GVN Foundation

Keep up to date!

2011-06-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Here at GVN Foundation, a large majority of our work revolves around a global fundraising campaing called Eat So They Can, which many of you will have heard of. Preparations for the 2011 Eat So They Can campaign are well under way, and we are looking forward to what will hopefully be a very successful rest of the year.

We just thought we should let you all know that the best way to get all the news on what is happening at GVN Foundation and Eat So They Can is to follow the Eat So They Can blog, Twitter, or Facebook page. Links to each of these can be found below.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

http://blog.eatsotheycan.org/
http://twitter.com/#!/EatSoTheyCan
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eat-So-They-Can/107563699287923

Mission: Accomplished!

2011-06-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

We finished! After some serious "hills" (right Andrea? HILLS, not mountains, just tell yourself hills!) yesterday we completed the cycling portion of the trip. Ending in Hoi An, the cyclists were enthusiastically greeted by the cycling support crew with banners and champagne to congratulate every rider as he/she arrived. As my injury had caused one butt-cheek to double in size, I was unable to ride and was waiting to toast the riders as they came in.

Champagne finish for the cyclists!

Our "tourist" day in Hoi An started the following morning with a short tour of the city; Hoi An was a very busy commercial port in the 16th and 17th centuries and merchants from Japan, China, Holland, India all came here to trade. Almost all of architecture including streets, ports, and civil and religious buildings are still intact. Hoi An is also well known for their amazing tailors and seamstresses. Many tourists come here with an idea in mind they pull from a magazine and see it come to life, custom-fit for their shape.

Woman at the market in Hoi An, Vietnam

The afternoon was left open with the purpose of allowing everyone to run errands, shop for souvenirs and tour the city at their own pace. Another tempting option was to head to the beach or get a massage! This was the last night with our amazing cycling support crew so of course a nice dinner followed by a little Vietnamese accoustic singing and a spontaneous performance by our favorite male cyclists, Steve and John which left us...um...speechless, we went to bed with the realization that though the heat and long days of cycling were a challenge, we were leaving with new friends and a mission, accomplished!

Caitie Goddard

Day 7: Banh Mi and Babies!

2011-04-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

The morning started with our first banh mi opla experience. Banh Mi Opla (pronounced 'bahn me o-plah') is a traditional Vietnamese breakfast sandwich sold on virtually every corner. It usually consists of 2 eggs inside a baguette along with the option of beef, cucumber, tomato, and cilantro topped with soy sauce. It's delicious! We sat down in a Vietnamese café and enjoyed being the only tourists in the entire place. The other must-try treat of Vietnam is their coffee, much different than a Western style morning brew. There are 2 traditional options; café Saigon (iced espresso with condensed milk) or café da (espresso on ice with sugar) Both will have your heart pumping and enough energy to last for hours. Fully fueled, we were ready to head to the Tam Ky Baby Orphanage. I knew I'd probably have to drag a few cyclists out once they got to meet the kids!

Natasha and Steve demonstrating proper Bahn Mi Opla form

Since I had a minor (minor mom, MINOR) incident a few days earlier, I was out of commission for the biking aspect and arrived early to the Orphanage. I wish the cyclists could have seen the massive effort the caretakers made to have the kids ready to greet everyone as they cycled up to the door! Unfortunately, the attention span of 1-5 year old kids is the same across cultures and continents and after realizing that the van is a biiiit faster than cyclists, the enthusiastic greeting had to be forgotten.

After 5 minutes, the only 2 curious kids left!

When the cyclists did arrive, the attention returned fully and I'm sure we'd all like to believe these young children were so enraptured with us due to our incredible athletic accomplishment or our wonderful fundraising initiatives but I have a feeling it was more the frozen yogurt and stickers that came with us. Shireen's clever idea to brings heaps of stickers and the bikers handing out yogurts to each and every kid meant we again were the stars! After helping everyone to their snacks, it was time to head in and learn more about the kids and the Orphanage they call home.

Betsy and her new admirer

The Tam Ky baby orphanage houses roughly 35 children ages 0-6 from around Vietnam. The term "orphan" is used in Vietnam to indicate a child either has no parents or 1 parent still alive. For many single parents or children raised by extended family, especially those living and working in the countryside, they cannot afford to take care of their children and realize they have a better opportunity and quality of life if they are in an orphanage. The bad news is that not all orphanages are well taken care of or have enough staff to fully support the children. The good news is that the Tam Ky baby orphanage is not one of them! The ultimate goal for the Tam Ky baby orphanage is for every child to attend and complete elementary school while still in the orphanage. GVN Vietnam sends volunteers to the orphanage to provide vitamins, extra food and to teach English and music. Part of the fee volunteers pay also helps to cover the salary of the teachers and nurse. What I'm so excited about is that through the fundraising efforts of the cyclists, further educational and medical needs of the children will be met. Their hard work will change the lives of 35 children who deserve the very best foundation for their future!

Still trying to figure out how to sneak this one home with me!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation
Program Development Coordinator

To support the children we are fund-raising for, click here!

Day 6: Not Everyone is a Cycling Fan!

2011-04-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

We've never felt so welcomed!

After three very tough days cycling hundreds of kilometers, I think everyone was excited to have a "light" day of cycling and meet more of the children their fundraising supports! We started off the day cycling to Little School where we could not have asked for a better greeting. Dressed in some of their best outfits, the children showed off their talents including singing and dancing for all of us. It was hard not to be impressed. Well choreographed routines by children younger than half my wardrobe were amazing! It was also a wonderful opportunity to see how talented and creative these kids are.

Jazz hands!

Some of the funding raised from the cyclists will go to support nutrition programs at the Little School. Perhaps for some, this might be the one meal a day that provides needed vitamins and protein to help them concentrate, stay active and give them the best opportunity to learn. The staff and students really showed their appreciation and in turn, were a bit...impressed themselves; it seems the idea that we chose to bike when we can afford a motorbike or car does not always translate. "So you sweat and bike for hours when you could afford to just get a taxi and get to the next spot in an hour?" While the staff appreciated our contribution and enthusiasm, I think we also left them with the impression that we are a bit crazy!

I don't see this working out...

Our next stop was the Home of Affection where we met with disabled children who will receive funding for a food program including daily milk and fruit to increase the nutritive content they receive. We had a chance to meet 2 GVN volunteers who have spend over a month working with these kids as well as their 24/7 caretakers who have a very challenging job of making sure these children are loved and taken care of. I think everyone left feeling fortunate for their health and by comparison, wealth- but also with the sense that it is absolutely possible to make an impact in the lives of others!

Joy spreading her contagious enthusiasm to the kids!

With a bit more biking to do (and I'm happy to report at this point we now refer to a "bit" as being 40km!) everyone jumped back on their bikes to finish out the day's cycling. It was one of our longest days as after cycling for a few hours, we jumped in the vans to head to Tam Ky where further project visits and cycling awaits! I believe the several hour trip was a memorable one for all and while I take the blame for the music (who burns 5 cds and accidently makes them all the same? What can I say, it's a talent) I will not take the blame for the van to van theft of cold drinks. Vietnam has no rule on beverages while NOT driving (we never condone drinking and driving!!) so the trip was much more entertaining as a result. "Oi Joy Oi!"

We know how to ride hard but we also know how to rest hard!

To support our cycling trip and donate to the Children's Fund, please visit http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/vietnam/

Caitie Goddard
Program Development Coordinator
GVN Foundation

Day 5: All's well till.....

2011-04-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Note: Due to lack of internet, and the whole "cycling" thing, all posts are delayed. This post was written by Jen Flynn, co-leader of the cycling challenge with GVN Foundation's Caitie Goddard

Well, we all knew there would be some hills on this bike trek but REALLY??? We drove out from the hotel to bypass some dangerous spots along Hwy 1 and dropped out bikes about 20 km out from our first 'hill'. (we refused to call anything a mountain just for psychological reasons!) Once our legs were warmed up from the semi flat riding, we approached our first 'hill' - the smaller of the two.

Pep talk time! Guys, this "hill" might be tough...

Hill #1 was a challenge in itself, partly because you don't know how steep or long it is... There are continuous curves that make you think you've just hit the peak, then surprise..... more climbing. But we all conqured the hill and felt great! Despit the heat, we were ready for our biggest challenge yet - Hill #2. This hill took every ounce of power and determination.. you know it's steep when you can out pedal a semi truck that is struggling to make it to the top! I think my average speed up this hill was about 7 km/hr... I went through all my Kick Butt Music to make it up - Mostly following Steven and Mr. Khai we finally made it up to the summit! High fives all around... then just moments later - we got to enjoy the massive downhill! I'll admit, I hit the brakes more than once to ensure I'd stay on the road at the turns but it was an awesome downhill.

Bike tour leader and cycling guides get tired too!

Upon reaching the flats - we were able to see once again the beautiful scenery of Vietnam - the rice fields, old women drying rice (still in the husks) out in the road, the kids biking to school and the water buffalo in the fields. As some of us were resting about 10 km or so after the downhill, we got a call from Caitie about an accident that occurred just up the road. Caitie had been biking alone for a bit and had been hit from behind by a drunk moto driver! By the time we got to her, the police and ambulance had arrived and they were 'marking the scene' with white paint to show where Caitie's bike and the moto lay, the man's body (he wound up being ok after a trip to the hospital), his shoes and Caities 'stuff' that flew from her bike. Thankfully, Caitie was ok - VERY bruised and scraped up but otherwise very lucky.

Miiiiles and miles of rice fields!

This was our only real scary event of the trip - despite losing Joy for about an hour - Hey - if you're gonna have a big day, let's make it a good one huh?? (So said Joy upon reaching the hotel....) Oi troi oi!!

After quick showers and an intro from Mr. Viet the E.D. of GVN Vietnam, it was time to introduce the bikers to the kids!! We arrived at the Tuy Hoa Home of Affection 5pm to about 40 kids who clapped and cheered for all of us. Three kids sang some songs and danced and we saw the results of sponsorship from donors around the world who are paying $300 USD per year to sponsor these kids. Many started their lives in broken homes and wound up out of school and working on the streets as young as 6 yrs old. They did everything from beg for money to collect recycled cans to peddle lottery tickets. Thanks to the sponsors, they are OFF the streets and not only in public schools but also attending night school to catch up on VN subjects and to learn English from GVN Vietnam volunteers. The bikers raised money and some of the funds are going toward school supplies and dinner that is served 3 x per week at this school.

Cyclists at GVN supported Home of Affection

After the meet n greet, we all 11 bikers, staff and 40 kids - went across the street to the fresh spring roll shop and stuffed ourselves for an hour! Eating with the kids is a treat as they love to make the rolls for their guests and see just how many we can eat! We finished the night on a yacht (bear in mind, this IS Vietnam) drinking beer and vodka, getting to know each other better and celebrating our accomplishments thus far.

Cyclist Natasha at dinner with 2 new friends!

To support the children we are fund-raising for, click here!

Day 4: Meet the Cyclists

2011-04-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Cycling wise, today was the hardest day of our trip. Waking up in Phan Tiet we started out the morning with another delicious Vietnamese style breakfast including noodles, rice, an assortment of meats and stews and the only thing familiar to me-the omelette station! Battling whether to try everything and fill up for the ride or eat in moderation, I went with Steve’s mantra of “time for another plate” and enjoyed 2!

Ready for our longest cycling day!

Biking started out exactly how it finished yesterday; right outside of the hotel. Everyone hopped on their bikes and cycled out of the gates to begin over 6 hours on the roads. The middle of the day from about 11:30-2:00 is extremely hot so our goal was to accomplish about 80 kilometers in the morning, before the heat set in. Along with guides who ride in the front and back, a routine has been established; for the first 20 minutes, we ride as a pack with everyone going about the same pace. Soon Steve, the aptly nicknamed, “the mayor” (for not only his physical stature but also his tendency to wave to everyone he sees in the villages we pass) breaks away from the pack and pedaling at half the speed as everyone else, still manages to double our pace. Following behind is you'll find:

Super-athlete Shireen who humbly states that she’s not that fit because the triathlon she did was in November and since then, she’s ONLY done a 50 mile run. No, not 50 miles total, 50 miles ALL AT ONCE.

Group leader Jen who claims she is out of shape or "not as young anymore" but will come out of nowhere and lead the pack for miles.

Our portable computer technician John who consistently plugs along, always near the front.

Narelle AKA “Lance” who you won’t see for miles until a massive hill comes along and all of a sudden while you are giving all your energy just to keep pedaling, she will blow by you as if she’s on a flat surface and smile while at it.

I’m usually somewhere in this group pretending I belong. Rounding up the group are:

Determind Natasha, our youngest team member who even after suffering from the heat, jumped back into it and never loses her smile.

My personal hero Betsy who although one of the older team members, is always willing to go and give it a shot, never complaining and even mastering some serious hills!

Event attired Joy who has been in enough running and cycling events that every day she has on another example of how awesomely involved and sporty she is and an explanation of how she supported one cause or another through her efforts.

Barbie professor Andrea, who not only loves to coordinate her outfits and have a great tan but also has to think about which of the 6 tops schools she wants to go to for her MBA all while going through an intense physical challenge. Oh, and she dances and sings while biking too. This girl does everything!

Following the group in one of the support vans is Kate, a former GVN Vietnam volunteer and nurse from Australia who not only cheers and supports us for every kilometer but also brought her med kit, drugs (the legal ones) and an amazing assortment of trail mix, gummies and muesli bars to keep us going. All cyclists should be so lucky to have themselves a Kate. We are a very fortunate group!

The routine includes 1-2 hours of biking followed by a short break including a fill-up on water bottles and snacks before heading out again. Mastering 80 kilometers in 35 degree heat, we hopped in the van for lunch on the go and headed to the afternoon portion of cycling.

Appearances are deceiving. At this point I was exhausted!

The afternoon involved us having to make some tough decisions: while we wanted to push ourselves and ride as long as possible, we were also aware that we had a limited time before it became dark and cycling became more dangerous in the cities. For the mayor, this was not a problem. This former professional rugby player could have been (and probably still has some potential) to become a professional cyclist. Determined to ride until we dragged him in or he reached the next hotel, we dropped him off early. Another group, including myself, ventured out at the next drop-off point to cycle another 45 km until reaching Nha Trang and the third group went to the 25 km mark. All groups (and Steve) managed to make it back to the hotel before it got too dark and to be honest, I think we were all pretty impressed with ourselves and proud we had toughed out a very challenging day!


Steve and Shireen, ready for any challenge!

