The Varanda Network

Our CEO, Bernadette Fernandes, has joined Robyn Tingley, the CEO of Glass Sky, in making micro loans to women in developing countries...on this round we funded women entrepreneurs in two developing countries where Bernadette has spent time working: #Guatemala and #ElSalvador; along with countries near and dear to her heart: #Ecuador, #Rwanda, #Ghana, and #Kenya...across various sectors such as agriculture, cleantech, water & sanitation, food security. This International Women's Day, Kiva is matching loans to female entrepreneurs until midnight PST March 9th... there's still time. It's quick & easy... give it a try, please :)

Our CEO Bernadette Fermandes was at the ACEA announcement in #SaintJohn today and although she was standing at the back of the room and couldn't see a thing, what she heard left her feeling energized... as the charming Rory O'Sullivan said, #Canada is the best place for small nuclear reactors and #NewBrunswick is the best place in Canada. So, yay us! Let's build on this momentum. Great to hear from other key stakeholders like Colleen d'Entremont , Norm Sawyer, and Hon. Andrea Anderson-Mason. Can't wait to learn more about all the opportunities spinning out of the newest clean energy innovations.

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Katherine Johnson, celebrated 101 years on her last birthday, August 26th, 2019...it was in fact her last birthday as, sadly, she passed away today. But, what a legacy she leaves behind as inspirational mathematician and real-life subject of "Hidden Figures"; namesake of NASA's new Katherine Johnson Computational Research Facility; and especially as a catalyst for breaking down racial and social barriers...thank you Mrs. Johnson <3 #S...TEMup #STEMgirls #BlackHistoryMonth From A Mighty Girl's post last year... One of the earliest women to join NASA, Johnson's skills in celestial navigation were renowned. Among other mathematical feats, she calculated -- by hand -- the launch window and trajectory for the 1961 space flight of Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. For her contributions to the space programs and for blazing a trail for women and African Americans at NASA, Johnson was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian award, by President Barack Obama in 2015. NASA also dedicated a research building in Johnson's honor at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. At the dedication ceremony, "Hidden Figures" author Margot Lee Shetterly observed: "At every fork, her talent, her hard work and her character pulled her toward her destiny. At every turn, she made a choice to become the protagonist in her own story and then of ours... You work changed our history and your history has changed our future. To share Katherine Johnson's extraordinary story with children and teens, we've showcased the best books on her life and impact for all ages in our new blog post at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=20192 For two wonderful picture books about Katherine Johnson for ages 5 to 9, we highly recommend "Counting on Katherine" (https://www.amightygirl.com/counting-on-katherine) and "A Computer Called Katherine" (https://www.amightygirl.com/a-computer-called-katherine) Young fans of Katherine Johnson may enjoy the Barbie doll sculpted in her likeness at https://www.amightygirl.com/katherine-johnson-doll -- and the early chapter book for ages 6 to 8 at https://www.amightygirl.com/katherine-johnson Katherine Johnson has also just released her first autobiography, "Reaching for the Moon," for ages 10 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/reaching-for-the-moon

Wishing gong xi fa cai (in Mandarin) and a gung hay fat choy (in Cantonese) to all those celebrating the Lunar New Year around the world.

2020 - new year; new journey... Follow the NRP Sagres on it's commemorative circumnavigation around the world in celebration of Portugal's, Fernão de Magalhães' world exploration and trade mission 500 years ago.

This year, the theme for World Maritime Day is empowering women in the maritime community. By six months old she was sailing with her parents on board a bulker carrying grain from Canada to the Philippines. #InternationalTrade In 2015, Capt. Kate McCue became the first American woman captain of a mega cruise ship. She speaks about gender diversity on board and says it results in increased productivity and creativity and that she wants to see the gender gap decreasing. According to Capt. McCue in the Celebrity Cruises fleet the number of women on board has increased from 3% to 22%. Way to go!