Thank you to everyone who participated in our September BEL Around the World webinar series! Whether you joined us as a presenter or a participant, we appreciate the time you invested to share and learn about innovative projects, tools, and resources that support Rotary Clubs and Districts in their BEL initiatives.
This month, we traveled the globe together—highlighting projects from the United States, Canada, India, Nigeria, Brazil, Peru, Zambia, and Guatemala. Along the way, we explored valuable resources including RACHEL, Learning Upgrade, Free Reading Program, and I Can Read Songs.
We were also treated to two special book presentations: Gramps’ Lesson: Service Above Self by Megan Jackson-Schmidt, and Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing by New York Times bestselling author Tish Rabe, coming in Spring 2026.
All sessions were recorded and will be available in the Projects section of our website by late October. We encourage you to watch the replays—you’re sure to come away inspired!
In Rotary Service,
Nancy Leonhardt
Chair, BELRAG
Learning to lead literacy: Lessons from a Basic Education and Literacy project
Lynne Paradis, project leader of Literacy Alive!, believes literacy is every child’s right. Through a Rotary Global Grant partnership between clubs in Canada and Belize, the initiative aims for all Belizean children to read competently by age ten.
So far, over 20,000 students and 1,500 teachers have been supported, with students showing a 90% improvement in decoding skills - leading to nationwide adoption of the program.
Built on collaboration, government partnership, and evidence-based teaching, Literacy Alive! demonstrates how focused strategies and strong networks can transform national education systems.
“Every child who learns to read is a life transformed,” says Lynne.
Creative thinking helps fund early childhood education
In central Louisiana, USA, Rotarian Patrick Moore found a creative way to reignite donor enthusiasm for early childhood education. Facing donor fatigue, Moore reframed giving as an investment in the community’s future workforce. His approach inspired local businesses and Rotary members to raise $500,000, which was then matched by both the Rapides Foundation and the state government, turning it into $2 million for childcare scholarships.
The impact is already visible - families like Angel Sands’ are accessing quality childcare and building brighter futures. Moore’s model shows how strategic storytelling and clear ROI can mobilize communities for lasting change.
Two inspiring children’s books are bringing Rotary values to young readers around the world.
📘 Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing – Coming in Spring 2026, this beautifully illustrated story set in the African plains follows Amani, a young zebra learning the meaning of kindness and care. Created by Director Beth Stoller (Trumbull Rotary Club), NYT bestselling author Tish Rabe, and illustrator Moka Celess, the book teaches Rotary’s 4-Way Test, promotes reading, and introduces families to Rotary. It even includes an original sing-along song!
💛 Gramps’ Lesson: Service Above Self – Available now on Amazon, this heartfelt story by Megan Jackson-Schmidt honors her grandfather’s Rotary legacy and the founding of the Belize Children’s Project, which provides life-changing orthopedic surgeries for Belizean children. In his honor, 20% of all proceeds support the project’s ongoing work.
Together, these books nurture kindness, empathy, and service in the next generation—values at the heart of Rotary.
