Congratulations is extended to Rotarian, Fary Moini of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club for winning one of six Women in Leadership Awards at The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce's Women in Leadership Award Luncheon held Friday, September 28 at the Town and Country Hotel.  Fary was nominated by two Santee-Lakeside Rotarians, Sandy Pugliese and Elana Levens-Craig.  Both became inspired by Fary's efforts to construct the Jalalabad Rotary School in Afghanistan when they participated in RYLA as facilitators and heard Fary speak.  Opened in May 2004, the school serves 6000 girls and boys.  Funds were subsequently raised to build dorms for female teachers and to pay salaries for eight female teachers so that Afghan girls could continue their education.    Fary's all-volunteer team also funded computer labs in Jalalabad as well as at the Nargarhar University, and connected these labs with programs at San Diego State University.  Fary's leadership achievements include being invited to the White House to be recognized as a Champion of Change.  She served as Rotary International's representative to the U.S. National Commission to UNESCO from 2005-2010 with responsibility for:
  • Advising UNESCO regarding Rotary activities;
  • Providing information to Rotary regarding UNESCO activities;
  • Serving on the UNESCO's Education Committee; and
  • Facilitating opportunities for Rotary Clubs to collaborate with UNESCO
Pugliese and Levens-Craig, both active in the San Diego East County Chamber, believed Fary's story needed to be told, and in doing so, the story of Rotary was put in front of several hundred men and women in attendance.