Caitie Goddard

GVN Foundation

Program Development Coordinator

To support the children we are cycling for, click here!

Day 3: I'm Basically Professional

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our first day of cycling! Waking up we grabbed a quick breakfast and jumped into the van to head about 2 hours out of the city, away from the busy Saigon traffic. Around 9:30, we arrived at a small village where we finally got introduced to our bikes and had adjustments made to get ready for a looong day. Feeling very "cycly" in my outfit and gloves, I didn't really think anything of the people who brought their own pedals and shoes. My thought was it seemed kind of like wearing sweat bands in basketball; adds some style but can't help much, right? I'll continue this thought process later.


Shireen doing some pre-bike shopping

Mr. Tuan, our incredible cycling tour guide had made the very wise decision to have us ride only about 20km before stopping for lunch and to make sure the bikes were adjusted properly and everyone felt comfortable. This allowed the group to make some minor changes including adjusting seats and handlebars before setting our for another 60+ km in the afternoon. Lunch was amazing; we ate at a restaurant overlooking the South China Sea and the whole group had an hour to eat and digest. In order to get all our riding done for the day, we had to cycle through the middle of the day (over 35 degrees!) and it. was. tough! It's one thing to sweat like crazy in spin class and curse the instructor for the continued scream to "challenge yourself! go up one!" thereby implying the resistance you're at where you're legs are hardly moving is just not difficult enough. It's another to be pedaling along for miles with the hot sun in your face and no end in sight. I never thought I'd say this but I missed my "45 minutes and done" spin class!


Lunch overlooking the South China Sea

I think there were three things that kept our entire group going today: knowing we had the support of family and friends back home, the encouragement from our support crew enthusiastically waving red flags at every intersection we came to with shouts of encouragement and the promise that a pool and wonderful dinner was waiting for us at the end!

The highly anticipated pool!

To return to my naive and I'll admit, ignorant opinion of personal bike pedals (in my defense, it does sound a bit silly, right? Personal pedals?) here is what I learned (sigh)

- If you choose to bike hundreds of miles, personal bike pedals are great. No, fantastic. So are straps. So are bike shoes. Real ones not sneakers. Would you play a serious soccer/football match without cleats?

- Without something holding your foot securely to the pedal, it would be easy to slip off the pedal and send your foot into the wheel. Not so likely to happen on a trip around the block, but on a longer ride, when you're tired.

- There is actually a correct place to put your foot on the pedal if you want to transfer power correctly. And believe me, 20+ miles in, that is exactly what you want to do.

- As Jen put it after I asked her why she wore real cycling shoes, "I should be 1/3 less tired than you at the end of the day." Greeeeaaaat.

- You look more serious in bike shoes. And looking more serious sometimes leads to feeling more serious.

Don't they look serious?

Lesson learned: delayed, but certainly learned. Now I'm ready for day 2!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation
Program Development Coordinator

To support the children we are fund-raising for, click here!

Day 1: A Bit of History and Claustrophobia in One!

2011-04-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Note: Due to a lack of internet availability and our reasonably early start times (we are hardcore here!) these posts are a bit delayed!

The official start of the 2011 Cycling Challenge began this morning with an introduction from Jen and I welcoming everyone to Vietnam and thanking our amazing group for their hard work and fundraising efforts to make this possible! Mr .Tuan, our cycling expert and organizer went over all the necessary safety rules and regulations to prepare everyone for the experience. Luckily for those still recovering from jetlag (including Andrea who had a 48 hour experience to get to Vietnam,) that was all the cycling action we had planned for the day! A city tour was organized so everyone could learn a bit more about the country and history. We visited the former presidential palace where during the Vietnam War, the front gate was smashed down by a North Vietnamese tank. That tank is now a historical artifact on the front lawn. It was amazing to walk through the palace, now a tourist site only and try to imagine what it would have been like making decision that would effectively change the course of your country's history within those walls.

A bit small for a home, don't you think?

After our tour of the palace, a visit to the War Remnants Museum and a massive street market was planned. However, several of us (myself included) really wanted to visit the Cu Chi tunnels, the unbelievable 250 km maze of underground tunnels the Viet Kong called home for years. The experience is one I will never forget; our guide began the tour showing us various traps used by the Viet Kong to injure and kill American soldiers. To put it bluntly, it was terrifying. Their guerilla warfare tactics were we clever and well disguised, I can’t imagine what it must have been like to walk through the jungle trying to anticipate these traps! The trap below would not only puncture the bottom of your foot, it would also make it impossible to get out without severely injuring your leg!

Hidden under brush, these are unnoticeable!

Once we were properly intimidated, we had the opportunity to actually go inside the Cu Chi tunnels. At almost 5’10” I’m nearly double the size of some of the men and women of the Viet Cong. It was obvious as soon as we got underground, the magnitude of not only building these tunnels, but living in them. To be honest, the other thought I had was what a fantastic thigh workout! If you are not familiar with these tunnels, just imagine duck walking (essentially a squat and walk idea) in order to move. To make it more unbelievable, our guide mentioned the tunnels had been widened to make it possible for Western tourists to go inside! Even someone with a mild case of claustrophobia would be panicking inside these tunnels that once had up to 16,000 people living and working in them!

John barely fitting into one of the entrances to the Cu Chi tunnels!

Properly shocked and awed, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for a group dinner. Our first night together found us eating several dishes of traditional Vietnamese food at Restaurant 19. Another interesting fact we learned is how many of the restaurants get their names. The naming of restaurants, at least what we’ve seen in Ho Chi Minh, is far from creative. The number of the building becomes known as the name of the restaurant. I’m happy to say the food had a bit more creativity than the name and everyone left full and satisfied!

For everyone it’s an early night-115km tomorrow!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation
Program Development Coordinator/Enthusiastic Cyclist

Interested in supporting the children we are riding for? Please visit http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/international_fundraisers/vietnam/caitie

Why We Decided To Drive to Saigon

2011-04-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

***Note: Due to lack of internet and facebook being off-limits (communist country!) these posts are not from the same day posted)

The title of the blog is misleading because I actually don't really have an answer to that. Why did we choose to drive from Da Nang to Saigon to get ready for the cycling challenge when we could have hopped on a 1 hour flight? Uh...right. Oh well, we’re heeeeere! 21 hours, 5 ‘café Saigons’ and 2 well played cds later, Jen, Mr. Hoa (the driver) and I have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, the city we will begin our cycling challenge in! Both Jen and I flew into Da Nang, the headquarters of GVN Vietnam and where many of the schools are orphanages we work with are located. Without thinking, I enthusiastically agreed with Jen that, “yes, driving down to Ho Chi Minh sounds great! We can catch up and go over the itinerary!” Helloooo understatement of the year! 21 hours gave me enough time to not only catch up with Jen but read an entire book, catch up on jetlag for the rest of my life and enjoy the 5 cds I made that actually turned out to have loaded all the same songs. 'You Shook Me All Night Long' played an unhealthy amount of times.

19 hours into our journey, stopping for lunch. Does Jen's face reveal her enthusiasm?

Once we maneuvered for 21 hours through the “speedy” 40km/hr traffic (yes, really) we arrived at the Saigon Hotel and were once again assured we were going to have an amazing experience; thanks to Mr. Tuan, our cycling challenge Vietnam coordinator, we are staying at a nice hotel in a wonderful location in the city. Most of the participants are already here or will be arriving today and we bumped into 3; John from London, UK, Natasha from Canada and Steve from Australia so we decided to all head to lunch together, and for some, experience Vietnamese food for the first time.

Instead of going one of the the numerous tourist locations, we found a great small traditional Vietnamese restaurant and within 5 minutes of ordering, the food started coming out. Knowing we weren’t locals, Mama came over and showed us how to eat every single plate that came out. She went so far as to take our chopsticks for us and put the food into our bowls, seasoning it to ensure the perfect taste. The best part was when a soup came out and each of us were given small bowls to divide up the larger bowl in the middle. Everyone that is, except Steve. Steve is everything a Vietnamese man is not; tall, very muscular and pale. Mama Vietnam took a special liking to him and instead of getting a small bowl, he was just given an entire big bowl for himself! It was a great start to the trip and an opportunity to meet some of the participants for some good food and conversation.

I’ve met a few of the other participants by now and am getting excited for the trip that will have us completely exhausted but experiencing some of the most amazing and best parts of Vietnam. Vietnam Cycling Challenge 2011-here we come!

Caitie Goddard

Padded Bike Shorts Are Not an Option and Other Valuable Lessons

2011-04-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

I leave in less than 10 hours for Vietnam and the beginning of what I think will be an experience of a lifetime. I'm excited to meet the participants and catch up with Jen Flynn, the other cycling leader. I'll spend a few days with Jen and Viet, the Director of GVN Vietnam preparing for the trip and going over all the bits and pieces to make sure we are ready however I already know that there is no way to prepare for everything and we are going to just, "go with the flow" and enjoy the ride :)

Preparing to leave for Vietnam has been a mission; only 2 weeks ago I actually had enough time to look over the 'what to bring' list and realized that um...hello! I'm going CYCLING for over 500 kilometers! I may want to buy some bike gear! Until that point, my standard spin class and cycling attire was leggings or shorts and a tshirt, not exactly ideal for riding long distances. I started to look around for possible places to buy affordable but good quality gear and yet again, I was reassured there are some generous people in the world when I walked into Cycle Science!

Wandering in on my lunch break, I think they instinctively knew I needed help and someone was with me in seconds. I explained that I was an athlete but a novice bike rider about to embark on a trip that would have me drenched in sweat and sore everywhere. "Oh ok, so do you have some good gloves and a top with spf" "No. I have soccer shorts and t-shirts from high school." This is the point that Stewart proved he knew his stuff. He took me over to the bike short rack and explained the difference in quality and style. Who knew you can bike shorts for over your other bike shorts so you look a bit more normal walking around town? I always knew it might be a bad idea to walk around wearing padded spandex but I never thought there was a solution-genious!

Light blue and butterflies-not your average cycling kit!

Stewart was extremely helpful but he saved the best part for last; I mentioned it was for a charity bike ride and told him more about the trip when he seemed interested. Next thing I know, he tells me that he will sell me the Cycle Science designed kit for half price. HALF PRICE-whooopeee! Not only was I excited about getting a discount (I work for a non-profit, this is HUGE people) but I was also excited to get the women's kit designed by an actual employee! How cool is that? Overall this was an exciting and very positive start to this cycling challenge and also to my bank account. Thank you Cycle Science for your generosity and willingness to support GVN Foundation-you guys are amazing!

The designer at the shop. (I made him do this!)

It's Been Awhile!

2011-03-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

For all of our dedicated followers (Hi mom!) and those who stumble onto our blog, you maaaay have noticed we haven't posted in awhile! No excuses but there have been some pretty important things we've been doing-like working hard on our Eat So They Can campaign for 2011 and blogging about our amazing distribution trip to Kenya this April! We've also been busy in the office with lots of changes and new things happening.


From Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An...yikes!

However, we're done with the excuses and we're back into it! Next week will be my last week in the office before I head to Vietnam to ~~survive~~ enjoy a cycling challenge that will take our group from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to have lunch and meet many of the children supported by the Children's Fund all cyclists have contributed to. My partner in crime is Jenny Flynn, former operations manager for GVN Vietnam and one of the most passionate and dedicated women I have met trying to do her part to give these kids a chance at a challenging but fulfilling life. We've decided that we're going to make an effort to blog throughout the trip to keep you updated on how we're going and share some of our experiences with you!


Jen and I last year in Vietnam on a much easier bike ride!

"The Biggest Barrier to Creating Change is not Giving Yourself Permission"

2011-02-16T14:43:00.000-08:00


Dr. Bill Drayton (photo courtesy of Annie Escobar)

Courtney Montague is GVN Foundation's Executive Director and simultaneously completing her Master's Program as a Reynold's Fellow at New York University. We know that she'd never brag, so we'll do it for her! The Reynold's Fellowship is highly competitive where the final applicants are flown to New York for personalized interviews. Scholars come from all over the world and are involved in everything from engineering to drama and art. Once you get in the program, the magic happens. From spending time in developing countries learning about fertilization techniques to visiting the Supreme Court chambers and working alongside Harvard Fellows discussing current events, the program provides their students ample opportunity to gain footholds in the international development field. One such opportunity occurred just recently when The NYU Reynold's Program hosted Dr. Bill Drayton for a series of events. Dr. Bill Drayton is the founder of Ashoka, an organization whose mission is " to shape a global, entrepreneurial, competitive citizen sector: one that allows social entrepreneurs to thrive and enables the world’s citizens to think and act as changemakers." Courtney was able to interview Dr. Drayton and wanted to share some tips she received!

1. The Biggest Barrier to Creating Change is Not Giving Yourself Permission

Our biggest barrier to creating change is actually ourselves. Dr. Drayton advises, “All those people who tell you you can’t do things. Be polite; but ignore them.” So stop listening to the naysayers. Allow yourself to look at a problem, develop a large scale solution, implement that solution and then constantly refine it as you work to change the system. Give yourself permission to be great, and just go do it.

2. Collaborative Entrepreneurship is Key

“We’ve learned (at Ashoka) how to create the most powerful force in the world- collaborative entrepreneurship.”

Five years after receiving an Ashoka Fellowship an average of 97% of Ashoka Fellows are still working on their project, 88% of their projects/organizations have been copied and 55% have changed government policy. These are extremely powerful people, correcting ineffective systems or simply creating new ones. Dr. Drayton explained that when these visionaries work in teams they have an even greater exponential effect on changing a particular system.

3. Learn it Young

Dr. Drayton also emphasized how incredibly important it is for children and young adults to learn that they can create change. Most, if not all, of Ashoka’s fellows started their changemaking path very early in life and can trace when their hunger for change first began. He noted how those experiences, at a young age, serve to enforce a person’s empathy, their confidence and helped to develop their changemaking skill set. This idea forms the basis of Ashoka’s Youth Venture Program. A program designed to give young people an opportunity to implement their vision of change and learn the associated skills before the age of 20.

So the next time you are working with a youngster, whether they’re your student or your younger brother, try to create conditions whereby they can realize their power to change the world.

4. Times are Changing and Everyone is a Changemaker

Dr. Drayton firmly believes that society’s traditional hierarchal structure, in which most of the world’s resources are concentrated in the hands of a few, is quickly disintegrating. As information technologies shrink the boundaries between cultures and countries Dr. Drayton firmly believes that the world will soon be a much ‘flatter’ place (I mean he’s right- just look at Egypt). And those who cling to the old, hierarchal way of doing things will be lost along the way. He emphasizes the need for the world to change into a place where ‘everyone is allowed to be a changemaker.’ From businesses that allow each employee, from the janitor to the CEO, to voice their vision for the company’s future to a country’s democratic, government structure, Dr. Drayton believe it is time we embrace every person’s voice.

