"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back," wrote Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai. The "half of us" in question, sometimes ruefully referred to as the "51% minority," is of course the women and girls of the world. Conscious of the gender inequality woven into the fabric of society, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is employing its global reach in an effort to unstitch it. The ITTF Foundation is devoted to using table tennis as a means to promote social justice around the world. Toward this end, the Foundation launched World Table Tennis Day. Celebrated worldwide every April 6th, the global ping-pong party helps to realize the Foundation's mission to make table tennis "popular, universal and inclusive." It is with this last core value in mind that the ITTF Foundation has dedicated World Table Tennis Day 2021 to "FEMpowerment." This clever portmanteau underscores the Foundation's commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” What's more, the Foundation is offering material support to anyone who organizes and promotes a World Table Tennis Day 2021 event with a FEMpowerment theme. Click the link below to apply for a grant of 250 euros (almost $300 USD) to promote an event in your community. Malala Yousafzai, as you may recall, was shot in an assassination attempt by the Taliban when she was 15. She recovered and redoubled her efforts to promote educational opportunities for girls. Two years later she became the youngest ever Nobel Laureate, winning the prize for Peace. Clearly, Malala Yousafzai is the living embodiment of FEMpowerment. The question remains, however, is she any good at ping-pong?

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