| Rotary Club | Monterrey Professional |
| Person of contact | Rene Zubiri |
| Phone Number | (552) 260-0701 |
| rene@zubiri.org.mx | |
| Project Name | Adding emotions, subtracting fears |
| Area of Focus | Basic education and literacy |
| Project Summary | Adding Emotions, Subtracting Fears is an innovative humanitarian initiative addressing the systemic crisis in math education across public elementary schools in Mexico. With 66% of students failing to meet basic math proficiency (PISA 2022), and over half experiencing mathematical anxiety (UNESCO), our project focuses not only on academic performance but on reshaping the emotional experience of learning. Targeting 4,000 students and 166 teachers across 100 schools in Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, this project uses neuroscience-backed strategies—including gamification, emotional reconfiguration, and mindfulness—to transform classrooms into joyful, resilient learning environments. The centerpiece is the Mathematical Magic Circles methodology, a patent-pending pedagogical tool integrating storytelling, mnemonic devices, and cognitive-emotional training. Implemented with professional oversight by the Institute for the Future of Education (Tec de Monterrey), and backed by municipal governments, NGOs, and the DIF, the project ensures rigorous measurement and long-term sustainability. Outcomes will include improved academic performance, reduced math anxiety, gender-sensitive impact tracking, and empowered educators and families. This Rotary-led initiative exemplifies scalable, community-driven innovation with measurable results—ready to be expanded and replicated with the support of like-minded global partners. |