ChangEducate is an award contest that features student social entrepreneurs on a DVD that will be distributed internationally through the classroom setting to motivate students to get involved.

Here is the application, if you would like to participate! Alternatively, you may share this link. Read more

Blogs is one of the first information services we launched for members and chapters of Discover Worlds. It has been through three updates and is running smoothly. Just this morning we added a blog for the Duke chapter of Discover Worlds. It’s under construction, but it will be worth visiting when it’s complete. Meanwhile, the Umubano Sister School Program still hosts its blog here, using it mainly to publish online newsletters. Since Blogs has been successful, we may be adding a wiki service in the future.

As our need for communication grows, we are also exploring the possibility of integrating services such as Twitter and perhaps even opening a discussion forum.

Discover Worlds Kolkata has recently updated us on their activities, and it is amazing what they are doing in their community. Maddy writes,

There’s this place called Hazra where 8 families live on the streets: literally having just a shack to sleep in at night… the area is just 10 minutes from our school and my house. We used to walk past them every time, treating them as part of the street… then we realized how much we needed them… there are 7-8 kids over there but the most amazing part is that their mothers are interested in learning the alphabets as well! We are now taking care about their education and hygiene… [we have] discovered our extended family!

Ria will be writing a more detailed article, so stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, here are some photographs of the Hazra folk.
Read more

Discover Worlds is currently in the process of identifying a candidate to fill the role of Chief Financial Officer, which was recently vacated.

Discover Worlds is an international, entirely student-run, non-profit organization that focuses on empowering high school students to affect social change. With an Executive Board based primarily at Duke, the organization consists of an extensive network of chapters worldwide in countries ranging from India to Rwanda to the US.

At Discover Worlds, we seek to end global issues by motivating and inspiring youth to use their talents to spread awareness and take action on these issues. We accomplish this in two ways: we raise awareness of global issues and empower students around the world to affect the change that they wish to see in the world and we support Rwandan orphans of HIV/AIDS and genocide through our University Scholarship Program and our Umbano Sister School Program.

As mentioned earlier, the position of Chief Financial Officer was recently vacated and we are currently accepting applications for this position. The responsibilities of the position can be found in the job description included below. If you are interested in this position, please email either Anjali Bhatia or Ben Dean expressing your interest in the position with your resume attached. Please respond soon!

CFO Job Description:

• Responsible for monitoring and documenting all fiscal activities of the Executive Board of the organization
• Directs financial strategy, planning and forecasting in collaboration with other executive positions
• Identifies and analyzes opportunities for expansion
• Projects organizational growth

Regards,

Ben Dean
Discover Worlds
Chief Operating Officer

Discover Worlds opened a new chapter last month in Kolkata, India. The Chapter’s founders, Ria Banerjee and Madhumita Chatterjee, were able to share with us some of their motivations.

Ria Banerjee (left) and Madhumita Chatterjee (right)

Ria was influenced by the idea of students as a catalyst of change, and of working together to make a positive difference in human thought. Dedicated to the welfare of society and encouraged by the ideas of Discover Worlds, Ria took the first chance she had to contribute by starting this chapter.

Madhumita believes that the progression of society depends on the youth. Concerned about their poverty, illiteracy, and lack of opportunity, Madhumita was inspired to help lead today’s society towards a better tomorrow. Like Mother Teresa, she believes that “we cannot do great things on this Earth, but small things with great love.”

We appreciate Ria, Madhumita, and other Discover Worlds members worldwide for their contributions.