The number of BEL grants is on the rise! But Rotary members sometimes find it confusing or frustrating to know just what qualifies for a Global Grant project under BEL. Join us as we share guidelines for structuring a BEL Global Grant and examples that illustrate BEL projects designed for sustainability and impact.
Panelists include Sara Poehlman (BEL Area of Focus Manager), Elizabeth Davis and Shyanmei Wang (Rotary Grants Officers), and Carolyn Johnson (TRF Cadre Chair)
BELRAG is accepting applications for its 2026 Project Awards. The deadline is September 30, 2026. Up to four ongoing or implemented basic education projects, including mathematics, literacy information, and technology, will receive $500 each - three awards to Rotary clubs and one award to a Rotaract club. Awards can support another project or further develop what you are already doing.
My heart is imbued with gratitude and hope in sharing the insights that we all gathered from the two-part Webinar series presented by Dr. Rita Aggarwal, the Chair of Rotary Action Group for Mental Health Initiatives, hosted by the Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group. The first webinar was entitled, “Social Emotional Learning: The Foundation for Life Long Success” where we had the honor of being joined by Past R.I. President Gordon McInally (2023-24) whose affirmation that learning outcomes are optimum when we ensure students’ well being and safety, set the tone for both the webinars. Mr. McInally pointed out that education and well being are “essential partners” for “creating lasting impact” in learning outcomes for early and advanced stage learners. Mr. McInally called upon BELRAG and RAGMHI to continue working on their “shared mission” in this direction.
Rotary clubs worldwide can play a powerful role in bringing All District Reads’ Home-Based Family Literacy Program to local school systems and communities.
In Lighting Literacy Fires, by Gary Anderson and John Micklos, we describe the impact of a community-wide One Book program in which families read the same children’s novel aloud at home, chapter by chapter, and stay on the same page. When everyone is reading the same book at the same pace, children, parents, teachers, grandparents, and community members have something meaningful to talk about every day—the book they are reading together.
A Rotary club can help make this happen by bringing the school system and community together around reading. The goal is simple: get families reading aloud together at home and create a community that talks about books.
We are planning a year of exciting activities, including building out our Ambassadors program, a series of webinars and digital resources highlighting impactful BEL projects, and hosting a STEM and Education Hub at the RI Convention in Barcelona in 2027. To support these and other activities, we seek additional financial support. If you are interested in being recognized as a BELRAG sponsor (e.g., $500+), please email me, Tony Bloome, BELRAG Chair, at abloome@meducationalliance.org.
