In Bangladesh, women’s participation in the workforce is low, and only 7.2% of small businesses in the country are owned by women.*

For generations, girls have been discriminated against just because they are girls. Too often, they are married off before finishing school, become mothers before they reach adulthood, and spend their lives being dependent on their husbands.

Reshma’s story began like this. But she managed to change its course. She decided to start her own business by producing apple cider vinegar on her own. As demand grew, she sought support to help expand her business.
Through a training program funded by the European Union, Reshma equipped herself with the entrepreneurship skills she needed to succeed and grow her business from the ground up.

“That training worked in my life like magic,” Reshma says. “I was very inspired.” She began hiring women from her own village and today, she’s not just supporting her family, she’s also helping to create opportunities for other women in her community. 

Studies show women reinvest up to 90% of their income into their families **, improving access to education and healthcare, causing education rates to rise, and families to thrive. In a country like Bangladesh, the ripple effects of this can have a huge impact.

That’s why the European Union is investing in women like Reshma so they can lead, create and rise on their own terms. There are many women like her, full of potential and determination. Armed with the right skills, they too are transforming their lives, supporting their families, and driving change in their communities, just as Reshma has done. Reshma’s story is not unique, but it is proof that investing in women is smart economics. Because when women lead, entire communities can succeed.

* Study On Mapping The Market Potential And Accelerating Finance For Women Entrepreneurs 2016, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group.

** KfW DEG Women At Work, 2020.

Based in San Salvador, Valeria Zavaleta is a digital artist who brings imaginary worlds to life. She uses a combination of 3D design, animation, and artificial intelligence to build digital experiences, and in doing so, she is opening doors for other young Salvadorans to follow in her footsteps.

Many young people in El Salvador face challenges to access work. According to the International Labour Organization, over 23% of young people in El Salvador are currently not in education, employment, or training. Digital skills and access to technology has also held young people back.

But that is changing, thanks to growing access to technology, connectivity and new opportunities.

Through initiatives like the Ilamatepec Project, the European Union is partnering with local organizations to invest in digital inclusion, education, and youth job creation across El Salvador. The project is part of the European Union’s broader Global Gateway strategy, which aims to build strong, win-win partnerships with countries around the world. In El Salvador, that means helping young people with the skills and mentorship needed to compete in a global digital economy.

For Valeria, these efforts helped unlock new opportunities to share her work internationally and mentor the next generation of artists in her community. She’s part of a growing movement of young Salvadorans who are transforming their futures through technology and art. With the European Union’s support, that movement is gaining momentum.

South Africa is facing tough environmental, social, and economic challenges. With high unemployment rates and increasing pressure on natural resources, the need for sustainable solutions is greater than ever.

In this short film, part of our Of The Future film series produced in partnership with the European Union, we meet Thandisile Fatyela, a South African entrepreneur who is proving that tackling inequalities and promoting sustainable economic growth can go hand in hand.

Through his company, Thandisile is taking on some of South Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges, while also creating green job opportunities and skills for young people, and uplifting local communities.

Thandisile tells the story behind Climate Change Champs, an initiative supported by the European Union that educates young people on sustainability and environmental protection, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for the green economy.

Through Thandisile’s story, we see how the European Union’s partnership with South Africa is empowering young people to be the green changemakers of the future.

South Africa is facing tough environmental, social, and economic challenges. With high unemployment rates and increasing pressure on natural resources, the need for sustainable solutions is greater than ever.

In this short film, part of our Of The Future film series produced in partnership with the European Union, we meet Thandisile Fatyela, a South African entrepreneur who is proving that tackling inequalities and promoting sustainable economic growth can go hand in hand.

Through his company, Thandisile is taking on some of South Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges, while also creating green job opportunities and skills for young people, and uplifting local communities.

Thandisile tells the story behind Climate Change Champs, an initiative supported by the European Union that educates young people on sustainability and environmental protection, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for the green economy.

Through Thandisile’s story, we see how the European Union’s partnership with South Africa is empowering young people to be the green changemakers of the future.

Jackie partnered with Vox Creative and Alfa Romeo to celebrate the spirit of indulgence and introduce the all-new 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale. Renowned for their Italian heritage and commitment to design, performance, and innovation, Alfa Romeo pushes the boundaries of artistry and craftsmanship, making for the perfect collaboration with a style maven like Jackie.

Growing up in California with a Nigerian father and an African American mother, Jackie’s family expected her to pursue a traditional career path, like becoming a doctor or a lawyer. “It took a lot of years to really find myself and come into what I really feel like I was meant to do,” says Aina.

She ended up joining the reserves and credits her time in the military for exposing her to new places, new people and new ideas, as well as helping her develop important leadership skills.

Jackie later found her calling in the world of beauty, becoming a licensed cosmetologist and honing her skills as a makeup artist. She launched her Youtube account in 2009 and began sharing her expertise with viewers. At a time when dark-skinned women were underrepresented in the beauty industry, Jackie carved her own space, empowering others and challenging conventional standards of beauty.

