The Global Innovation and Education Fund

2011 has been a very challenging year for many people, businesses and charities around the world. Here at the GVI Charitable Trust we have been working very hard to develop and grow our charity during this difficult period and despite the tough climate we have seen amazing support for our work and projects around the world.

This year we have launched our new website and increased our project portfolio. To support our projects we have been reaching out to our community and contacts. In many countries of operation our teams have organised and run inspiring fundraising challenges.

In Guatemala our Annual Volcano Challenge took place at the end of November bringing in record funds to support many important aspects of our National Scholarship Program project to support Indigenous Children in Guatemala.

We have also run fundraising challenges in Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and The Amazon rainforest. All of our challengers and donors have shown amazing support which has helped us to take huge strides on many of our projects.

We would like to share some recent news from our projects and work around the world:

• Flooding in Thailand. With projects running year round in Thailand we were especially keen to support Thai people during this year’s terrible flooding. Our campaign has raised $90,000 which has enabled us to provide initial emergency relief and then plan for longer term strategies. Currently we are working to renovate schools to get students back to school and develop additional strategies with local people.
• Recycling Centre in Mexico. Amazing developments on our project designed to set up a recycling centre in the community of Punta Allen acting as an example to others in the region.
• Traditional Dance in Peru. We always aim to encourage and support traditional values within the communities where we work and this is a great example of this producing huge benefits for local people.
• Celebrity endorsement for our Amazon project. Always great to see support from those with a large and supportive community.
• Sustainable income generation in Honduras. Involving the community to generate sustainable funds which will support education.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported us helping to make 2011 a very positive year at the GVI Charitable Trust.

Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2012.