To see more amazing photos from Annie Escobar, please visit her website, ListenIn Pictures and learn more about her desire to use photography to assist non-profits in spreading their message.

"Together We Can Make a Difference"

2011-02-01T13:25:00.001-08:00


Volunteers at Happy Life Children's Home, Kenya

Every once in awhile we receive an amazing message from one of our partners telling us about a great project they are working on and how funds from our amazing donors have contributed to it's completion. Our most recent comes from Rosemary Kamau from Kenya. I wanted to let Rosemary share in her own words what having hardworking and caring volunteers coupled with donations meant to her and the children:

Kind regards. My name is Rosemary Kamau from Happy Life Children's Home in Nairobi Kenya. HLCH is a home for abandoned babies which was started in 2002, with the sole aim of rescuing abandoned babies. These are babies who are abandoned mostly immediatley after birth in different places and at times in very harsh conditions. Most of the children we have cared for have been adopted into families, both locally and internationally, but others remain under our care and we still admit others every other time. We would also want to appreciate GVN partnership for the continued support by sending different volunteers over the years. These volunteers have been of great help since the work we do is a lot, taking care of very young children. Thanks also for all the donations you have given to the children and on behalf of every child I say thank you.

Tallest to shortest, and smile!

May you continue with the good work you are doing as you support the needy and offer that helping hand, 'together we can make a difference.'

As Rosemary stated, we really appreciate your support for all of our projects and thank you for "being the change you wish to see in the world!"

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation
Programs Development Coordinator

And I Thought Fundraising Was Hard!

2011-01-31T15:12:00.000-08:00

This April, I am going to voluntarily submit my body to a level of discomfort I haven't felt since my days playing college basketball. And...I'm going to love it. From April 14-23rd, I'm biking from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, Vietnam in the spring heat and doing it for charity. In fact, spring heat might correctly paint the picture. Stand in the bathroom with the hot water blasting from the shower and as the room steams up start running in place. Imagine doing that for several hours a day and that is more like a spring cycling challenge in Vietnam! I'd like to say I'm prepared (not yet) and I've done this before (does spin class count?) but in all honesty, this is going to be a CHALLENGE!

The adventure began when I met a former operations manager at GVN Vietnam and now good friend while at a Be The Change conference in Taupo, New Zealand. We're both athletes, and we started chatting about some of the treks GVN runs to support projects in the local communities. She loved the idea of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for GVN Foundation's partner in Kenya, Mt. Everest for Nepal, and Machu Picchu for Peru but her heart is in Vietnam and well, there aren't exactly massive mountains to tackle. "What are 'we' going to do about it," was her next question. As soon as she posed the "we," I knew I was in trouble.

Spending the next week with someone who literally glows (eyes widen, smile pops out, the works) when talking about the children in Vietnam, there was no way I wasn't going to help! We started brainstorming about alternative ideas that would pose a challenge but in a way that in the end, every single person could walk away feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride in their efforts. Most importantly, proud of their efforts to raise funds to support a better life for some very deserving children!

As with all other treks, a major component to the trip is the fundraising aspect. Prior to arrival participants are responsible for raising $USD2,000 and we encourage all participants, even if they can afford it themselves, to engage their family, friends and community in the effort to spread the word and let others know about the incredible effort they are undertaking! If you're like me, you're happy to support your friends and family who are willing to go through the ringer for something they believe in (my most recent friend ran her amazing 5th marathon for charity...ridiculous, Brooke Alston!) but when you donate, you want to know they are serious and this is important to them!

Therefore, 540 kilometers of sweat and hard work will hopefully show these participants are serious: they are flying to Vietnam, taking vacation time away from home and hopping on a bike for more than 500 kilometers (think of it like this: If cycling 20 km/hr, they will be on a bike from the time you wake up tomorrow until the time you wake up the next day and still not be finished! I don't know about you but I couldn't even watch The Office for that many hours without feeling like I was participating in something grueling!) because they want to make a difference. By difference, I don't mean drop a dress-size (although hey, I'm not going to lie and say that isn't something I'm hoping I'll accomplish!) but profoundly change the lives of children that given the opportunity, will change the future.

There are a few self-motivated reasons I'm participating on this trip that include having the opportunity to really "see" the lush and beautiful country-side of Vietnam, finishing the trip off with some very well-made clothes tailored just for me and my goal to feel my muscles fully relaxed by a massive massage as a reward for roughly 1/6 the price I would pay in New Zealand. However, much more than that I get the opportunity to meet amazing like-minded individuals who appreciate what they have and want to provide that opportunity for others. I'm really proud to be doing this trip and so excited. Knowing that when we've completed this challenge, we will have contributed to nutritional programs to help the children grow physically and mentally and supported the work of the centers that care for children with disabilities makes me so happy. These are the motivating factors that get me to the gym at 6am to train!

If this sounds like something you're up for or if you want to accompany a friend/partner but just be on the support crew that rides in the nice air-conditioned vehicle, visits the projects, but doesn't have to cycle, leave a comment or visit the sign-up page for more information. Know a company who'd want to sponsor the trip? Send 'em my way and I'll take care of them :)

cảm ơn bạn (thank you!)

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation Programs Coordinator
Future Cycling Champion...or maybe just future cycler...

Knitting for the World; The Beanie Ladies!

2010-12-23T16:19:00.000-08:00

Recently, the staff at Global Volunteer Network and GVN Foundation had the privilege of welcoming 10 incredible women from various parts of New Zealand to the office for morning tea. For those who don't know the definition of morning tea, (I'm American and wondered why in the world we'd pause to all drink a cup of tea together!) 'tea' is not just a mug filled with a square packet of flavor but a simple word used to describe anything from a snack to an elaborate set-up of cakes, sandwiches, crackers, cheese, muffins, etc. There is, of course, tea as well!

Our morning tea was definitely along the lines of the elaborate set-up example because these women deserved nothing less! For 3 years now, they have decided to spend hours of their free time knitting clothing and toys for children around the world. It started with beanies, the little caps children wear to keep warm. Thousands of beanies have been delivered to Nepal, Peru, Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Rwanda, Honduras and Vietnam after a need was expressed in the communities. However, these ladies did not stop there. They began to get more creative and started knitting sweaters, booties and even teddy bears for the children! They work with the support of organizations that donate yarn and generous donors who fund the cost of the supplies.

They also rely on the amazing GVN volunteers to pack a few pieces in their luggage when they go! Diwen Cao, the Programs Support Administrator for GVN communicates with New Zealand volunteers before they leave for their placement and states, "a total of 48 New Zealand volunteers have taken at least 2kg of donations throughout the world. It's a huge testament to the volunteers and their willingness to help! Some are off for 3 months or more to foreign countries and every little bit suitcase is carefully used. Diwen says, "without the team of beanie ladies, staff at GVN and volunteers, none of this is possible. I read the responses of volunteers asked to help and it's always, 'I would be happy to take a 2kg bag with me to India,' or 'what a wonderful initiative! Yes, I am definitely keen to take some.' Together we are bringing love and warmth to children in need."

While the Foundation receives donations from all over the world and GVN places eager volunteers in Africa, Asia, the Americas and New Zealand, we rarely have opportunities to meet the amazing people that contribute to who we are. These ladies are fantastic individuals who have come together because they believe they have been given a lot in life and wanted a way to give support to others. Carol Pringle, the spokeswoman for the group told us, "some of us are meeting here for the first time. We work around the country and many of us work outside of our home communicating in email or over the phone. When someone needs more wool, I send it to them. We do it because we feel fortunate for what we have been given and feel it's just the right thing to do."

We love the beanie ladies and our volunteers who have helped the hand-knit goods reach their destination (and I love the much better-take on morning tea!) and want to say thank you for keeping us inspired and motivated to continue making a difference.

Happy Holidays :)

Caitie Goddard and the GVN Foundation Team

My Experience at Be the Change - Taupo, NZ 2010

2010-12-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hi! My name is Emily Gregson, and I am from Montreal, Quebec. Just a few days ago I completed the week-long program Be the Change (BTC) of GVN. And I have to admit, signing up for that program was the smartest thing I've ever done.

Most people turn to BTC when they have an idea for a social entreprise (or an NGO or NPO) but no idea how to go about getting started. This program is perfect for that, as it provides all the necessary tools and ressources you could possibly need in the social entreprise industry, all in a great learning environment. It also provides you with a community of like-minded people to bounce ideas off of, as well as essential connections that are very hard to find otherwise. Many people also found the confidence they were lacking, which is very important because it takes courage to put such big ideas out into the world. There were information packed workshops, a variety of inspiring lecturers brought in, and stimulating interactive activities which were balanced with evenings of hiking, hot springs, and culture. The people who brought this all together (the facilitators) were some of the most inspiring, intelligent and compassionate people I've ever met.

I was a little different from the usual Be the changer, as in I did not come with a predetermined idea for starting my own entreprise, nor did I develop one in the duration of the program. That is because I don't see myself as an entrepreneur, but rather as a builder. A builder is someone who supports the entrepreneur, and takes care of the things that the big brain of the operation doesn't have time for. Here is a little of my background, and how I came to sign up for BTC;

Last fall I graduated from Vanier College in Montreal with no intentions of ever going back to school, mostly because I had no idea what to go back to school for. It only took a few months of being out of school and working for me to realize that University was my best bet, but I still had no idea what to study. I knew what I liked, and I knew what I didn't like, but still didn't know in which direction to proceed. My older sister, Annie, had just spent two months of her summer in Rwanda, volunteering with GVN. I had been interested in the idea of traveling abroad for a long time, but wanted to do something that would lead to more than just a quick volunteer jaunt. It was then that she brought my attention to the BTC program, and I realized that if there was any program that could set me on the right path, this was it.

BTC gave me the direction I needed, and now I have a definite plan for...well, for my life. I now know exactly what I want to study (which is Communications and Culture, at Concordia University with a minor in Finance, as well as learning Spanish) and where I want to go afterwards. That alone is priceless to me, and something I had been searching for a long time.

And that's not even the only thing I got from BTC! I now also have this amazing, international family that will push me (as I will push them) to achieve our goals and we will always have each other to turn to when the going gets rough. My week spent in the house with the eight other participants was such an enjoyable experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to help the world be a better place by going further than simply volunteering.

Go, Be the Change!

Ambos for Africa

2010-11-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

I'd like to start this guest post written by Hannah Donald by sharing with you a bit about how we got to know more about her. Hannah Donald was named a runner-up in the GVN Scholarship search and after sharing her amazing story and goals for her future, we wanted to see how else we could help. Hannah is a singer and ambulance driver from New Zealand who is determined to make her way back to Africa and give her time and effort to help in communities that could use her expertise and experience. She is headed to Kenya next year with a friend to work in the Masailand in a medical project. Hannah is someone who has inspired and amazed us with her dogged determination to reach her goals. We asked Hannah to write a blog for the GVN Foundation and when we shared it with the office, Global Volunteer Network decided to use it on theirs as well! Hannah's attitude and zest for making her life the richest she can is inspiring!

"In Jan this year while working an unusually quiet Friday night shift at Manukau Ambulance Station, New Zealand, my co-worker Janelle (a paramedic) was talking about how she wanted to go overseas and volunteer in a third world country. I (Hannah, an Ambulance Officer) had already been on a volunteer trip to Ethiopia, Africa in 2004. It was the most life changing, heart breaking, challenging but best thing I have ever done and I have always wanted to go back! After talking more and more about the idea we jumped online to see what we could find. That's when we came across Global Volunteer Network. We read about a little medical clinic in the Massilands of Kenya, Africa and it sounded like the perfect place to go!! We both applied and were accepted the next day! Wow it all happened so fast. And so the fundraising journey begins and we have decided to call this little adventure "Ambos for Africa".

We are both really excited about this trip and have received so much support from friends, family, co-workers even people we have never meet but who really believe in what we are doing. Fundraising is hard work but we have to get the $14,000.00 from somewhere and that hard work is paying off. We are over 1/2 way there and with only 5 months to go we know we will get on that plane!!

Someone once said to me 'people are paying thousands to get out of Africa, why are you paying thousands to get in'? Its simple. I've already seen first hand the destruction of AIDS and lack of healthcare and I want to do my part in making a difference. I come from a very privileged country and I don't want to become someone who takes life for granted and forgets about those in need!" -Hannah Donald

Thank you for sharing Hannah and we wish you the best on your trip!

Lynette's first week at GVN Foundation

2010-11-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Lynette and I am currently interning at GVN Foundation as part of my Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies, which I am doing through Victoria University Wellington. One of my papers is to do an internship with an NGO (Non Government Organisation). This not only gives me experience in the industry I want work in but also helps out an NGO with no cost to them, so it’s definitely a win win situation for each party.

I met Eliza and Caitie when they came to Victoria to do a presentation on GVN Foundation and GVN. It was a great presentation, especially as I did not know about the Foundation and they also introduced me to Eat So They Can campaign. They were very friendly and open and it was clear that they loved their jobs and were passionate about what the Foundation and GVN are doing. It is amazing what information and knowledge you can gain just by turning up somewhere to hear a talk; sometimes it can even change your life, or in my case where I would do my internship. I was a very cheeky student and used one of Eliza’s suggestions ‘Not to take no for an answer’, when I asked her if they needed an intern to help them with their workload. So after sending in my CV and Eliza checking on her side that having an intern would be of benefit and help ease their workload, it was all go and a date was agreed upon for me to start.

After nearly a year of being a student, adjusting to a normal working day hasn’t been too hard and I have been gradually introduced to ‘the working week’ as I started on a Wednesday. As the majority of the hosts of Eat So They Can have had their events in October, the donations are now flooding in which is brilliant. As a result my priority has been to processing these cheques and internet payments. This is important not only for the Foundation but also for the host of each event. A great part of processing the donations is the final step when the amounts raised are reflected on the host’s page. This means that the host can see how much has been raised through their event. It has been great to process these donations as it illustrates how generous and caring people are and that this is being translated into funds that will go to important projects to assist those in need.

