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IREX Presents “Innovations in Gathering and Sharing News” at World Press Freedom Day 2012 April 19, 2012 The theme of World Press Freedom Day 2012 is “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies.” The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government of Tunisia are organizing this year’s commemoration in Tunis, Tunisia May 3-5, 2012. IREX is pleased to continue supporting this important event this year by sponsoring a panel on novel ways to gather and share news that give voice to citizens and reach new audiences.	Earth Day: Indian Teachers Use Space Technology to Solve Problems on Earth April 19, 2012 by Amy Ahearn Much environmental research starts with a problem, such as species extinction, global warming, or erosion. In honor of Earth Day, IREX is pleased share a story of two physics teachers from India and a graduate student from Alabama focused on a solution. Rahul Chatterjee and Bishakha Banerjee, current International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) participants, are collaborating with Melanie Phillips, a graduate student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), to research reforestation in Chhattisgarh and Punjab, India using satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques.
Announcing the Winners of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Spring 2012 Video Competition April 12, 2012 IREX congratulates the winners of the Spring 2012 Global UGRAD-Pakistan program video competition, “A Day in the Life of a Global UGRAD-Pakistan Fellow.” Hadia, studying at the University of Wyoming; Abdul, studying at the College of Southern Idaho; and Zahra, studying at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, won for their outstanding videos showcasing their experiences at a U.S. college or university and what they have learned about American culture and values. Their videos were selected for their creativity and clarity in demonstrating their unique and varied American experiences. Many of the program’s 99 participants submitted excellent videos for the contest.	Urging Congress to Support Exchanges April 9, 2012 by W. Robert Pearson I am pleased to share with you an excerpt from the written testimony I recently submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs in support of the Department of State exchanges budget. Even in this current budget environment, it is critical to continue to invest in these programs which bring manifold benefits to US taxpayers. I strongly encourage you to find out more and contact your representatives in Congress to voice your support as well.
Alumni Raising Awareness for Disabled Communities in Pakistan April 9, 2012 Because of the efforts of one Global UGRAD-Pakistan alumnus, more than 400 children of Special Education Complex, an institution for children with disabilities in Peshawar, recently enjoyed cricket, badminton, board games, face painting, and table tennis. The “Sports Day” was the brainchild of Sikandar, who was awarded a Project Smile grant to organize an event for children with disabilities. “They are the most underserved group of today’s society. Despite the fact that there is a vast network of educational institutions that can work with these students, the general public has completely ignored them. The Project Smile event of “Sports Day” was designed to give them a feeling of attention and care.”	Teachers Build Bridges of Mutual Understanding March 30, 2012 by Anna Wolf When 88 master educators from every region of the world came together last week at a four-day workshop in Washington, D.C., they shared more than the teaching methodologies they had cultivated over the course of the six-week program: they shared a new sense of mutual understanding gained from the partnerships they had forged with schools across America.
VIDEO: "Women of IREX" Wrapping Up the Celebration of Women’s History Month March 29, 2012 We hope you enjoyed the series of stories, blogs and twitter conversations surrounding International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month and the themes of inspiring futures, educating and empowering women and girls. In celebration of all the women who work with IREX and participate in our programs, we are pleased to share a short video of some of the “Women of IREX.”	Women's History Month: Lessons for Teachers on Promoting Gender Awareness March 28, 2012 by Karen Bovard Last year, Karen Bovard, a teacher from Connecticut, traveled to Indonesia as a fellow of the TEA-ILEP U.S. Teacher Exchange Program. Upon returning, she created an advanced high school course called “Women in a Global Context” to cultivate an understanding of worldwide gender issues in her students. In this blog, Karen discusses the evolution of the course and what she learned from preparing and delivering it.
World Water Day: Bringing Hope to a Crisis in Bangladesh March 21, 2012 by Thomas Kelly On March 22, 2012, the international community will celebrate World Water Day, an annual campaign designed to draw attention to the importance of sustainably managing water resources across the globe. This year’s campaign focuses on the relationship between water sustainability and food security. IREX is pleased to share the story of two Community Solutions Program (CSP) leaders from Bangladesh dedicated to helping their country achieve these goals.	TechChange’s Lessons from Training Pakistani Students Online March 20, 2012 by Gerard McCarthy and Christopher Neu Last month we discovered that our enthusiasm about exchange 2.0 was exceeded only by that of our international exchange students in Pakistan. A select group of forty students, all alumni of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program, shattered every quantifiable participation record at TechChange for online learning. Read more from guest bloggers Gerard McCarthy and Christopher Neu.