World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) causes us to pause and reflect on the emergence of our nonprofit, TeachAids, and all of the important individuals who have made this incredible journey possible. Since the founding of TeachAids 10 years ago, we have launched two educational initiatives to tackle global health problems: Prevention Begins with Me (2min video), a series of animated videos that teaches about HIV prevention, and CrashCourse (4min video), an initiative that addresses issues surrounding concussions. Through these initiatives, we've developed health education for youth across the globe, from working in regions with limited access to computers, to working at the cutting-edge of virtual reality technology. All our products are available to everyone for free.

People often ask what makes our team special; the answer is always the TeachAids family. Looking back across my years at TeachAids, I am humbled by the dedication, resilience, and passion that we see in everyone with whom we have been privileged to work. Whether it's student athletes, former Presidents and high-ranking politicians, world-class researchers, or children involved in testing the products, everyone has a hand in making our work possible.

"Prevention Begins with Me" began as a research initiative in 2006. As a PhD student at Stanford Graduate School of Education, I began reading reports about India being identified as the next hot zone for people living with HIV and was perplexed as to why HIV knowledge levels were so low, despite hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on the problem. With further investigation, the findings showed that there were many unique challenges in providing HIV education around the world. Working with an incredible team of interdisciplinary researchers and educators at Stanford, we began developing research-based methodologies to educate children across the world. After completing my PhD in 2009, we formally launched TeachAids as an independent nonprofit.

As the first target country, we developed 14 male and female specific versions of our HIV prevention curriculum in multiple languages to be distributed throughout India. With support from India's Central Government's National AIDS Control Organisation and each each local government's efforts, industry giants like Mahindra & Mahindra, Deloitte, Cigna International, and Yahoo!, "Prevention Begins with Me" was distributed throughout the country into classrooms, television broadcasts, and more. Twenty-two Indian celebrities donated their voices and likenesses to the productions, taking time away from their own film shoots and busy lives to bring these educational animations to fruition ( behind the scenes "making-of" Indian versions). In the end, these Indian language versions were launched to impact half-a-billion people in India alone ( 2min video).

We additionally developed versions of the HIV animations to include Kinyarwanda, Mandarin, Setswana, Spanish, Swahili, and Tibetan. With the Kinyarwanda language version, more than 1000 Rwandan youth gathered during the World Cup Games for screenings as well as at local schools and churches to learn about comprehensive HIV prevention; for many this was the first time. Meanwhile, the Spanish language materials were utilized in medical clinic waiting rooms in the Dominican Republic as well as throughout Central and South America through the United States Peace Corps, and other NGOs. With the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan education animations were used to educate health stakeholders through which the animated tutorials reached 30 countries. Hundreds of dedicated health workers, educators, and volunteers worked tirelessly to disseminate that language version globally.

After the HIV content had reached 82 countries, TeachAids expanded to include a new topic which was greatly impacting young people in our own backyard-- Concussions. Through CrashCourse, we launched our first free product ( CrashCourse Football) in September 2018 at the Stanford vs. USC football game ( launch video). Since then, we have partnered with all the major players in the youth football community. Organizations such as Pop Warner, American Youth Football are actively distributing our content, with USA Football offering a formal Certification of Completion for all youth. Many U.S. National Sports Governing Bodies, including USA Synchro have partnered with TeachAids to further educate and protect their young athletes. Last December, the U.S. Olympic Committee shared CrashCourse with their 400,000 coaches nationwide representing 50+ different sports. With the support of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, we have also provided a "sneak peek" of CrashCourse in Virtual Reality into every public high school in Arkansas, soon to be released across the country.

All of this work has been possible due to the compassion and effort of countless advisors, ambassadors, and volunteers. Epidemiologists and neurosurgeons would find time in-between clinic visits and surgeries, or in the car on their way home from the ER to contribute to the work. We are so honored and grateful that they share precious time to support and promote our efforts. Similarly, with our most recent effort in building CrashCourse, students-athletes would practice their scripts together in the locker rooms, and rush to our office straight after practice - any chance they could get amidst their crazy schedules, they would help work on the project.

It's true that it takes a village to make meaningful change. Since our founding, we've realized that all of us are united by our mission to serve. It has been an honor to work with incredible experts across medicine, industry, education, and sport, who all share a vision for how we can make the world a better place.

We are always looking to identify passionate individuals to join our efforts as we continue to build robust and research-based health education for communities around the world. Please reach out if you or someone you know might be interested in getting involved in a meaningful way- much can be contributed from "afar!" We are energized by our past and excited for our future. Contact us at info@teachaids.org to learn more.

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Women at HBS Webinar

December 4, 2019 - 4:00pm EST

Hear from members of the Women's Student Association as they reflect on their MBA experience and discuss the environment, resources, and support, for women at HBS.

Since 2006 when the flagship TGR Learning Lab opened its doors in Anaheim, CA, TGR Foundation has had a lot to celebrate, including its most recent milestone of one million students impacted by TGR EDU: Explore, alone.

Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, TGR EDU: Explore is a free digital resource library that offers interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and tools for educators, students and families to explore new disciplines and gain skills for a modern and expanding workforce.

Entertainment For Change creates original song and dance (#SDGGROOVE) to educate young people on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Like any meaningful social change, the original song and dance is a collaborative effort between more than 20 singers, dancers, writers and choreographers. Lauded vocalists Natalie Weiss and Antonio Cipriano lend their voices to the powerful lyrics, while each SDG is  danced by performers of all calibers.

"There is an incredible opportunity to make a difference as a 'Real Leader' - now" - Sir Richard Branson