As part of my placement I will also be doing some work for GVN and I was lucky enough to share the experience of the current volunteers in the New Zealand Nature Programme based in Wellington. Volunteers can join the programme from 2 weeks to 3 months. The day I spent with them was a gorgeous Wellington day, hardly any wind (nearly unknown in this city!), beautiful blue skies and was lovely and warm. I was picked up at GVN offices in Lower Hutt by Ray (team leader) and her hardy band of 9 international volunteers and off we went to Breaker Bay to do weeding and then some coastal clean up work. The volunteers that I met on this project were from America, Switzerland and England and were a mix of ages and genders. They had had a very full week including trail construction and park maintenance within wildlife reserves and helping on a project to assist in controlling introduced predators for the protection of native wildlife. Very physical, varied and satisfying work I am sure. Their enthusiasm to get stuck in and take part in whatever activity they were asked to carry out was infectious and obvious to see.

We were greeted at our first site by local Wellington Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer who gave us information on the local area and its history. Ray is very involved in healing and conserving this area and it was wonderful to be given an insight into its history by a local. As I am from Dunedin and haven’t had much of a chance to explore around Wellington, the opportunity to get out and about last Friday with the volunteers was fantastic. This was then reinforced by the commitment of locals shown in this project to protect the beautiful surrounds of Wellington.

After the weeding, we had our break to eat our lunch while we sat on the rocks in the bay, enjoying the sun and sea and then it was off to do some coastal clean up. The clean up is not only to rid the beach and foreshore of rubbish so humans can enjoy the environment, but also for the animals we share this space with. I picked up a variety of items including plastic pens, bottle tops, empty biscuit containers and sadly quite a lot of broken glass. I was saddened that there was rubbish to pick up especially the glass as it is a danger to the health of both humans and wildlife. I was heartened by the fact that there are people willing to undertake the task of ridding the beach of rubbish. The experience has inspired me to take a leaf out of the volunteers’ book and I will be going out once a month to clean up a beach I walk on or a park I visit. We can all help our local community by taking some time out of our schedule to do something large or small to care for our environment. We all want to be able to enjoy the spaces around us, be it in a city or countryside and it does feel good to look after and respect the areas where we live and visit. Who knows, you could even increase your local community spirit by banding together and doing a small clean up once in a while.

We in New Zealand are known for our clean green image and we can keep true to this image. If everyone spared a small amount of time and effort to care for our environment, the task becomes a small and management one and not a monumental task that it may first appear to be. It was great to be given the opportunity to see how the local programme functioned if only for a day. There is nothing like experiencing something first hand to be able to understand it better and for me to understand how the local programme works.

So in a nutshell, my first week has been a great learning experience both inside the office and out. I have met some really great people who care for others and the environment and I am privileged to be part of such a great team if only for a little while.

ESTC goes global!

2010-11-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

It’s been all go in the Foundation office over the past few weeks with all our energy focused on Eat So They Can. We are so proud to tell you that this year is the first year in ESTC history that we have had events take place on all 7 continents of the world! From South African gumboot dancers performing in China to a bloody mary brunch on an American base in Antarctica, ESTC has truly become a global movement.

GVN Foundation’s own event took on a global theme this year with guests from all around the world enjoying Vietnamese food while listening to Congolese drum beats. We were proud to raise over $1,000 and spread the word to the Wellington region. Check out the video of our event here: http://vimeo.com/15916970

We are now into donation processing mode and fortunately have a wonderful new intern, Lynette Cochrane from Victoria University, to help us. Lynette started with us yesterday and is plowing her way through the incredible stack of donations… and still smiling! Thank you Lynette!

More soon,

Eliza

United Nations General Assembly

2010-09-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Whatever your politics are you have to give President Obama credit for being a charismatic and engaging speaker. I was fortunate to see him speak yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Walking to the UN yesterday morning was eerie. I’m now used to the honking, screaming, bustling, frenetic, yet somehow organized, streets of New York- it was peculiar to see only media vans and police cruisers on the street, and everywhere else UN dignitaries, staffers, and secret service.

The UN General Assembly Hall was packed and after navigating a mob scene to get into the actual General Assembly hall (people were frantic to get a glimpse of President Obama) I took my seat, put on my translator and sat back to take it all in. I’ve been in the UN before, but this time there was a kind of breathless electricity in the air- everyone was waiting for Obama speak. First we heard from the President of Peru, Alan Garcia who did a good job, I thought, of giving us concrete results regarding Peru’s work towards the achievement of the MDG’s. Since 2001 over 3.5 million people in his country have moved out of poverty, by 2021 Peru hopes that less than 10% of their population will still be living in poverty. Based on President Garcia's statistics, it certainly seems that Peru will meet their MDG goals.

The Chairman of Bosnia, the Prime Minister of Mongolia Nambaryn Enkhbayar and the Prime Minister of Micronesia Manny Mori were less compelling and, based on my interpretation of their speeches, unconvinced that the MDG’s were achievable for their countries. The Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Rasmussen focused on women’s rights as the key to the achievement of the MDG’s while the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK Nick Clegg sternly reprimanded those developed countries who have not kept their promise to financially support the MDG’s- a reprimand that was no doubt aimed at an American audience.

Directly after the UK's Deputy Prime Minister, President Obama strode onto the stage, amid raucous applause, shook the UN Secretariat General Ban Ki Moon’s Hand and began a 30 minute speech entirely from memory. Obama’s speech was filled with ‘classic American rhetoric’ (as one critic I just read put it) but this American was eating it up. He talked about the need to stop creating dependency through development and to start actually creating development through the promotion of entrepreneurship, economic prosperity and reducing corruption. Although these are the typical American lines when it comes to dealing with poverty, what heartened me, and made Obama’s words take on a new vibrancy, was the fact his administration is now launching a new US Global Development Policy. This is the first of its kind! With this policy it is my sincere hope that Obama has started walking the walk- instead of talking the talk like many of his predecessors.

Now am I sceptical about exactly what this means? Yes. Do I think that broad political statements get lost in the bureaucracy and the political power games of Washington? Sure do.

So why am I so darn excited?

The more the world’s leaders take active steps towards ending poverty:

1. The more the people of the nations around the world hold their leaders accountable for their promises.

2. The more people around the world become educated about development.

3. And, the more people around the world organize themselves to create change.

While there is a place for governments and their leaders to create change I believe that the responsibility for change ultimately rests with us- the people.

That is why Eat So They Can is so important. When you have an ESTC dinner you are joining a movement of people who believe poverty is wrong, and that poverty can be defeated. You are joining the Millennium Development Goal Movement and all of those leaders at the UN that are honestly working to create meaningful paths out of poverty for their people.

Thank you for joining us and the tens of thousands of others this October who are joining the fight.

Courtney Montague

Namaste!

2010-08-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

In just three weeks time I will be boarding a plane heading to Kathmandu, Nepal. I will be joined by two other GVN Reps, Erin Courtney and Paul Fletcher, and together we will be leading the Everest Base Camp Fundraising Trek! This excites me for about ten million reasons. I love Nepal, I love mountains, I love trekking, I love travelling, I love meeting new people, I love experiencing different cultures, and I especially LOVE visiting projects that GVN Foundation supports. I love visiting the kids and I also love visiting our partners who are working tirelessly on the ground to provide opportunities for the women and children they support.

Our inspiring partner organisation in Nepal is called Volunteer Service in Nepal (VSN). VSN works with hundreds of children in various orphanages in and around Kathmandu. They also run Brighter Future Children’s Home which supports 5 girls and 9 boys, aged from 7 to 17 years who live in the home. VSN opened Brighter Future Children's Home in 2004 and endeavour to provide the children with all their needs in order for them to become successful, compassionate adults and contribute positively to their community and country. During the past six years the VSN team have made an enormous difference in the lives of the children under their care and continue to work hard to realise their vision.

We have a team of 27 trekkers from around the globe and funds raised through the Everest Base Camp Trek will help ensure the children’s health, nutritional and educational needs are met.

I am so excited to meet the trekkers and share this incredible journey with them all. I already have the feeling that it is going to be ‘one of those’ life changing experiences. I am so thankful for this opportunity. I love my job!

I came across this lovely quote today when I was researching Nepal, which is linked to the birthplace of the Buddha.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama

I look forward to updating you from Nepal!

Namaste,

Lauren

p.s - By working with local partners GVN Foundation is able to have a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of hundreds of children in Nepal. If you can help by making a donation please visit the GVN Foundation website:

http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/nepal/vsn/

Thank you Jordan Freda!

2010-08-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I would like to dedicate this blog post to an amazing guy called Jordan Freda. I met Jordan while I was working in Haiti this June. He was in Haiti for just a few days but he really immersed himself into the Haitian culture and jumped right into all the projects we were working on.

Jordan has since made an incredible educational travel series called Explore 22. The first episode is all about our work in Haiti. Jordan takes a look at the devastating damage of the earthquake with his own eyes while gaining insight into the realities of volunteering in the country among its people.

Please visit the Explore 22 website, watch the first episode, and sign up as an Explore22 fan! www.explore22.com

We are really grateful that Jordan is promoting GVN Foundation and Eat So They Can through his website. The GVN Foundation is working on a number of different projects in Haiti including schools, orphanages and community centers. Our main focus at the moment is on micro-grants which we provide to volunteers who wish to implement a project whilst in Haiti. These grants are an amazing way to utilize the skills and passion of volunteers and make sure that our donor’s funds are put to the best possible use.

We're also working to support Dr Robert's orphanage which is a project which I'm personally really attached to. The orphanage is located in Croix des Bouquets near Port Au Prince and was set up following the January 12 earthquake when thousands of children throughout Port Au Prince lost their families. We have set up a sponroship program for them here: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/international_fundraisers/haiti/cdb/

A huge thank you to Jordan for helping us spread the word about our work in Haiti. Please support him by watching Explore22.

Have a great weekend,

Eliza

Eat So They Can and Vietnam

2010-07-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

In May I had the privilege to visit our partner GVN Vietnam and spend some time at the projects in Da Nang and Tam Ky. While in both cities, I accompanied the GVN volunteers to the project sites and learned more about what they do on a daily basis and also saw what funds raised from Eat So They Can could do to support and improve the existing projects.

GVN Vietnam is over 5 years old and has helped close to 3,000 children and their families. They work in 3 cities; Da Nang, Tam Ky, and Tuy Hoa which are all supported by volunteers and funds from GVN Foundation's donors. I was lucky to be there for the May new volunteer orientation and see all the amazing people giving up their time to assist those less fortunate. Some of the volunteers had literally arrived hours earlier and looked a little overwhelmed (as anyone would be!) and tired. Others looked excited and enthusiastic if not slightly confused trying to meet everyone else and being bombarded with a Vietnamese, English and sometimes a mixture of both all around them.

I visited a majority of the placements and projects in both cities but I'd like to talk about one specifically; the disabled hospital in Tam Ky. My father is a director at an adult care facility that works with adults with disabilities to promote independant living. I worked there for a few summers when home from school and remember feeling frustrated and a strong feeling of unfairness that these men and women were given the so-called short end of the stick. Life can be challenging enough and for a variety of reasons, these men and women had to struggle physically and mentally to live their lives as independantly as possible. I always admired the staff who spent their lifetime empowering and encouraging others that they were important.

For these reasons, I am so grateful for the caring support and dedication of the staff and volunteers who work at the disabled hospital with children with disabilities. In a lot of developing countries adults and children with disabilities too severe to be considered "useful" in society are simply ignored or neglected. What I saw at GVN Vietnam was the opposite. One example is the nurse who (with a salary completely funded by donors) is in charge of one young girl, Duyen who was diagnosed with severe cerebal palsy. Without the support of donors, the best possible scenario would be for Duyen to be housed at the baby orphanage with the other children. At the disabled center, Duyen is able to receive 1:1 care by a trained nurse. Not only is the nurse a trained caregiver, it is obvious she cares deeply for Duyen and cares for her as if she were her own child.

Jen Flynn, operations manager explains the situation more in depth in Vietnam;

"Normally kids with disabilities are such a burden to poor families that the families are forced to leave them at an orphange. Or, they are left with older relatives to be cared for, then the older relatives get sick and need to put the kids in the orphanage. Once in an orphanage, the care can range from excellent to very poor. Depending on the ration of carers to kids, the budget, the management and the general overall vibe of the place, kids get a varied level of care. GVN volunteers provide care almost DAILY to many orphanages in 3 cities. Some of these orphanages have disabled kids who require special food, 1:1 exercise and help with basic daily care."

People with disabilities have many challenges others may take for granted. I have many memories of leaving work with an overwhelming sensation of gratitude that I was capable of living independantly and making my own decisions while at the same time feeling embarrassed at how often I took it for granted. However, in places like the United States where I am from, special care is available and financially feasible. In Vietnam, it is not often the case. As Jen again states;

"Without the special care provided, these disabled kids would deteriorate quickly. They need enhanced nutrition, skilled physio therapy and lots of love! Money raised goes toward extra protien for kids, special physio therapy equipment and medical care"

To learn more about the great work in Vietnam please visit the GVN Foundation or GVN volunteer page. To sign-up to host an event to support orphaned and vulnerable children including our projects in Vietnam, click here.

Thanks!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation

Pictures:

1. GVN Volunteers and staff outside of the Volunteer House in Da Nang

2. Physical Therapy

3. Jen Flynn, operations manager with friends.

Update from Haiti

2010-07-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I recently returned from 3 weeks in Haiti and want to use this post to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our work in Haiti over the past months. The need in Haiti can seem overwhelming but being there I was fortunate to see what a difference GVN and GVN Foundations is making thanks to the support of our volunteers and donors.

One of the ways that we are supporting the Haitian people is through a series of Micro Grants. GVN volunteers are being given the opportunity to apply for $250 grants to develop and implement a project in line with GVN Foundation's mission of helping women and children. I'm really excited about the impact that these grants are having in the communities we're working with. It's incredible to see how just $250 can really change lives. By giving volunteers the opportunity to implement a project that they have expertise in and feel passionate about we are also ensuring that our donor's money is put to the best possible use.

I want to just give you one example which I personally found really inspiring. While I was in Haiti I met a volunteer called Julie who is bringing together a collection of stories generated by members of the community along with photos and illustrations. These stories will be published into a book called "Voices of Croix des Bouquets" thanks to a Micro Grant and will be distributed back to the community. We are hoping that this project will not only empower the authors but will also give the community a means through which to express their what they have been through.

There is so much more that we can do in Haiti and there are many more volunteers like Julie that will continue to have inspiring ideas. Now that I'm back in the office I'm going to be focusing my efforts over the next few months on how to raise more funds for Haiti through our Eat So They Can campaign. If you haven't yet signed up, please go to http://www.eatsotheycan.org/ and if you wish to support our work in Haiti, select the emergency relief cause.

