Jacqueline's Global Scholars Blog

Sustainable Development Goal 5 "On this International Day, UNESCO would like to focus in particular on inequalities in science and technology. UNESCO statistics have shown that women are currently four times less likely than men to master digital skills, even though these skills will be at the centre of future societies."  This message from Audrey Azoulay (original:French, UNESCO website), Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization(UNESCO), encourages us to reflect upon gender equality, In fact, gender equality is one of UNESCO’s “two cross-cutting priorities, along with Africa.” In her message, Ms. Azoulay quotes Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations: “Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls is the unfinished business of our time.” Education is key. According to UNESCO, however, less than 40% of countries around the world provide girls and boys with equal access to education as reflected stat...

  2020 is a special year because it marks the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. As such, the topic of the UnA Pasadena Chapter’s Board Meeting on Feb. 25th was Global Consultation, “the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want.”    The purpose of Global Consultation is to inspire action across borders, sectors, and generations by connecting people to discuss issues such as the climate crisis and patterns of violence. The overarching goal is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals - a blueprint for global peace and prosperity adopted by all United Nations Members States in 2015.  Recommendations from the Global Consultation aimed at inspiring policy actions will be provided to the United Nations as well as Congress and other key decision-makers. Throughout this year, UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter will work with the community through conducting Global Consultation to ensure a sustainable futur...

Earlier this month, Polytechnic Global Scholars and Partnership for Success! students from the Pasadena Unified School District presented grant proposals aimed at assisting local and global nonprofit organizations. The presentation was a culmination of months of hard work in collaboration with our advancement mentors and nonprofits. The process entailed studying the goals, fiscals needs, and community impact of our nonprofits as well as learning how to write and present a grant.  I found the process to be invaluable because I had no prior experience with grant writing, and I now understand how entities can come together to utilize resources to promote worthy causes. My Global Scholar partner, Megan Kelleher, and I worked with our advancement mentor Katherine Veiser, Polytechnic’s Director of Alumni and Community Relations, Amanda Edwards, Polytechnic’s Director of Donor Relations, Siviwe Mbinda, co-founder and director iThuba, and Diane Flannery, an iTuba Board member. Below ...

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulates South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi. The pride in Siviwe’s voice as he spoke of his country’s victory in the recent Rugby World Cup inspired me to search for news related to the topic. What I found in the sports section of the CNN and BBC News websites is a story refreshingly hopeful during what sometimes feels like a trend of “bad news.” The Springboks’ victory over England in November, which won South Africa its third World Cup equalling New Zealand’s record, is “not just about rugby. It is about the social cohesion that the country is still trying to achieve 25 years after the end of apartheid” (BBC News, Johannesburg). Siya Kolisi, the team’s first black captain, serves a symbol of hope for multitudes of South Africans. Siya’s remarkable journey out of poverty began with his birth “in a slum to teenage parents who could not afford to keep him just a year after the former president Nelson Mandela was freed f...

Last week, Polytechnic students met with Siviwe Mbinda to discuss this spring’s GIP trip to South Africa. Siviwe is the co-founder and director of the iThuba Innovation Hub, a STEM school located in Langa that Poly students will visiting. The purpose of iThuba is to provide STEM education and experiences not readily available to youth living in Langa. The end-goal is to “close the gap” between these students and their more advantaged peers so that all students are prepared with the skills necessary in an increasingly technological world. “Not only does STEM open opportunities for employment, it also enables whole new sectors of employment to be created”(ithubahub.com). Poly students are excited to be involved in this innovative collaboration with iThuba and are looking forward to working with students. Currently, we are in the process of fund-raising and writing grants to support teacher training, community activities, and a "maker-space" area to build and make science p...

  This week, my family and I hosted Thomas, better known by his nick-name Moose, a water polo player from New Zealand. I had heard New Zealanders are some of the friendliest people around, and after meeting Moose, I can understand why. I learned so much about New Zealand - and Auckland, in particular - that it’s now a new destination on my “bucket list.” According to Moose, most New Zealanders live in cities, although it’s true what they say, “There are more sheep than people in New Zealand - 10 sheep for every person.” Auckland, the city where Moose lives, is New Zealand’s most populous city. The city is surrounded by dormant volcanoes and hills covered in rainforest. Aukland is unique because it is among the few cities in the world to have harbors on two separate bodies of water. It’s also very cosmopolitan, and Moose shared that Aukland has seen an influx of immigrants in recent years, especially from China. Not too surprisingly, Moose relayed that most New Zealanders ten...

“The first GIP event of the decade,” as noted by Poly seniors Alex Bertran and Phillip Zhou, showcased American comedian, Joe Wong. As timely as it was entertaining, Mr. Wong’s performance shed light on the contrast between American and Chinese culture in a comical yet thought-provoking manner. In an hour jam-packed with laughter, Wong covered a gamut of topics, ranging from the Chinese practice of shaming versus encouragement as a motivational strategy, to the ludicracy of American laws that legalize guns yet outlaw fireworks on Chinese New Year. An American citizen born and raised in China, Mr.Wong’s affection for both countries shines through in his jokes. “America is my wife, and China is my mother.” The punch line, “...and they both have nuclear weapons,” unexpected, funny its “Wong-style” delivery, and disturbing at the same time, speaks to an alarming 21st century reality as well as the critical need for a positive relationship between the two superpowers. On a lighter note...