Inhale the present, exhale the past.

Now, let your breath guide you back to the present moment, where peace and mindfulness reside.

Thank you for reading today’s edition of Grateful Gazette 😌

Here’s what to know for Thursday:

• Afghan woman champions women’s rights and education after escaping

• Celebrating Indigenous engineering at the University of Melbourne

• Cancer services soar with free flights for treatment

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

Imagine being told you couldn't go to school because of your gender.

That was the reality for Sola Mahfouz growing up in Afghanistan.

But she didn't let that stop her.

Against all odds, Sola embarked on a secret mission to educate herself, mastering English and math online while confined to her home.

Today, she's not just defying odds; she's rewriting them.

As a quantum computer whiz at Tufts University, Sola is proving that brilliance knows no boundaries.

But she's not stopping there.

She's shining a spotlight on the plight of Afghan girls, who are still being denied the right to education.

Teaming up with Khan Academy, Sola and her partner-in-justice, Malaina Kapoor, are creating a digital oasis where Afghan women can learn, share stories, and empower each other.

And they're not stopping there.

With a curriculum aimed at educating American children about the struggles faced by Afghan girls, Sola and Malaina are on a mission to inspire empathy and action.

So here's to Sola Mahfouz, a beacon of hope in a world too often shrouded in darkness. May her story inspire us all to stand up, speak out, and be the change we wish to see in the world.

🐸 Critically endangered corroboree frogs spotted in Namadgi National Park

🖥 Chenango County plans to expand broadband to power regional growth

💡 World’s oldest marsupial resides in Satsukiyama Zoo

🦷 Tasmanian devil tooth unearthed in Juukan Gorge excavation

🌊 EU pledges 3.5 billion to safeguard marine ecosystems

🌟 University of Melbourne’s program honors Indigenous engineering heritage

Cancer services of the Southern Tier just leveled up by partnering with PALS SkyHope.

PALS SkyHope is a company on a mission to ease the burden of medical travel for those battling cancer without proper insurance.

These free flights are for anyone east of the Mississippi River. In particular, those that are traveling more than two hours for their appointments.

Laura Kelly, Supervising Public Health Educator, spilled the beans on this amazing partnership.

She shared that folks diagnosed through their program are in luck. They're automatically eligible to hop on board with PALS SkyHope.

And get this, they've got over 560 volunteer pilots ready to spread their wings, fuel, and planes to ferry over 30,000 patients to the care they need.

Let's give a round of applause to these real-life angels making a difference, one flight at a time!

Stop everything and take a peek at this rescued bunny that's melting hearts faster than ice cream on a hot summer day!

With its fluffy ears and twitchy nose, this little furball could give even the grumpiest cat a run for its money in the cute department.

Seriously, try not to say "aww" out loud—I dare you!

- Thank you for reading Grateful Gazette. Remember to breathe deeply to bring your mind back to your body 💜

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