Thank you,

Eliza

Being the Change in Italy

2010-06-13T14:59:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful, inspiring, crazy rollercoaster of a week!

I just got back from the sunny, beautiful weather that welcomed us in Tuscany, Italy to the cold and windy winter month of June in Wellington making it very easy to want to remember the warmth of not only the weather but the people I met at the Be The Change Conference. Participants from all over the world (6 continents!) came together to share their ideas, goals and overall enthusiasm to make a difference. From a retired Canadian transportation executive to a 20 year old Australian taking a year to see the world trying to do it in a meaningful way, each individiual provided a unique perspective to benefit the group and provide insight and inspiration on how it is possible to come from all walks of life and bring about change.

Kimberly Jones, an incredibly inspiring BTC participant said it best;

"Global Volunteer Network’s (GVN) founder Colin Salisbury leads a program called Be The Change. I recently attended this program in Tuscany, Italy. For me Be The Change provided inspiration and focus, that I don’t think I could have discovered elsewhere.

17 people representing 13 different countries shared their desires to be catalyst of social change. Colin, Courtney and Nadine, leaders in the field of social change, led seminars and mentored participants during the week long course. They help us mold our thoughts, dreams and much confusion into a defined plan that we could put into action. My experience was phenomenal. Meeting like minded individuals and finding incredible mentors has inspired me to create this blog, invest in French language immersion and pursue social change with NGOs on the ground working toward solutions in areas I believe in. But most importantly I returned home with a sense of possibility; I can make a difference on a global scale…one person at a time. Be the change you want to see in the world. – Gandhi"

(Pictured: Kimberly Jones, BTC-Italy Participant)

Partly inspired by the conference as well as her genuinely evident love for life and people, Kimberly has started writing about her experiences and goals in her own blog, http://www.beaboutchange.blogspot.com/. Take a minute to keep up with her-we sure are!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation

Team News and ESTC!

2010-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

The GVN Foundation Team is globe trotting at the moment with Eliza working on the ground in Haiti and Col, Court, and Caitie in Italy facillitating the Be The Change Program. We can look forward to a few updates from them soon but until then let me tell you the latest and greatest from the Eat So They Can campaign!

We launched the new Eat So They Can website, the new Eat So They Can shop, and right now we are on the hunt for Eat So They Can Ambassadors!

Our Eat So They Can goal this year is to raise $500, 000 so we can help even more women and children around the world, and with your help I know we can do it!

If you have not already sign up, please visit the ESTC website and do it now! http://www.eatsotheycan.org/sign-up

Plus if you are passionate for social change and eager to make an even bigger impact through Eat So They Can this year then we would love you to apply to our Ambassador Program. We are inviting ESTC Hosts, GVN volunteers, Be The Change participants, and trekkers to join the team and help mentor other hosts from around the world.

If your application is successful you will essentially become a member of the ESTC family and have a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of women and children in need. We will profile you on the ESTC website and provide you with all kinds of support ranging from business cards to conference calls to help you fulfil your role. Plus, you will be given the opportunity to join one of our distribution trips! What a great reward!

In April this year ESTC Host Alicia Hill from Australia joined us on our Kenya Distribution Trip. Alicia says she found the whole experience quite humbling and now feels inspired to do more.
“Every day I think about how I can make Eat So They Can 2010 even more successful than the previous year, both on a personal level and for the GVN Foundation. It truly was an amazing experience and I feel privileged to be part of the distribution team” says Alicia.To read about Alicia’s journey visit: http://www.eatsotheycan.org/meet-the-team/distribution-team

For further information about the Ambassador Program and to apply, visit: http://www.eatsotheycan.org/meet-the-team/ambassadors

Hugs,

Lauren

ARTISTS FOR CHANGE HELP HAITI!

2010-05-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

The devastation that occurred in Haiti touched every one of us and I think we have all dealt with the pain and sadness in our own way. From volunteering to fundraising to prayers, each of us are giving what we can. Today I would like to introduce you to Kelsey Montague, a remarkable young woman who is helping in the best way she knows how - through her art. Kelsey has created a series of Haiti pen and ink drawings exclusively for GVN Foundation. Her unique work incorporates 'drawings within drawings', giving each print multiple meanings, emotions and perspectives. The drawings were inspired by both the plight of the Haitian people and by their indomitable spirit.

"After the news broke about the earthquake, and the immense loss and suffering of the Haitian people, I felt a terrible sense of helplessness. I wanted to contribute in any way that I could, and the most natural way for me was through art," says Kelsey.

"I was incredibly fortunate to travel to Haiti and to see the fortitude of a people who have lost so much but have such a will to recover and try to re-build their lives. I was most struck by the beauty and kindness of the Haitian people. On our last day in Port-au-Prince, after a gruelling 10-hour day, we were meeting with a group of GVN volunteers when the camp leader leaned over to tell me that some of the Haitian women who were cooks in the compound had rushed to prepare a meal for us. Even though we had only been there an hour, they had managed to put together a feast. These women had endured so much loss, and yet they wanted to share with us. I was both humbled and inspired by their generosity.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the situation in Haiti because the needs are so great, but this is exactly why we must get involved. When a nation of people has lost everything, even the smallest gesture is a great gift. Every effort, no matter how large or small, will have an impact, whether through donations, volunteering or spreading the word and encouraging friends and family to get involved," says Kelsey.

The common theme running throughout Kelsey's drawings is the message of hope for a people who have endured so much, yet have such strength, passion and faith in the future. Please show your support by sharing her artwork with your friends and family or by purchasing one of the drawings which will give the gift of hope to so many. 50% of the sale price of each print will go directly to the Haiti Relief Fund.

HAITI - ARTISTS FOR CHANGE: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/art_for_change/

Colin Salisbury
GVN Founder and President

Saludos desde Cusco!

2010-05-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Cusco, Peru!

I have spent the last few days visiting orphanages, schools and community centers in and around Cusco, and I feel happy in my soul! The progress that our partner, Peruvian Hearts, has made since I was last here less than two years ago is incredible. Here are just a couple of my highlights from the last few days:

Hogar Mercedes de Jesus

This is an orphanage for 19 girls located in Anta. Over the past year, this orphanage has been transformed with the support of GVN Foundation and Peruvian Hearts. The girls were so proud to show me their new dining room, kitchen, and laundry area, as well as show off their English which they are learning thanks to a new Sunday tutoring session.

Pampallacta Feeding Program

Pampallacta is everything you dream of when you think of Peru - mountains, llamas, traditional Peruvian clothing, incredibly friendly people. However, the children of the community used to be severely malnourished which resulted in a lack of education as they used to literally fall asleep during class due to lack of energy. Each of the 130 children at the school now receives a vitamin and a meal each day, and when you hear their laughter and welcoming cheers it´s hard to imagine that they ever lacked energy!

A huge thank you to Edwin and Danny from Peruvian Hearts for helping me organize this trip. I look forward to sharing lots of photos and video with you all when I return to NZ.

Un abrazo,

Eliza

Why We Love Our Jobs!

2010-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon while Eliza and I sat in the office chatting a bit about the upcoming exciting (but very busy!) events ocurring in the next few months, I started feeling a little overwhelmed with the responsibilities and tasks we need to take care of. While discussing our "to-do" lists, we unexpectedly received an amazing reminder of why we love our jobs and why being so busy is actually a wonderful thing. I really wanted to share this with you because it made such an impression on me!

Our 2009 Eat So They Can fundraiser helped to support an organization in Tanzania called AfricAid. A total of $2,836.25 was raised to help them in their various projects. All of our partners are incredible and have done amazing work to allow children and communities to break out of the cycle of poverty through education, feeding programs and community support. AfricAid is no different and we love playing a small part in their lifechanging work!

(Photo: The book written with the help of children at Losinoni Primary School and our gorgeous thank-you note!)

I'd like to share a little from the thank-you note we received because without the support from donors to GVN Foundation, we would not be able to help these organizations! The letter is addressed to Eliza, our grants coordinator and here are a few sentences;

Dear Eliza,

Thank you so much for the generous support from the ESTC Campaign to AfricAid and the Losinoni School lunch program. Your support will have an enormous impact in the the lives of the school children.

As you know, we have been working in this community for the past seven years and the village leaders, parents, and teachers are very committed to educational opportunities for their children. Because of the work of GVN Foundation, AfricAid will now be able to greatly improve the lunch program and in that, we are all very grateful!

Along with the note, we received a children's book created by the schoolchildren with all proceeds going back to the Losinoni community. The book is AMAZING and a great educational tool for educators and parents to teach their children more about Tanzania and cultural differences. They even have a small dictionary in the back of basic Swahili words used throughout the story! The note and book were received by GVN Foundation but should be shared by all of you who have made donations or simply educated yourself to ideas and events occurring in other parts of the world. It is a great example of how small acts can make such an impact on people!

(Photo: Eliza so excited to read the newest edition to the office library!)

Caitie Goddard

Programs Development Coordinator

GVN Foundation

The Power of Narrative

2010-04-06T01:54:00.000-07:00

What do Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, General Colin Powell, General James Jones- US National Security Advisor, Anthony Romero (President of the ACLU), and Jacqueline Novogratz (CEO of Acumen Fund) all have in common? They are master storytellers and they understand how the power of narrative can be used to accomplish their visions of change.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Catherine B Reynolds Fellows Social Entrepreneurship 2010 Summit in Washington DC. Seventy of us had the privilege of hearing from over 30 of the country’s leaders in the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the White House, the Central Intelligence Agency, national health and education organizations and various members of the press. After this life-changing event I delved into Paul Farmer’s Pathologies of Power for a Précis I had to write for PID. After reading the first 50 pages of his inspirational book, I felt I was given the words to articulate the nebulous mass of information I gleaned from 3 days in Washington DC.

Each of the individuals listed above demonstrated, in different ways, how personal narrative can be employed to achieve change, the dynamics of power and privilege, the finer points of structural violence, human rights and the necessity of social structures in achieving change. While I can’t go into detail regarding each of these points, or each of our distinguished speakers, I would like to make a few points regarding the most memorable speakers at the event.

(Pictured: Jaqueline Novogratz)

Anthony Romero and Jacqueline Novogratz are masters of the narrative and use their narratives to highlight power structures that each are battling. Romero pointed out that, as Executive Director of the ACLU, he is charged with protecting our First Amendment right to protest. He is currently involved in a case defending a man who was prevented from protesting against gay rights. Romero pointed out how important it is that he, as a homosexual Executive Director of the ACLU, focuses on protecting the rights of an individual - who wants nothing more than to protest his rights as a gay man. This story connects Romero’s vision of change - of an American Society where the rights of all citizens are protected regardless of personal beliefs - including the rights of those to protest whatever and wherever they choose. After experiencing and consistently reading about the lack of basic human rights in developing countries, and how the lack of a rule of law breeds the corruption, poverty and misery around the world, I sleep safer now knowing that Anthony Romero is out there leading an organization designed to protect my rights as a citizen.

Jacqueline Novogratz’s speech was, to me, the most compelling of the entire conference. She started out telling us that after leaving a successful Wall Street position she went to Kigali, Rwanda to start the first microfinance bank that country had seen. After she left Rwanda, genocide ripped the country apart, including her micro-loan bank. The recipients/participants of her microfinance project in Rwanda played almost every role imaginable in the genocide. Some watched their families be killed, some died, and others were perpetrators. After this story Novogratz acknowledged that what she had tried to do had failed, and if things were going to get better for the world’s poor she needed to attack the root causes of poverty (housing, clean water, health care) in really big ways. She’s done this through Acumen Fund and her system of ‘patient capital’ has changed the lives of millions. While Novogratz’s success is impressive it is not what was awe inspiring to me- it was the fact that early on she recognized her initial development work was largely in an ‘information silo’ and that only through the combined efforts of many disciplines could she change lives. She also recognized that in order to effect substantial change, one cannot disregard politics and their underlying power structures when looking at long term development within a country. Her approach to development closely resembles the work and ideology of Paul Farmer, a self-professed human rights advocate who recognizes that only through the combined efforts of many disciplines will change occur. He, like Norogratz, understands that to deny the larger issues of structural violence/political power and privilege within a country is to deny the poor any meaningful chance to escape destitute poverty.

(Pictured: Anthony Romero)

Finally, after watching the final votes in the Senate regarding the historic health care bill we all had the privilege of hearing from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Bright-eyed and excited, Speaker Pelosi described the story of a young woman whose child had a terrible cough, the doctor ordered an x-ray but the young mother did not have health insurance and couldn’t pay. The doctor and mother decided to wait and see if the child improved and three days later the child died. She then went on to explain that children will be the first beneficiaries of the health care bill and children will no longer die in the arms of their mother’s due to a lack of insurance coverage. Pelosi articulately navigated her narrative, and its connection from the plight of the poor in America to larger structures within politics and, finally, her vision of change.

It’s hard to sit down and sum up a life changing experience, but if I had to so in a few sentences, I would say the following about the Reynolds trip to DC: It brought into focus issues of structural violence, politics and power, human rights and the power of the story for social change. It gave me a bird’s eye view of the leaders of our country and how they maneuver in Washington DC to create their vision of change. Most of all it gave me a new respect for public service in the government and how a ‘small rudder can change the course of a big ship.’ Or, in other words, how the huge ship of government may move slowly but changemakers within the system, when they change the ship’s course, can make a tremendous difference to millions of people.

Courtney Montague

Executive Director GVN Foundation

GVNF Highlights!

2010-03-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hi friends!
The GVN Foundation has been buzzing the last couple of weeks! There is so much going on I just don’t know where to start! Here are a few exciting highlights for you:
-Colin Salisbury and Nadine McNeil visited Haiti to make final preparations for our first group of volunteers and meet with our new partners working on the ground. In a Facebook message Colin wrote: “Just arrived in the US from Haiti. They certainly need GVN's help. It was amazing, hard, heart wrenching and uplifting. The Haitian's resilience astounds me...” Colin is back in the office on Thursday and we look forward to having him back!
- Courtney Montague, Nadine McNeil, and Colin Salisbury also just finished facilitating another Be The Change course in Jamaica. I spoke to Courtney this morning and she said “It was a wonderful week and the team were amazing.” I am sure we will be hearing a lot more about our next group of changemakers!
- The GVN Foundation Headquarters was recently treated to an afternoon makeover! Eliza, Caitie and I tidied up all of the boxes and bits of pieces that had been cluttering up our space and replaced them with beautiful pictures and crafts from around the world. We have a gorgeous new welcome mat at the front door and hope to have a few more visitors too. So if you're ever in our neighborhood.... : )
- The Eat So They Can Kenya Team are making their final preparations and will be arriving in Nairobi on the weekend of April 10th. Hilary Sullivan, Grand Prize winner was guest blogger this week on our ESTC site and says “ I am excited about the fact that a great deal more was raised in 2009 and GVN will be able to have an even greater impact”. Check out the full blog now!

