PACE Universal: Educate & Empower

Happy International Women’s Day everyone.

We at Pace Universal believe every day is a day to honor and empower young girls and women.

An educated girl becomes a powerful WOMAN!

One woman with one mission paved the way for PACE.

“Deepa’s early childhood education began under the stewardship of the woman who later became known as Mother Teresa… She saw that those who are most deprived of education are the most vulnerable…. So, when Deepa left India to pursue a graduate degree in the United States, she made a vow to return to her home and effect real, tangible change for the girls there.” [http://paceuniversal.org/our-story/]

Photo by: Steven Cory Solomon

Context: Photo from the Rotary International magazine

PACE Universal is humbled and eternally grateful for our continuing partnership with Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.

One stubborn woman, Deepa Dida, Deepa Mashi, Deepa Auntie, Deepa Didi, can indeed help to change the World…

One girl, one woman, one education, one micro-loan, one community at a time.

You help us, help them. Thank you!

Missing these smiles and wonderful souls.

{Morning Inspiration}

Education is one of the most powerful tools of human trafficking prevention.

Education gives girls the power to delay marriage and reduce birth rate.

Educated women have power to stand up against domestic violence.

Each year of education raises a woman’s income by 10-20%. Women invest 90% of that income into their families. Men only invest 30-40%.

Education saves lives.

Every year, 60 million girls ages 6-11 are out of school.

38% of girls in developing countries are child brides. One in seven marries before age 15. 150 million girls experience sexual abuse each year.

Just one additional year of education can reduce infant mortality by 5-10%. Educated mothers are 50% more likely to immunize their children than uneducated mothers.

Deepa Dida and American friends are finally back in Kolkata, after a nearly three year hiatus due to Covid-19.

We are beyond excited to check in with all of our girls, give and receive hugs, and visit the beloved PLC school and sanctuary in Piyali.

Happy New Year from PACE Universal! May 2023 bring everyone more health, safety and opportunities for growth and expansion.

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In the world’s poorest regions, girls are the most vulnerable.

Education empowers them to stand up to the biases of male-dominated societies and become confident, contributing members of their communities. Girls have incredible potential to make lasting change, if they are but given a chance.

Please help us give them this chance!

WOW. We are constantly humbled by our PACE girls.

They understand the value of a well-rounded education fundamentally more than many lawmakers in Unites States of America.

WOW! Thank you for the mention today. We are truly humbled, and very proud of every life we help to uplift and change at PLC.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools in preventing human trafficking.

Mala Sil is a student, parent, and employee at PACE Universal, a school for girls in Piyali Junction, outside of Kolkata, India.

The school, founded by Rotary member Deepa Biswas Willingham and partly funded by Rotary Clubs and Rotary International, aims to educate
girls and protect them from slavery, trafficking, and early childhood marriage.

Did you know?

- 40.3 million people are forced into labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced marriages worldwide
- 4,750 dollars made per second from forced labor
- 71% of people in forced labor are women or girls”

Did you know that Deepa Dida has been helping to educate and empower at risk youth since the late 1960’s?!

“Upward Bound provides academic support to high school students so they may complete high school, enroll in college, and successfully obtain a college degree.”

Much like what we do with PACE in Piyali, except we start with much younger, preschool age girls.

Great news alert!

We are ecstatic to share these bunch of happy faces for their outstanding achievements in their secondary exam under the NIOS board.

We are so very proud to share that all of these PLC students have scored higher than 70%.

Heartiest congratulations to the diligent students and dedicated teachers whose collective and relentless efforts made it all possible.

Meet Supriya everyone. She is one of PLC’s graduates, and she is now attending Nursing School.

She is the first awardee of the “Meredith Whitlock Alstad” scholarship. This scholarship was set up by the PLC Interact Club to honor our dear benefactor - Rotarian Dr. Sylvia Whitlock’s beloved daughter Meredith, who passed away far too young.

Happy 8th grade graduation Sophia Elliot!

Sophia is PACE Universal’s youngest donor and fundraiser to date. She started her infamous lemonade stand in Los Olivos, CA when she was just four years young.

The Piyali PLC campus has a huge jungle gym due to her philanthropic efforts.

Bravo Sophia. It is no wonder that you won the Abbey Award for Kindness at Dunn Middld School!

Happy Mother’s Day to Deepa Dida!

Every PACE Learning Center students’ favorite “Boori” ——> ‘very, very, very OLD Lady who loves us a lot and travels very far to see us…’

Exactly.

Whew. We are so happy to announce that school is finally back in session!

Our girls are even more ecstatic.

Girls suffer the most in poverty, yet they have the greatest potential to end it. PACE educates and nurtures the holistic development of girls in the world’s poorest regions. Through education, girls become confident. They become empowered to change the world.

The theme for this year's International Women's Day is: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all .

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

Peace is a basic Human Right!

PACE Universal supports peace, each and every day.

Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Please help us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Sophia!

PACE Universal’s youngest donor ever and one of the most successful personal fundraisers we have been blessed to know…

She has been a champion for young girls since the wee age of four.

We at PACE Universal so look forward to many more moments like these.

Bridging cultural divides, bridging language divides and so very much more.

Everyone leaves enriched by the experience. Memories of a lifetime are made…

Happy Saraswati Puja everyone!

This day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, who is the deity of knowledge, language, music, and the arts. People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlightened with knowledge.

She is the perfect “mascot” for our PLC girls and our mission of education and female empowerment.

“Orange” you glad that this is the Year of the Tiger?

The best is yet to come… Positive wishes and blessings to you from everyone at PACE Universal!

PACE is committed to ending trafficking and uplifting communities through the education of girls and women living in extreme poverty—girls who don’t have access to schooling and whose societies devalue and discard them. An education changes girls’ lives. It gives them a future.

But we are more than a learning center. Our program invests in the holistic development of not only students but also their families. PACE engages entire communities, providing the building blocks needed to make systemic change and shake poverty’s powerful grip.
And it all begins with girls.

http://paceuniversal.org

In the world’s poorest regions, girls are the most vulnerable.

Case in point, “our girls” did not even know what to do with a jungle gym, as none of them had ever even seen one before!

Education empowers them to stand up to the biases of male-dominated societies and become confident, contributing members of their communities. Girls have incredible potential to make lasting changes, if they are but given a chance.

Please help us give them this chance!

Friends of PACE, look out for “your girls” in this month’s Rotary International magazine.

And, the sincerest and very heartfelt thanks to Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation for their continued support and exposure throughout our journey to educate and empower young girls and women in rural Bengal and beyond.

We at PACE Universal, are so grateful and thankful for all of your support over the past 18 years.

We give thanks today and everyday for the opportunity to give these beautiful young girls the gift of an education.

The future is bright and cheerful indeed.

Aside from their Deepa Dida, this wonderful human being, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, is the girls’ brightest champion and most tireless advocate.

Girls rights matter, female rights matter. Female equality is vital the world over.

{Uncle Jayanta Chatterji, you are their champion in the realm of men and equally appreciated and honored!}

We are excited to see the Vocational Training Program starting up again.

“Friends,

We have just started the counselling and mobilisation chapters for the Sewing Machine Operators and General Duty Assistants courses under GG # 2120359. These courses will come with placement guarantees.”

- PACE In Country Director: Jayanta Chatterji