peace in all its meanings and Rotary as a network to promote Rotarians to become role models in their communities and join forces to create knowledge and understanding internationally.

Claudia is a new member of the eClub of Silicon Valley from Berlin, Germany. As a photographer she has worked internationally and has accompanied Christine since 2016 in Rotary events. Together they search for a new imagining of Rotarians in an ever-changing world.

Pictures of Rotarians from several Middle East countries were taken by Claudia during the District 2452 conference in Amman, Jordan. Christine interviewed all participants on the questions, "What is peace for you?" and, "What can Rotary do to help seed peace?"

This work is planned to be the foundation of playful peace conversations in local communities, schools or Rotary Clubs in Germany and hopefully in other countries, too.

To see these portraits, go to:

https://rotary.de/fotostrecke/502