Stay tuned for the next update when we will announce and introduce the full ESTC Kenya Team!
Hugs til then,
Lauren

Mt Kilimanjaro

2010-03-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

GVN Foundation runs a fundraising trek program including Mt Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu and Everest Base Camp. I was fortunate to be part of the team that climbed Mt Kilimanjaro earlier this year!

I've been home for nearly a month now so I'm already starting to have selective memory and forget about the moments when I really didn't think I'd make it. However, one thing I will never forget is how I felt at the summit. Shelley, one of the trekkers in our team, really captures this feeling in a recent article in a Shanghai magazine:

"On the 15th of January 2010, 12 people stood together watching the sunrise from the 'Roof of Africa'. They looked down at the sea of clouds and across snow filled valleys to magnificent glaciers. Their bodies were shattered, they were utterly exhausted, but they had done it; they had climbed the tallest mountain in Africa. They had started as strangers, but they reached the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro as friends".

Thank you to Shelley, all the trekkers, our amazing guides and porters, and of course The Mountain, for making this such an unforgettable experience!

Eliza

To find out more about our fundraising treks, visit: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/treks/

To watch a short video testimonial from Shelley, click play below:

Too much to say!

2010-02-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I really don't know where to start and how to make sure that this blog post doesn't take up several pages! So much has happened since I last wrote and there's so much to update you on. So... I'm going to focus just on Peru today and then I will write more soon about my amazing trip to Kenya.

As you may know, I lived in Peru for two years working for Maximo Nivel, GVN's Peru partner. I am completely in love with Peru and constantly dream of the Andes, my Cusquenan friends, Pisco Sours and Aji de Gallina. When I heard about the terrible floods that had hit the Sacred Valley region, I was in Kenya and felt terrible that I was so far away and couldn't do anything to help. But before I knew it, Caitie had set up a webpage and started fundraising. THANK YOU Caitie!

So, this message is a plea to any of you who have been to Peru, dreamed of Peru, or can trust me enough to know that the Sacred Valley is an incredible place that has suffered greatly from these floods and needs your help. Please consider making a donation now to help us purchase emergency food and blankets:

http://www.gvnfundraising.org/cause/emergency_peru

Thank you!

Eliza Raymond

Grants Coordinator

Former Volunteer Shares her Volunteer Experience with "Eyes From Ethiopia"

2010-02-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday several staff from GVN and GVN Foundation went to Porirua to check out an exhibit done by a former GVN Volunteer, Kate McPherson. In 2009, Kate decided she wanted to share her volunteer experience and began to work on the incredible exhibit we got to see! Her experience forever left an impression on her and as a result, she came away with an incredible story to tell and show!

Kate, a resident of New Zealand, volunteered with GVN's Ethiopia program in November 2008. She took her passion for photography with her and delighted the local children with the ability to capture themselves and their surroundings permanently to film. With only six weeks to share her skills and love of photography with the kids, the results are amazing. Seeing them up-close was inspiring; I think we all appreciated the ability of children in an Ethiopian village to share their life with potentially thousands of others-what a statement! Not only are their photos on display at a museum thousands of miles away, but people from anywhere in the world can view these pictures online!

For me, the best part was reading the caption located next to one of the printed books;

All profits from the sale of prints are donated back to the children’s home to fund their education and living expenses.

What more could you ask for? Not everyone has the ability or desire to donate large sums of money or spend their lives in remote Ethiopian villages eating injera (if you are not familiar with this gem of a meal, click here. I especially enjoy the paragraph on consumption and how, " injera is thus simultaneously food, eating utensil and plate. When the entire 'tablecloth' of injera is gone, the meal is over.") The important thing is that everyone has an ability; an ability to do something to improve the lives of others and enrich their own! Kate, much more creative than myself, has done a fantastic job of pursuing her own passions while finding a way to channel them into a humanitarian effort.

If you are interested in finding out more about some of the work GVN Foundation does in Ethiopia or would like to donate to our projects, check out our website. If you would like help thinking up a fantastic and creative idea that we don't currently offer...well, I can offer my tremendous support. But luckily for you, my wildly creative and amazing coworkers Eliza and Lauren are a brilliant resource and sounding board. We are always looking for new ways to continue supporting our projects and love to hear new ideas!

Caitie Goddard
Programs Development Coordinator

How YOU can make a difference from anywhere!

2010-02-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

This past month has been a whirlwind of activity in the GVN Foundation office with 2 very serious natural disasters impacting many people in the GVN community. On Tuesday, January 11th, an earthquake decimated the city of Port Au Prince and the surrounding area. Prior to the earthquake, we did not have a partner in Haiti. However, with the overwhelming response of caring and concerned individuals from around the world and the massive amount of work that will need to be done to give Haitians an opportunity to overcome such a tragic event, Colin Salisbury and company quickly decided to take action. As of today, over $21,000 of donations have poured in through our webpage on Give A L ittle and our GVN Foundation-Haiti page. Over 6,500 have offerred to volunteer and are ready and waiting for when commercial flights resume and we can safely and effectively set-up volunteers on the ground where they can be of the most help. An advance team has already been into Haiti to establish partnerships with medical teams, orphanages, and more to find out what is most needed and how we can help in the future with volunteer placements. Whew!

(Photo: Route to Port Au Prince as seen by the GVN Relief and Assessment team last week.)

Aside from the earthquake in Haiti, we learned of the serious flooding throughout the Sacred Valley in Peru. Our partner organization, Peruvian Hearts contacted us to assure everyone that the children and sisters in the orphanage are all safe. Unfortunately, the area has been severely drained of resources with an immediate need for blankets and food. Full crops have been ruined and gardens destroyed by the flooding. It will be a very difficult year to provide for the children and we have set up a fundraising page to do everything we can to help.

Sometimes when I hear of tragic events, it's difficult to see how anything I do can make any real difference. Medical professionals and millionaires aside, it is easy to put on a defeatist attitude and wonder what impact YOU can make. That's where I look for encouragement and inspiration from other people! There's no reason to reinvent the wheel and I will be the first to admit I'm not the most creative person on the planet! So...I cheat. I take the brilliant ideas, words of encouragement, or positive attitudes of others and use them! Not in a way that takes credit from those who deserve it but in a way that I am motivated to keep trying to do my part.

(Photo: Flooding destroyed homes and crops for thousands near the Sacred Valley, Peru)

Recently I found another cool idea from an organization called Oxfam, another organization working hard to help victims in Haiti. They have created a page entitled, "The Big Promise" with the goal to challenge the world leaders who made a promise to tackle world hunger. 10 years after their promises to aggressively pursue the end of hunger, their efforts have been disappointingly slack. They want to show these world leaders how when people make a promise, they should keep it! Why not go on and make your own? One of the most helpful tips I ever received was to write down things I needed to do. For some reason, I feel like I must be held accountable when it is out of my head on onto a sheet of paper. The "nudges" I kept receiving from other people were hard to ignore as well! What was my promise? I promised to update my blog frequently while in Uganda (which I did!) and it felt oddly satisfying to go back on and click the "promise kept" button! I will be writing another promise soon that I intend to keep! Maybe I will receive a few "nudges" from someone who reads this blog!

The coolest part about the promises is trolling through the website and looking at other people's committments. You can "nudge" them to remind them of their promise and when they finish, you can congratulate them! I encourage you to use whatever tools you have available to you to start making small but important commitments that can lead to big changes and differences in the world around you. If you have another great idea or suggestion, leave a comment and let me know!

Caitie Goddard
GVN Foundation
Eat So They Can Team

I Have A Dream

2010-01-19T18:25:00.001-08:00

The United States celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day this week to commemorate one of the greatest civil rights leaders of the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader and activist in the civil rights movement. He is a personal hero of mine for his fight for human rights and equality for all. Growing up in the United States, I was taught a bit of history surrounding the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, information surrounding his assassination and conspiracy theories sometimes took precedence over the importance of his other achievements.

For example, Martin Luther King Jr. is rightfully remembered for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement but not always for his role in fighting poverty. Near the end of his life, Martin Luther King Jr. began focusing more of his efforts on addressing issues of economic injustice. His actions stayed true to his words ("we are all a part of the human race") and he never addressed the issue of poverty from the standpoint of being an African-American. He wanted to gather a "mulitracial army of the poor" to march on Washington and stage a non-violent protest outside the capital. Many of his followers backed out in their support of his integrated fight for the poor citing the goals of his campaign were, "too broad" and the demands, "unrealizable."

Unrealizable?! To quote Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." It is the people with the mindset that NO idea is too big and who won't take no for an answer on their "unrealizable goals" that accomplish big things and make their mark in history!

The events that have unfolded over the past few days in Haiti have been horrific and devastating. While so many people are hopeful and wish to help, the aid isn't reaching people fast enough, roads are still inaccessible, and the situation is still entirely unstable. It is times like these that we must be adament that no goal is impossible. I think we owe it to the people on the ground in Haiti to realize Martin Luther King's dream of "one community."

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We at GVN are so overwhelmed and touched at the outpouring of support from people around the world and we are glad to play a small part in helping to reach the dream of a poverty-free world. We have received thousands of calls and emails from people who want to donate time, money, or are simply concerned and want to let Haitians know they are not alone. These are the acts of compassion that will bring us closer to realizing the dream! Thank you GVN Family!

Caitie Goddard

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." ~Christopher Reeve

Haiti Emergency Appeal

2010-01-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Haiti's worst quake in two centuries hit south of the capital Port-au-Prince this week. Thousands of lives have been lost, many are still missing, and hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive says he believes more than 100,000 people may have been killed.

The earthquake has destroyed much of the already fragile and overburdened infrastructure in the most densely populated part of the country. A massive and immediate international response is needed to provide food, water, shelter, and medical supplies to the people.

The GVN Team have launched into action and set up the Haiti Emergency Appeal to assist in the relief efforts and rehabilitation of the country. I plan on travelling to Haiti to head the distribution team once the UN has stabilised the area and we have made contacts on the ground. Plans are already underway for GVN to set up a volunteer program to assist the victims and the rebuilding of their communities.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. I urge you to please consider making a donation to this appeal.

100% OF YOUR FUNDS RECEIVED WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE FUND.

> HAITI DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Click to donate: http://www.gvnfundraising.org/cause/Haitidisasterrelief

Every little bit will help. Every dollar will make a difference. Please give today.

Kind Regards,

Colin Salisbury

GVN Founder and President

P.S. If you are interested in leading or being part of a relief team in Haiti please email GVN: info@gvolunteer.org.nz

Image: BBC http://newsalerts.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8455774.stm

New Year's Resolutions; Meaningful vs. Meaningless

2010-01-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! It's crazy to think that the first DECADE of the 21st century has come to a close. There are so many wonderful things to remember as well as some difficult times to learn from. That being said, it is quite a global tradition to establish some New Year's "resolutions" that are meant to inspire an individual to put their best foot forward into the new year. It seems to me that most often, the resolution involves some type of "fixing;" go to the gym more often, watch less tv, eat less junk food, etc. I'm guilty of that as well but it's no wonder people find it so hard to keep those resolutions past January! If something comes up and deters you from hitting your goal, you feel like a failure!

New Year's fireworks in Auckland, New Zealand!

I was at the gym the other day and the staff were commenting on how busy the gym was. "We only have a few weeks left of this," commented one trainer. Hearing that comment made me even more determined to change my outlook this year. To be honest, I've never really been good with New Year resolutions; I seldom make them and when I do, it's kind of the obligatory one to share with your friends when they ask. I don't want to make a resolution that is meaningful only because it was made on the first day of a fresh, new year.

So instead, I have decided to try to find a meaningful goal that is challenging but also exciting and that I can stay motivated to achieve! My goal is simply (or maybe very difficultly!) this; to do everything I can to remain enthusiastic and have a fantastic year. I know the best way to do that is surround myself with great people - I have definitely done that! Next up is kind of doing the reverse resolution; NOT making resolute, set-in-stone goals. Things change, stuff happens, go with it!

Eliza Raymond, one of those fantastic people I get to see everyday in the office has just left to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with 11 other brave trekkers including another GVN'er Graham Fyfe and his lovely wife. As part of the experience, all the trekkers raised additional funds aside from the trek fees to support a local organization we partner with in Kenya. I think THATis the way to start a new year! Not only are they getting in shape and experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, they are also helping those in need in Kenya and raising awareness in their local communities! Eliza and her fellow trekkers are my role models to follow for 2010. Who knows? Maybe I'll look into the next trek up Mt. Everest or start planning for 2011 at Machu Picchu!

Getting ready for Kenya!

2009-12-28T15:20:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited to let you know that I will soon be heading to Kenya! I'll be spending the first 10 days helping to lead the Mt Kilimanjaro trek with Graham and Ruth. I can't wait... although I'll admit that I'm also just a little bit terrified!!

After the trek, I'll be carrying out some research with the projects we work with. The goal of my research is to seek local definitions of a ‘model orphanage’ from a staff perspective, a volunteer perspective and from the perspective of the children themselves.

I will then create an orphanage development framework which will help provide:

- A foundation from which to shape future GVN Foundation funding

- A means to evaluate the success of GVN Foundation grants

- Clear short- and long-term goals for both orphanage staff and GVN Foundation staff

- A basis from which to develop sustainable orphanages

I'll be keeping you posted on how it goes but if you'd like to find out more or you have any suggestions, please feel free to send me an email or comment on this post.

Happy Holidays!
Eliza

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

We would like to begin by wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

Nearing the end of our 4th year, we continue to be amazed at the generosity and true giving spirit of donors from all over the world and all walks of life. It is clearly evident that one of GVN Foundation’s greatest strengths is its amazing and compassionate donors.

Here are a few of the things we take great pride in mentioning as GVN Foundation achievements over the last year:

Eat So They Can: Thanks to our fantastic hosts, the 2008 campaign raised over $60,000 and 5000 disadvantaged children from schools and orphanages in Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Uganda benefited. Our 2009 campaign has already raised over $170,000!

Emergency Relief: Thanks to all of the donors who rallied together for the Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal after tsunamis and earthquakes devastated the region, we were able to raise over $1200 for Vietnam, $2600 for Samoa and $4200 for the Philippines.