She has since expanded her influence into other areas; from launching luxury fragrance line FORVR MOOD, to creating style and wellness content with a fresh perspective, Jackie is constantly evolving . Through her videos, Jackie hopes to inspire others to embrace their own indulgences and celebrate their individuality.

Learn more about the all-new 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale here.

Dell, partnering with Intel, and Vox Creative have teamed up to tell the story of how technology is driving human progress, with this short documentary hosted and co-produced by A-list actor Nina Dobrev. Nina may be best-known for her roles on Vampire Diaries and Degrassi: The Next Generation, but here we reveal a lesser known side of the star: her Alter Ego as a passionate activist, championing to protect our oceans from the devastating effects of plastic pollution. 

Through Nina, we meet Dr. Alissa Deming, a veterinarian based in Laguna Beach, CA. Dr. Deming works for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), and she’s all too familiar with the consequences that plastic pollution has on the lives of marine mammals who call our oceans home. Dr. Deming’s team is finding solutions to these problems, and fighting for a better future. In addition to research and education on site, her team at PMMC works to actively rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals like seals and sea lions back into the ocean.

Directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Maya Albanese, the film follows Nina and Dr. Deming as they uncover some of the biggest challenges facing marine wildlife today, including plastic entanglement. The film also reveals how heroes like Dr. Deming are leveraging technology like the Dell XPS 13, powered by the Intel® Evo™ platform, to enact real change, and underscores how a brand like Dell is helping Creators of all kinds turn their passions into progress.

Despite coming from two very different worlds, Nina and Dr. Deming share a common goal: to protect the world’s precious oceans and create a better future for our planet, and that’s something we can all get behind.

Want to discover how Dell is enacting change and advancing sustainability? Read more

Cell and gene therapies are designed to treat disease at its source. These are often one-time treatments, and they have the potential to cure certain conditions. In contrast, many conventional medicines must be taken on a continual basis for weeks or months, or even for life.

But how is this leap in personalized medicine possible? Watch the video to learn the fundamentals of cell and gene therapy, and visit Novartis.com to find out more.

The company has pledged to make all of their Keurig K-Cup® pods recyclable by the end of 2020, starting with changing the material used in the container of their K-Cup® pods to polypropylene, a sought-after plastic for recycled materials. 

But another recycling challenge Keurig wants to overcome is improving the sorting process at recycling facilities — a key step in ensuring that similar materials are processed together, more efficiently. This results in a higher-quality end product, with more recycled materials available for use, instead of making new plastics.

In this video, we explore how Keurig is working with innovative partners like AMP Robotics to bring artificial intelligence to the sorting process at recycling facilities.

To discover more about Keurig’s recycling initiatives, head to keurig.com/recyclable.

Beverage giant Keurig Dr Pepper has committed to make all of their Keurig K-Cup® pods recyclable by the end of 2020. They started by changing the material used in their K-Cup® pods to polypropylene, a sought-after plastic for recycled material. 

Another big commitment from Keurig was investing in innovative new technologies to help bring the recycling process into the digital age, and to improve the recycling industry as a whole.

In this video, we explore how Keurig collaborated with recycling partners to use RFID technology in the sorting process in order to learn more about what happens to their K-Cup® pods after they arrive at a recycling facility. 

To discover more about Keurig’s recycling initiatives, head to keurig.com/recyclable.

Americans across four living generations were asked to name the five most significant historic events in their lifetimes. 

For the “silent generation,” World War II, JFK’s assassination, the moon landing and the Vietnam War were among the most defining historic events, with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks topping the list as the most significant event to occur during their lifetime.

Baby boomers came along after WWII ended. For this generation, the moon landing, the assassination of JFK, and the Vietnam War still ranked high, as did 9/11 — but Barack Obama’s election also appeared on their list of most significant events.

Large numbers of Gen X-ers named 9/11 as the most significant historic event of their lifetime — along with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the tech revolution, the war in Iraq, and Obama’s election.

Millennials, now the largest generation in America, cited the tech revolution, 9/11, the war in Iraq, and Obama’s election. They were also the only generation to include the legalization of gay marriage as a significant moment that occurred in their lifetime.

Interestingly, 9/11 topped the list across generations, with the majority of all four age groups listing the terrorist attacks as the most significant national event of their lifetimes. 

The aftermath of 9/11 left a lasting mark on our country, and when you look back, it also brought generations of Americans together. 

Today, as many Americans struggle with the impact of the coronavirus in their lives and communities, a new significant milestone may be unifying individuals across generations. Additionally, the impact of recent demonstrations around racial discrimination and race relations remains to be seen.

Want to learn more about the trends shaping America today? Check out LivingFacts.org, a non-partisan source for fascinating facts about America and Americans, from The Pew Charitable Trusts.