GlobalGiving.org: Free Education in the Desert around Arequipa, Peru

Amazing support for the GVI Charitable Trust

Ross Deans — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:13:07 GMT

We would like to share the most recent trustee report from the GVI Charitable Trust. This report covers the six month period from July to December 2011.

We are delighted to share that this has been by far our most successful period, raising in six months nearly as much as we did the whole of the previous year. This increase in funding has brought a corresponding increase in the impact we have been able to create on our programs around the world.

During this period we have invested in sustainable education across Latin America including support for the elderly in Guatemala and income generation schemes to support education in Honduras and Ecuador. In Mexico we have worked with a community to establish a recycling centre and in Kenya our partners in Mombasa will now realise their goal of seeing impoverished students through to completion of the primary education earning recognised qualifications for the first time.

These are just a few highlights of an amazing, productive and rewarding six months. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and played a crucial role in these achievements.

Attachments:

July - December 2011 Trustee Report (PDF)

Anniversary celebrations in Peru

Ross Deans — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:19:58 GMT

Celebrations in Peru

At the end of 2011 we celebrated the anniversaries of our schools in the Phoenix project in Peru in both communities Maldonado and Triunfo. We have been working in the schools since 2006. It's such a treat to be able to see the parents, teachers, volunteers, and kids all come together in celebration of the great work these schools are doing.

Maldonado was practically bouncing on its foundations from all of the dancing the kids were doing...not to mention the free for all scramble when candy came showering down on them from teachers and volunteers alike! Triunfo was covered wall to wall in streamers, balloons, and glittery posters! The kids from Triunfo put on a choreographed traditional dance that was the absolute highlight of the party.

Congratulations to everyone at both schools and everyone who has supported us along the way to make this possible.

Traditional Dance Culture in Peru

Dom Williams — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:18:13 GMT

Thanks to funds raised for this project, we are able to keep traditions alive in our communities, by paying for traditional dance costumes and transport so the children can partake in dance competitions, growing in self-esteem and keep tradition strong. For the past month selected kids have been spending every spare moment practicing dancing, even during recreo! What for? This Sunday both schools, Truinfo and Maldonado, participated in a dance competition! Maldonado (wearing the red outfits) was first of the two schools to take the stage and did an exceptional job dancing a traditional dance from Cusco.

Theirs was the most complicated choreographed we had seen yet that day! Triunfo shortly followed and did an equally fantastic job with Erica, one of our second graders, participating as well. The kids from both schools were nothing but smiles, and sweat, after being able to show off their hard work and awesome dance moves. We are also so proud to say that Triunfo won 2nd place!!

What does this mean? That they had to keep on dancing. The following Monday, October 31, the kids once again put on the traditional dress and danced their hearts out in hopes of winning the competition. Stay tuned for the results!

Day of the Student Field Trip

Dom Williams — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:38:49 GMT

Peru Field trip

Here in Peru, the Day of the Student fell on Friday September 23. To celebrate we took the children from the communities we work in, Maldonado and Triunfo, on a field trip to Quiscos, a park with a natural hot spring about 40 minutes away. The kids, volunteers, and profesoras were in heaven! It was amazing to be able to spend the day playing with the kids, some who have never even been in the water before...we do work in a desert!

The kids were given the afternoon to run around, splash in the water, and to just be kids… and you know it’s a success when not a single kid cried! To eat everyone was provided a lunch as well as fruit, some soda, and something sweet for the ride home. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported this project helping to make events like this possible.

Children at the hot springs

Spring fever in Peru

Dom Williams — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:48:55 GMT

Our schools at Truinfo and Maldonado in Peru are definitely feeling Spring Fever. Right when the weather began to get even warmer, the teachers began their decorating frenzy and have transformed the schools. Flowers, birds, and bright colours hang all around the classroom, even from the ceilings!

The kids have been loving it as well, they have done many art activities around the theme and have put their work on the classroom walls to brighten up the spaces even more.

Anniversary in Peru

Dom Williams — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:58:40 GMT

Traditional dance in Peru

This month we celebrated the 14^th anniversary of the Victor Maldonado school. All of the children got dressed up in traditional outfits and performed dances that they had learned specially with the local dance teacher. After weeks of practicing they finally got to show off what they had learned.

The kids loved it and the dances were all amazing! All the volunteers, staff and teachers joined in too with an impressive performance of "Shake your tail feather".

Maybe not quite up to the standard of the kids but it certainly got a few laughs! We also had some singing from grades 1 and 2 and a special performance from Naomi and her sister, Daniela, who for two little girls, have the most incredible voices.

After all of the performances "hora loca" began, which certainly was crazy! There were whistles, balloons, confetti, lots of party games and most importantly - a clown! Everyone got involved and there were smiling faces all round. After this, everyone dug in to some well-deserved lunch. An unforgettable, action-packed day for everyone.