New Partnerships: Thanks to increased support, we have been able to grow and set up exciting new partnerships. GVN Foundation Australia is now operating in Sydney and Faith Victory Association (FVA) is our new partner in Rwanda. We also teamed up with AfricaAid in Tanzania for this year’s Eat So They Can.

Machu Picchu Fundraising hike: Thanks to our amazing trekkers, over $27,000 was raised to support the Mercedes de Jesus orphanage in Peru as well as the community of Pampallacta.

Again, we offer our thanks and deepest sentiments of gratitude for all your support over the last year. It is our hope that your holiday season will be filled with peace and the upcoming year will be filled with success, adventure and joy.

Best,

Courtney, Lauren, Eliza, and Caitie
GVNF Team

Free gift for you for the holidays from GVN!

2009-12-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

In recognition of the thousands of volunteers around the world who have given their love, energy, and time through helping communities in need I would like to give you a copy of GVN's brand new book - Ripples of Difference!

Ripples of Difference is a collection of unique and powerful stories written by volunteers whose lives have been significantly affected through their experience of volunteering abroad. From refugee camps in Africa to orphanages in Asia, read about how volunteers are touching the lives of others and making a difference - a ripple of difference.

To download your free electronic copy of Ripples of Difference simply click on the following link: www.ripplesofdifference.org/download.php

The Ripples of Difference theme dates back to when I visited a small village in Papua New Guinea. I tossed a stone into a lake and watched the ripples of water get wider and wider and larger and larger. I realised that by myself I could do very little to bring about long term change, but that a multitude of like minded individuals could literally create enough momentum to significantly change the world in which we live.Mahatma Gandhi said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" so I challenge all of you to stand up and just like the authors in the book, create your own ripple and join the sea of change that is bringing hope to those in need.

Sincerely,

Colin Salisbury

GVN Founder and President

A Memorable Welcome!

2009-12-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my exciting introduction to the GVN family in New Zealand! My name is Caitie Goddard and I stepped foot in New Zealand for the first time 2 weeks ago! I am going to be the programs coordinator in the foundation office and I am thrilled to be here! I am coming from the great state of Michigan in the U.S.A and I think my favorite part of the big move across the world is going to be missing this year's "Michigan winter" where you are guaranteed at least a few days off of school due to snow and clothing layers are not a suggestion or a fashion statement but merely a way of life. Summertime in New Zealand-here I am!

(Photo: That's me and two of the amazing women I met in Taupo at Be The Change. Remember their faces-these are future humanitarian leaders of the world!)

My first week in New Zealand actually found me out of the office and in Taupo for a Be The Change conference. What an awesome week! The Be The Change Course is designed to take your idea for a project or dream to start a charity and give you the skills and confidence you need to make it a reality. There are three things I really love about Be The Change; the first being we had our own United Nations! In total, we had 9 countries represented-very cool! Secondly, it was a group that spanned generations and vocations so everyone got to take advantage of areas and ideas they may not have been familiar with. Third and most importantly-the people! What an incredible group. The people who sign up for Be The Change are those interested in making a difference; it could be as small as making a difference in their own personal lives and communities to some grand ideas that may impact the world! Regardless, the passion and energy generated this past week will stay with me for a long time-I can't wait to see what everyone does!

For those of you who might be interested in attending a Be The Change course I suggest you take a look at our webpage http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/courses/ or send us an email! We will be happy to tell you more so you can see if this program is right for you! While I am sad to leave the great people, great times, and GREAT food (thanks Stan-I wish I could take you everywhere!) I know I have some amazing memories from the week and now it is time to put my own goals into action; "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

(Photo: A shot of some of the participants/facilitators for the week next to Lake Taupo. For the Lord of the Rings fans out there, you could see "Mount Doom" in the distance!)

A special place called Lower Hutt

2009-11-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely people,

Eat So They Can has now raised over $155,000! Despite the recession, we have raised more than double the amount raised last year. Amazing! Thank you so much to all our incredible hosts for making this possible.

In this blog, I want to share a few local stories from Lower Hutt with you. As you may know, GVN and GVN Foundation both have their main offices in Lower Hutt. It's a funny little place of about 100,000 people and even if you've visited NZ, you've probably never been to Lower Hutt. Having said this, incredible things are known to happen in The Hutt...

Maranatha Christian School Eat So They Can
A local Hutt school held a wonderful Eat So They Can picnic on 16th October. The students had been learning about Africa for several weeks and decided to do their bit to support the Global Children's Fund by creating an African money trail. They raised NZ$250 and learnt a lot about the lives of children in Africa. A huge thank you to everyone at Maranatha Christian School!

GVN African BBQ
This year, GVN held a Lower Hutt African BBQ! The BBQ was planned weeks in advance so when we heard it was going to rain all day on the 17th I have to admit that there was a small moment of panic! Fortunately, we were able to find a new venue and hold an indoor BBQ at a local church hall. Tracy, the GVN Africa coordinator, made the most delicious food and we all had a feast. There was also live entertainment by some local dance groups, a mandarin singing group, and an African-American poet. The event was a great success and raised over NZ$2,000!

Adrienne Matheson and Shelter Orphanage
Adrienne Matheson is from Lower Hutt and was a GVN volunteer at Shelter Orphanage in Kenya. Since returning to New Zealand, Adrienne has stayed connected to Shelter through Eat So They Can.

"During my time in Kenya, I knew I had to have an on-going commitment with the orphanage. I knew a little about the GVN Foundation, Eat So They Can event and after finding out more, I realized this was a good way of making a continuing influence. There is now a sense of peace and excitement for me in continuing to help these children through ESTC. Not only have I been with them in their part of the world, but I can continue to help them from my part of the world."

So wherever you are in the world, remember that it's not as hard as you think to make a difference. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” (Brian Littrell)

Have a good day,

Eliza

Help us build a school in Ecuador

2009-11-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

There has been a real buzz at the GVN Foundation office in New Zealand lately. So many things are happening and it's hard to choose just one to write about! I've decided to focus on a new initiative we've started to support our partners in their fundraising efforts.

As of November, we will focus on one of our partner's work each month by featuring them in the GVN newsletter and on our blogs. This will provide our partners with the opportunity to tell the world about the amazing work they do each day and also promote any projects they are fundraising for. This month, our focus is on Alexandra from La Hesperia in Ecuador...

Seven years ago Alexandra Hoeneisen, moved to the La Hesperia Reserve in Ecuador and ever since, conservation became not only her work, but her life. "All facets of my life revolve in some way around protecting and rebuilding the beautiful and diverse environment that I call home, in hopes that it will remain so for our future generations".

Thanks to Alexandra and the team at La Hesperia, the La Hesperia Children Nursery was recently built! Alexandra is now fundraising to create an Educational Centre for the local children.

Alexandra says at La Hesperia they believe sustainable development is closely linked to education. “At the station we work on three interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development: environmental protection, economic development and social development.”

“In order to achieve these aims, education is essential—not only as isolated environmental education activities but as an integral system, starting with children of a young age, to encourage their environmental consciences, leadership, and respect of human rights. The staff at the new school will accompany the children throughout this amazing process".

Please help Alexandra achieve her dream of having an elementary school at La Hesperia by making a donation here: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/ecuador/lahesperia/

Thank you and have a great weekend,

Eliza

Gift Certificates for Thanksgiving

2009-11-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

As we count our blessings this Thanksgiving for what we do have, let us not forget those living in extreme poverty that don't have - food, clean water, medicine, a home...

The GVN Foundation allows you to give a gift of hope with true meaning by purchasing a GVN Foundation gift certificate for one of our sponsorship programs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Peru, Vietnam, Philippines, Romania, or Nepal. Your gift of kindness will ensure the cost of one child's food, shelter, education and medical needs for:
One Month $30 ($1/day)
Two Months $60 ($1/day)
One Year $360 ($1/day)

As President John F. Kennedy said "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them."

Please consider purchasing a gift certificate for the ones you hold close this holiday season:
http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/gift_certificates/

$120,000 target exceeded!

2009-11-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

We have exceeded our $120,000 Eat So They Can target! We are just amazed at how many events have taken place this year and how much money we have already raised. We're all starting to think that $150,000 could be a real possibility.

Over the past couple of weeks I've heard so many inspiring stories from around the world. I want to share one in particular with you which really reminded me of what Eat So They Can is all about.

"I think that we tend to avoid the facts. We skim past headlines. When we see news regarding something in a far off place or something removed from ourselves, we turn off or we at least gear down. How can you empathize with something that is so far removed from your own reality?I'm guilty. I read but I definitely don't think as much as I should. How often do you really consider what it would be like to live in poverty. What it would actually be like to live off a couple of dollars a day. What it would be like to not have enough food to support your family. To be starving. To be uneducated.

So.... I am trying to stop and think. My newest personal challenge is to not just read, but to DO SOMETHING, too. To Think. Talk. Share. Volunteer. Donate. Educate myself.

We, the waygooks (foreigners) of ECC, hosted an Eat So They Can dinner extravaganza on October 17th and with the help from some fine friends we raised about $500 USD. We're told $500 USD is enough to support a small orphanage in Kenya for a month. Amazing.

What's better than sharing a meal with your friends and family while supporting and creating awareness about an excellent cause? Really, not much. I often hear it said, that one person can't really make a difference. But I say different." - Mary Leach, South Korea.

Thank you Mary and thank you to all our hosts for standing up to make a difference.

Have a great weekend,

Eliza

NEW: Anti-Trafficking Fund

2009-10-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Did you know?
- Human trafficking is the world's third largest criminal enterprise, after drugs and weapons (U.S. Department of State).
- Worldwide, there are nearly two million children in the commercial sex trade (UNICEF).
- The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion (U.N.).

The GVN Foundation's Anti-Trafficking fund represents one of our new goals - to start a social movement which increases understanding and awareness of the issue of sex-trafficking. The fund was set up by Andrea Suica during her participation in the GVN/GVN Foundation's Be The Change program in Breckenridge, Colorado in June 2009. On the program she developed her dream to inspire a movement to end child and women sex trafficking.

"I am part of the growing community of people, standing up for the voiceless victims of sex-trafficking. I have worked both domestically and internationally, and also actively volunteer locally and abroad to support at-risk women and children. My goal is to start a social movement, increasing understanding of the issue. My belief is that with understanding, comes awareness. Action follows awareness. Not until we all take action and stand up for this injustice, will we be able to conquer the growing epidemic of sex trafficking in our lifetime," said Andrea.

Andrea will be travelling to Indonesia and Thailand later this year to do initial ground work on the development of this fund. While abroad Andrea will speak to women who have escaped the bonds of sexual slavery and locate reputable institutions GVN Foundation can support.
You can find out more about Andrea and her personal mission to end sexual slavery around the world by visiting her blog:http://www.stopsextrafficking-andreasuica.blogspot.com/

Join the next Be The Change Course: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/courses/
BTC Program Location / Dates
March 14-21, 2010 - Runaway Bay, Jamaica (9 spots left)
May 21-28, 2010 - Tuscany, Italy (8 spots left)
November 21-28, 2010 - Taupo, New Zealand (8 spots left)

Amazing People

2009-10-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Just wanted to write about some recent experiences here in New York.

When people say that New York is an amazing place I think it is important to note that what they mean is that the people of New York are amazing. I have sure met some amazing people recently.

2 weeks ago I had lunch with Andrea Suica, our anti-trafficking fund guru, and Faith Huckel the Executive Director of Restore. Restore is a NYC nonprofit dedicated to helping foreign women who have escaped the sex trafficking industry here in New York City.

If you want to meet a remarkably intelligent woman who is driven by passion and a belief in justice for women around the world you must meet Faith. Faith explained to Andrea and I that there is not a single safe house in all of New York City for women who are victims of the Sex Trafficking Trade. Let me repeat that. In a city of 8 million people, there is not one safe house for women who have escaped the bondage of sexual slavery. Faith pointed out that with no where to go, an inability to speak English and no documentation women who are held hostage in brothels throughout the city have literally no option but to continue to live in slavery. Their captors and their circumstances make that impossible.

What is Faith going to do about it? Her organization is raising money for the first safe house in the city of New York dedicated to protecting and assisting victims of sex trafficking. This project, Andrea and I agree, is something that GVN Foundation must help with in the future. So stay tuned as GVN Foundation develops ways to help Faith in her mission (for more information about Restore please go to http://www.restorenyc.com/).

I also just returned from an event in which the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Judith Rodin, spoke. This woman runs the Rockefeller Foundation, which means she manages their over 3.8 billion dollars in assets. She was President of Yale, and before that President of the University of Pennsylvania. She spoke eloquently about new technology to prevent malaria (paraffin wax heated by the sun and brushed with human sweat), the Foundation's work to 'put pressure' on government to address the Hurricane Katrina Disaster and the need for property rights in East Africa. I was struck by her knowledge, her poise and her sharp intellect.

We need more of both of these women, intelligent, strong and passionate social entrepreneurs!

If you are inspired by their work, if you have idea to do something similar please consider joining one of our Be The Change Programs. This program truly is about giving people the skills they need to be the next Judith Rodin or Faith Huckel.

www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/courses/

Talk to you all soon!
Court

Vietnam Disaster Relief Fund

2009-10-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

Last week the GVN Team launched the Asia Pacific Emergency appeal to assist two communities devastated by the recent typhoons and tsunamis - our partner organisation in the Philippines, and Samoa, the island neighbouring our headquarters here in New Zealand. Today we are extending the emergency appeal to assist another community in desperate need - our local partner in Vietnam. Vietnam was hit by Typhoon Ketsana when it blew across the South China Sea from the Philippines and unleashed a month’s worth of rain in just 12 hours. It has left over 100 people dead and 170 000 people have reportedly been evacuated.

Viet Dang, GVN Vietnam Director sent us the following message:
“After the Philippines, the typhoon Ketsana has become much more stronger and hit the central region of Vietnam where our program is based. Luckily, no children in our program got hurt during the typhoon but it badly struck Tam Ky Baby Orphanage. The typhoon has also caused a lot of serious damage in many local communities near our program in Da Nang, Tam Ky and Quang Ngai. Stephanie (a volunteer) and I have been travelling and looking at the damaged areas in the surrounding villages. We have seen many lost lives, collapsed houses, broken power, water and roads. Please help us and our community.” – Viet Dang

I urge you to please consider making a donation to the Vietnam Disaster Relief Fund to assist the victims and help rebuild the community.100% of your donation will go directly to the fund.

