The mBot equation
(Rotary + USAID) x mBots = a tech-savvy future for Serbian students
Photography by Monika Lozinska
In May 2020, during the earliest months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rotary International and USAID announced an exciting new endeavor. Called Hearts of Europe, the initiative aimed to foster collaboration, networking, and friendship among Rotary clubs in the United States and select central and Eastern European countries.
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“At this challenging time, we believe Hearts of Europe is a fantastic opportunity to rebuild the bonds of cooperation between communities and nations,” said John Hewko, the general secretary and CEO of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. “If we can seize this opportunity, we will pave the way for a healthier and more prosperous future.”
USAID called the collaboration an example of what it and Rotary do best: They both empower communities to help themselves and lay the foundations for a better future.
Administered through The Rotary Foundation’s global grants program, Hearts of Europe has to date approved 21 projects in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The partnership has provided nearly $2 million in funding, with 57 percent of that money coming from Rotary — and, says Sam Kendall, a strategic relations officer for Rotary, there are more projects in the pipeline. Originally scheduled to conclude in 2023, the partnership was extended another two years and will wrap up this summer.
This story originally appeared in the February 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.Visit :-
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