The benefit of volunteers in the school

Dom Williams — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:14:12 GMT

Katy is a happy and kind 14-year-old girl who attends one of our schools here in Arequipa, Peru. Katy has a learning disability and a facial disfigurement. She also has a huge smile and a cheerful disposition. Everyday Katy is able to work 1-1 with a volunteer. Katy is currently on a 1st grade level and while she may be behind, she has an incredible work ethic.

She has shown so much progress in the last year! We are able to provide many kids who need 1-1 work in our schools in Peru thanks to everyone who supports the project. If these kids didn’t have their own volunteers they may not even be in school at all. The local teachers already have two grades to work with and unfortunately, a special needs kid cannot get the attention they deserve. Thank you to all those volunteers who have worked with Katy and the other kids in the past and for everyone who has donated towards this project, now and in the future!

Progress Towards Free Secondary Education

Dom Williams — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:03:01 GMT

Talks are underway for starting our own secondary school whereby funds raised on this page will go towards paying for teachers to give secondary education to the children. We have tried this on our project in Honduras and seen great results so we are very keen to expand the initiative across the projects.

We currently give scholarships to the children although this new plan will be more sustainable in the long run making sure that more children have access to Secondary Education. This will be entirely funded through the GVI Charitable Trust.

Progress in Peru

Dom Williams — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:07:54 GMT

Support on the project is continuing as ever and are seeing great progress with the children. We did have 6 kids who were falling behind and had to be removed from the class, thanks to extra support we have been able to bring them up to speed so that they can continue at the level they should be at.

The Children face many difficulties in the Pueblos Jovenes which can affect their education so it is great to see that with continued support, understanding and patience the kids can continue and progress as they need to.

All three communities in which we work are seeing tremendous advances and upon hearing from the children who are now in Secondary School they are passing their exams with excellent marks, fantastic news!

Expansion into new communities

Dom Williams — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:27:30 GMT

To spread our knowledge and experience in education in the desert, we have expanded into two new communities around Arequipa, where the schools have limited funds, teachers and utensils. By increasing teachers numbers and bringing in food programs, the children are now receiving better education and a full meal each day.

Parents decide secondary education is key

Dom Williams — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:54:39 GMT

As we finish 2009, yet more parents have decided that once primary school is over, their children should continue to secondary school, so with our help with utensils and other costs, this dream will become reality in 2010. Many thanks for everyone's support over the years...finally, we are making headway in the desert around Arequipa. Happy New Year cheers

Charity Challenge

Dom — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:21:45 GMT

Greetings. Our schools in Ecuador have begun the new scholastic year well, with new children now heading off to secondary school, and previous kids moving up a grade, which is a great achievment. To start fundraising for next year, I will be embarking on a Charity Challenge this weekend in Guatemala, climbing 4 volcanoes in 6 days, so please, if you can, spare a penny or two to help raise funds for such a good cause. cheers

Secondary education takes a further step forward

Dom Williams — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:35:29 GMT

I have recently just returned from Peru and had many discussions about how to better our secondary school system. At the moment, we supply our secondary school students with the supplies they need for further education. I plan, over the next 2 years, to implement the plan we have trialled in Honduras, where we pay for secondary school teachers to come to the community. It works and it is a highly sustainable way to increase education in these areas.

New term starts and all utensils are provided

Dom Williams — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:49:28 GMT

Secondary school

The new secondary school term started in Peru and all the children have received their necessary utensils to proceed with their education. Exciting times.

Walking and talking proud

Dressed up

Expansion and secondary school

Dom Williams — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:50:56 GMT

2009 sees us expanding into new communities around Arequipa and also in Colca Canyon, so more children to educate and put through secondary school. 2008 saw many children graduate to secondary school in our projects and with us supplying the needed utensils, they can move onwards an upwards.

Secondary school beckons for the children around Arequipa

Dom Williams — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:15:42 GMT

Keeping the tradition

This year we embarked on a new secondary school scholarship scheme in the communities we work in Peru, with the educational items needed for the children to continue their education. We have also seen new faces in the schools, desparate for more educational reinforcement so 2009 beckons with even more enthusiasm

Family in school

Nurturing from an early age

Links:

GVI Phoenix Blog

First donation in

Andy Woods-Ballard — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:41:22 GMT

Following the devastating earthquake in Peru we have had a shift of focus for some of our funding, however we now have a number of standing orders set up that are already providing long term scholarships. With a push and looking at the overall success of our fundraising for Ecuador we hope to be able to provide for the secondary school that can change the lives of so many children.

Links:

Volunteer with GVI in Peru for hands on aid.