> VIETNAM DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Click to donate: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/emergency_relief/vietnamrelief/

Please remember that every little bit helps and every dollar will go a long way in helping this community.

Kind Regards,
Colin Salisbury

Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal Launched

2009-10-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis have wrought death and destruction in the Asia Pacific region this week. Hundreds of lives have been lost, many are still missing, and hundreds of thousands of people have been affected.

In response, the GVN Team has launched an Asia Pacific Emergency appeal to assist two communities in desperate need who are particularly dear to our hearts - CERV, our partner in the Philippines, and Samoa, the island neighbour to our headquarters here in New Zealand.

I urge you to please consider making a donation to one of our emergency appeals to assist the victims of these disasters. 100% OF YOUR DONATION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE FUND.

> PHILIPPINES DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Typhoon Ketsana has rampaged through the Philippines, killing over 330 people and forcing millions to flee their homes. Officials have reported that 2.3 million people had their homes flooded, and 400,000 were seeking help in relief centers.

> SAMOA DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Disaster struck when a powerful 8.0-magnitude undersea quake unleashed tsunamis on the vulnerable Pacific islands. Four tsunami waves up to six metres high roared ashore in Samoa, travelling up to 1.6km inland - tossing cars into trees, razing buildings and sweeping its victims back out to sea.

Please remember that every little bit helps, every dollar WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, and these communities really need us right now.

Colin Salisbury
GVN Foundation Chairman

Image courtesy of the Globe and Mail: A Filipino boy is carried to safety through floodwaters brought by Tropical Storm Ketsana in the Quezon City suburban of Manila on Sept. 26, 2009. Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images

Rebuilding Lives Sponsorship Video

2009-09-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

This week I am so excited to be launching the REBUILDING LIVES sponsorship video which features footage from my time in Kenya. Rebuilding Lives in an online sponsorship program that builds houses for families living in tents at the Pipeline IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Camp.

The Pipeline IDP Camp is situated in the Great Rift Valley and is home to 6500 people (1200 families) who were forced to flee their homes during the post election violence in January 2008. While the 6500 IDPs now live a relatively more peaceful existence at Pipeline, it is not sustainable and they face enormous challenges. One of the most critical is the need for shelter.

I invite you to watch the new sponsorship video and share it with your friends and family:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPvXSMNphE

I was able to set up the Rebuilding Lives fundraiser quickly and easily through GVN Foundation's International Fundraiser program. This is a service offered to all GVN volunteers who wish to continue fundraising for projects when they return home.To find out how you can set up your own fundraiser through GVN Foundation, visit the International Fundraiser webpage or send us an email sponsorship@gvnfoundation.org

Hope your having a great week!

Lauren

GVN Foundation partners with FVA, Rwanda!

2009-09-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

A big hello from the NZ office!

I'm excited to announce that the GVN Foundation has a new partner - Faith Victory Association in Rwanda. FVA have been working with GVN volunteers for some time and are doing wonderful work in local communities. Their goal is to put in place mechanisms that eradicate poverty through promoting public health and building capacity of children and women.

FVA was founded in March 2002 by a group of six professionals who realized that poverty levels in Rwanda were increasing and the rise in the numbers of HIV/AIDS infections and fatalities were compounding this. More and more women were becoming widowed and increasing numbers of children were becoming orphaned due to the pandemic. FVA was therefore formed to bring together many people of different backgrounds to fight against poverty and HIV/AIDS.

GVN Foundation hope to support FVA through encouraging GVN volunteers to fundraise for their projects. In addition, we have added details about their work to our website and people are now able to donate to FVA. To make a donation, visit: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/rwanda

Have a great day,
Eliza

The UN and GVN Foundation's Anti-Human Trafficking Fund

2009-09-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I've met with some incredible people in the last few days and I wanted to share that with you.

The meeting at the United Nations was fantastic. I met with Diego Rumiany who is a Program Officer in the NGO section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Diego is warm and passionate about the work he is doing with the UN. He took me through the advantages of having consultative status. Having this status means that we, as an organization, now have the authority to participate in ECOSOC subsidiary body meetings. These are meetings that take place in NYC and Geneva. We can participate in meetings, suggest agenda items, and, in some cases, even present papers and our own work on development issues around the world. Diego also mentioned that we have the capacity to network and work with other NGO's in consultative status formally through an organization called CONGO. I'll be looking into speaking with them in the weeks to come.

As I dive deeper into the intricacies of the UN system and our work to support the Millennium Development Goals I will keep you all up-to-date about my findings.

I also just had a meeting with Andrea Suica. Andrea is currently researching and designing GVN Foundation's forthcoming Anti-Human Trafficking Fund. She has done some fantastic research and came to NYC yesterday to attend a fundraising event for the Somaly Mam Foundation. A Foundation started by a woman in Cambodia who escaped a decade of sex slavery and decided to start an organization to free other victims of the global sex trade.

In typical, amazing, Andrea style she now has a meeting with the Executive Director of The Somaly Mam Foundation to talk about ways GVN Foundation and Somaly Mam can work together in the future.

I'm so excited to see what the GVN Foundation Anti-Trafficking Fund will look like in the future. With a woman like Andrea on our team I feel the sky is the limit.

That's about all from NYC at the moment. Have a great weekend!
Best
Courtney

United Nations Visit

2009-09-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow I'm visiting the United Nations to pick up my UN Representative Ground Pass and meet with a representative in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Office for ECOSOC Support Coordination Branch. I'm excited to meet with a representative from the United Nations about how GVN Foundation can assist the United Nations, and specifically how we can assist them as they work to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Eliza is also working on emailing all of our ESTC hosts in NYC to see if they have any questions that I could answer over coffee and if they would like me to stop by their event to say hello and talk, from experience, about how their funds will change lives. I'm excited to meet our ESTC hosts in the great city of New York!

In addition to the above, I've started graduate classes at NYU. I'm taking a microeconomics class and our NYU professors are teaching us about trade and specialization. The basic premise is that we can do more/we can produce more if we specialize in whatever we are 'gifted at' and then trade with each other.

I was thinking that is a pretty basic and fundamental part of philanthropy... and life. We all have gifts, we can all do amazing things. It's just really a question of if we will join together to help those who don't have our same advantages (education, health, familial stability etc). The more we work together to affect change (like joining an ESTC event!!!) the greater our impact will be!

Alright, enough soap boxing...

I'll let you all know how the meeting goes.

Talk soon
Court

600 hosts for Eat So They Can!

2009-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

We now have 600 official hosts signed up for Eat So They Can! Here are 3 recent sign ups that I found particularly inspiring:

My Granny

My Granny, Rosemary Raymond, is 85 years old and doesn't have a clue how to use a computer but she has still found a way to sign up - my sending me an 'airletter' all the way from her little village in Kent, England. She plans to host a buffet lunch in her little cottage for her "ancient and deaf" friends (her description, not mine!) - photo on its way!

Rachael Otieno

Rachael Otieno was born in Kenya but is currently studying in the US. She will be holding an Eat So They Can event this October and will be aiming to reach the $20,000 target so that she’ll be able to join our distribution team in Kenya!

Cassandra Treadwell

Cass is one of the founders of Eat So They Can and the Executive Director of GVNF Australia. Cass has 4 children, is working on her PhD, running GVNF Australia AND organizing a huge Eat So They Can event this year in Sydney. Cass doesn't take 'no' for an answer and as a result has had an incredible variety of gifts donated for her auction, ranging from a diamond to an hour of training with the Australia rugby captain!

So THANK YOU to Granny, Rachael, Cass and all our other hosts for making Eat So They Can possible.

Eliza

Climbing for a cause!

2009-08-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

On behalf of the GVN Foundation and our partner organisation, Peruvian Hearts, I would like to send out a huge thank you to each member of the Machu Picchu Fundraising Trek Team who at this very moment are hiking what is possibly the most spectacular trek in the Americas. Thank you for donating your time, raising critical funds, and having the courage and spirit to embark on this adventure. By joining this fundraising trek you are aiding the refurbishment of a Peruvian orphanage which is providing the children who live there with a safe and happy environment and a place they can call home. What an amazing effort.

The next GVN Fundraising Trek is in January 20010 and gives participants the opportunity to help provide disadvantaged African kids in schools and orphanages with basic needs such as food, medical care and education. Plus, trekkers will also have the chance to bag one of the world’s seven summits - Mt Kilimanjaro. Anyone up for the challenge? Sign up now! Eliza from GVN Foundation will be leading the trek team and I hear she has already started training - go Eliza!

Last year I participated in the Kilimanjaro Trek and while I feel it was one of the toughest things I have ever done, it was also one of the most amazing, rewarding and challenging. It was a life changing experiences that will stay with me forever. If anyone would like to chat to me or find out more, please drop me a line anytime!

Lauren
New Zealand

The United Nations and NYC

2009-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Hello from New York!!

In case you are wondering why I am writing this blog from NYC I'll briefly explain: while GVN Foundation headquarters is in New Zealand I've recently moved to NYC for a variety of reasons:

1. To get a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from New York University (NYU)
2. To explore ways to expand GVNF in the Big Apple.
3. And now....to work directly with the United Nations!

Just a week ago GVN Foundation was officially granted 'Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council. We are now officially recognized by the United Nations. This means that GVNF is growing up and making connections that will help us as we work to help the United Nations achieve their Millennium Development Goals.

I hope to go to the UN to speak with their NGO Branch about ways GVNF can assist the United Nations, and vice versa, in the coming weeks.

Also, I just found a place to base our operations in NYC! I'll be on West 44th St. between 9th and 10th Ave. Not that far away from our new partner, the UN.

I'll keep you posted on UN events and exciting developments as they arise.

Plus, I just spoke to a lady who is assisting one of our fabulous Eat So They Can hosts in Baltimore! These ladies want to raise over $20,000 for Eat So They Can and I'm working with them to help make that happen.

That's all for now from the New York GVNF contingent. If you are in NYC and want to learn more about Eat So They Can let me know. I'm always happy to go get a cup of coffee and chat about what GVN Foundation is up to.

Chat soon!
Courtney

Hello from the NZ office!

2009-08-18T17:20:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. We've been super busy in the office this week with packing all the party packs for our Eat So They Can hosts! All our hosts will receive a DVD showing how the funds from last year were spent, a poster, and some very cool ESTC buttons/badges! If you haven't signed up yet and you'd like to receive a pack just visit: http://www.eatsotheycan.org/getinvolved/signup.php

I've also been communicating a lot with one of our partners in Nepal this week, Antardristi.
The Antardristi Center is a non-profit organisation run by women that provides trauma counseling and support to survivors of sexual abuse. However, due to a lack of funding and economic pressures, Antardristi faces the very real prospect of having to close their Outreach Program. The Outreach Program works with schools and community groups to raise awareness about sexual abuse while enabling staff to identify sexual abuse cases.

Simone Aryal from Antardristi says that outreach workers were recently able to rescue a 14 year old boy from being the victim of sexual abuse.

“The boy was threatened by some other boys and used to be taken to shoot pornography films. He was so scared to tell the truth to his family and others. But when Antardrisiti outreach worker was on their endeavour to raise awareness in schools the boy who was also present in the awareness class gathered courage to present the matter in front of the outreach workers. He was brought in to Antardristi and provided with counselling. He is safe now and leading a fearless life.”

Please help Antardristi continue its important work in the community by making a donation today to the Antardristi Outreach Program. All funds raised will go towards rescuing children through helping Antardisti achieve their mission - to let children “speak the truth” and say “no” to sexual abuse.

> Antardristi Outreach Program Fund
http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/nepal/antardristi/

> Antardristi Center Sponsorship
http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/sponsorship/nepal_antardristi/

Fundraising made easy through GVN Foundation!

2009-08-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

I have just returned to beautiful (and cold!) New Zealand after spending five months working on the ground in Kenya with our wonderful partner organisation, VICDA. I had an amazing time and absolutely loved being part of the Eat So They Can Team. During the ESTC Grand Prize Trip we visited 17 projects in 7 days and distributed items such as food, beds and desks to communities in need. We also set up feeding programs in two Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps and finished construction of two classrooms in Massailand. Over 5000 children and youth benefited from funds raised from the 2008 campaign. This year we are aiming to raise $120 000 and help even more children. I know we can do it!

While I was in Kenya I also set up a project through GVN Foundation called REBUILDING LIVES - an online family sponsorship program that builds houses for families in crisis at the Pipeline IDP Camp.

The Pipeline IDP Camp is situated in the Great Rift Valley and is home to 6500 people (1200 families) who were forced to flee their homes during the post election violence in January 2008. While the 6500 IDPs now live a relatively more peaceful existence at Pipeline, it is not sustainable and they face enormous challenges. One of the most critical is the need for shelter.

I am excited to report that ten families have been sponsored so far. It is my dream to find sponsors for the one thousand families living there.

I was able to set up the fundraiser quickly and easily through GVN Foundation's International Fundraiser program. This is a service offered to all GVN volunteers who wish to continue fundraising for projects when they return home.
To find out how you can set up your own fundraiser through GVN Foundation, visit the International Fundraiser webpage or send us an email sponsorship@gvnfoundation.org

Cheerio for now!
Lauren : )

New Zealand Office Update

2009-08-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

This is Eliza - I've been working with GVN Foundation since April this year and I'm loving it! I just wanted to give you an update from our office in New Zealand. Our main project at the moment is that we're organizing our annual fundraiser - Eat So They Can. We're inviting citizens of the world to participate in what is collectively one huge dinner party; where something as simple as sharing a meal with friends can help stop child poverty.

We already have more than 500 hosts signed up. We have banquets, birthday parties, picnics, casino nights, housewarming parties, talent shows, wine and cheese evenings, silent auctions and raffles being held all around the world to raise money for ESTC. This year, they'll be events in nearly every continent - we're just waiting on Antarctica :)

Welcome to the GVN Foundation Blog!

2009-07-16T21:39:00.001-07:00

The GVN Foundation Team (Eliza, Lauren and I) are so excited to share this new space with you. We look forward to bringing you the latest news from our partner organisations around the world plus announcements and updates from our programs, fundraising treks, and campaigns. Please feel free to post us a message too, we would love to hear from you!

Right now I am in Australia with Colin Salisbury. We have not seen any kangaroos yet but we have met a lady with plenty of energy and bounce - Cass Treadwell, Director of GVNF Australia! Get ready for big things everyone!
More to come soon!

Have a great day!
Courtney

Image: children enjoying a cup of porridge at the Pipeline IDP Camp, Kenya. This feeding program was started thanks to funds raised from Eat So They Can 2008.

GVN Foundation

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