Education Australia Project #8412

National Scholarship Program in Australia

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Jul 15, 2016
Montanna's trip to Asia

By Kate Robey | Charitable Trust Operations Manager

Dear Supporters,

Montanna has recently returned from a life-changing 3 months visiting 3 of GVI's projects in Asia. She spent time in Fiji, Thailand and Nepal, with a focus on marine conservation.

This is what Montanna had to say before she left for Asia:

"I have a passion for travelling, learning and experiencing new things! I have not yet had the chance to venture out of Australia so I am beyond excited and grateful to have the opportuntity to volunteer in Aisa with the help from FYA and the GVI Charitable Trust Scholarship I received! I love the outdoors and wish to sustain it as much as possible whihc is why I have chosen to do conservation volunteering! I believe it is so important to take good care of our earth and to educate others about environmental issues."

And this is what she had to say about her experience:

Why did you join the Foundation for Young Australians/ GVI scholarship program?

I wanted to gain a greater understanding of the different cultures across Asia and feel a sense of achievement by seeing the actual progress being made as a result of my volunteer efforts. My expectations have been met, plus more!

Tell us a bit about daily life on a GVI project.

Daily life was living with other volunteers from all over the world, like one big family. All helping each other out and working as a team on the projects to ensure that we collectively achieved the best possible outcome.

Highlights were seeing the progress on each project, being immersed in the culture and meeting so many wonderful people.

What skills have you learnt?

I have come away with more patience, understanding, and a much more open mind and more aware of the world around me. I have also learnt a lot about leadership and how to take the initiative. Also, I have learnt a lot about teaching and construction, advanced diving and marine conservation skills.

What will you be doing when you return to Australia?

I will be starting my degree in science.

What was the highlight of your trip?

Being immersed in so many different cultures and environments and learning about them all. It has really broadened my outlook on life!

Thank you for your support which makes opportunities like this possible.

With Gratitude,

The GVI Charitable Trust

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Apr 26, 2016
How do we choose our scholars?

By Kate Robey | Charitable Trust Operations Manager

Dear Supporter,

Today I would like to share with you a little bit more about how we choose the scholars that end up joining us on a GVI project in Asia.

There are so many students who are dedicated, deserving and passionate and we wish that we could offer a place for each and every one of them. So, how do we narrow it down?

We primarily rely on our partners in Australia, the Foundation for Young Australians. The FYA 'deliver a range of programs, co-designed with young people, that create social change across Australia.' The projects that FYA supports are varied, but all focus on offering extra opportunities to the youth of Australia. From helping young people prepare for the world of work to supporting young indigenous leaders to providing a platform for youth to create social change to boosting connections between Asia and Australia. And that is where we come in.

The FYA Asia Hub believes that Australians need to 'shift our mindset and start backing young people to develop skills and a genuine interest and understanding in our regional neighbours'. We here at GVI wholly support the mission to be able to expose as many people as possible to other countries, cultures and experiences so that they may become people who are more aware and empowered.

For a scholar to become eligible to the FYA Experience Asia program and get sponsored by the GVI Trust, thanks to your donations, they have to demonstrate

An interest in Asia specifically
Be able to clearly articulate what specifically interests them and why
Prove that they have the capacity for being 100% committed to the project
Offer an explanation on how they see this opportunity contributing to their future
Have thought about how they will share their experience when they return home
Prove that they would otherwise not be able to access an opportunity like this due to their current situation

We can't wait to share with you how our 5 students for 2016 get along in Asia!

Thank you for your generosity which makes this program possible.

With Gratitude,

The GVI Trust

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Feb 18, 2016
Our 2016 scholars

By Kate Robey | Charitable Trust Operations Manager

Well done & good luck to our 2016 scholars

Dear Supporter,

We are really excited for all of our scholars that are traveling all over Asia as part of our National Scholarship Program in 2016.

This year we have five scholars from 3 different areas in rural Australia traveling to Thailand, Nepal, Fiji and Laos for the experience of a lifetime. The scholars are selected through our partner in Australia, the Foundation for Young Australians. at FYA they believe that "the rise of Asia as the global economic centre will shape our region with unprecedented opportunity." Because of this, FYA aims to send as many young Australians as possible to Asia so that they can begin to understand their regional neighbours better and foster a greater interest in, and understanding of, Asia.

Here is what one recent volunteer had to say about their time in Laos, which perfectly sums up the cultural immersion that is possible on a GVI project:

"I came to Laos to teach and improve the lives of the 'less fortunate' Lao people, little did I know one of our Novice students would end up teaching us more than we could have hoped for. After spending a session meditating with Novice Obi at his temple in Luang Prabang, I further contemplated, who was I to say I was associated with the more fortunate people. They seemed happy and perfectly content with life even without our most sought after material possessions that we so desperately desire in our current materialistic western culture. Are we sure we are the ones who are the most fortunate after all?" - Jamie, Australia, four week volunteer.

We hope that all of our scholars traveling in 2016 have eye-opening, life-changing and enriching experiences.

These scholars have all been selected because they are deserving, motivated and have proved themselves. We wish them all the best on their journeys and we can't wait to share with you their experiences once their trips are over.

With Gratitude,

GVI Charitable Trust

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