Changemakers

Change Makers is a club of individuals from all over the world who are committed to social change. The way our members live their lives is what inspired the title of this amazing group of people. Each member in the club has participated in a volunteer program through the Global Volunteer Network or a fundraising program through the Global Volunteer Network Foundation.

Cat Ross: Philanthropic Guru

Cat Ross is truly a philanthropic guru. She has been involved in all kinds of inspiring activities all her life ranging from fundraising to international volunteering. She has raised thousands and thousands of dollars and volunteered limitless hours of her time for the causes she feels passionate about.

Cat has taken part in Eat So They Can every year since the campaign began and plans to continue to raise funds for this campaign every year to follow. Cat says:

"My commitment to those in need will continue to remain endless. I believe that you have to make every moment count and that when you have the dedication to creating change, you will! Not only will you feel the personal reward that comes from within, but your passion in what you do will create ripples and these ripples will spread to other individuals who will open their minds to creating change as well. When we work together, the possibilities are endless!"

GVN Foundation is proud and grateful to have Cat’s support. To read an inspiring article written by Cat please click here.

Andrea Suica : Founder of the GVN Foundation Anti-Trafficking Fund

Andrea Suica is an amazing woman determined to bring a voice to the voiceless- to women and children affected by Sex-Trafficking.

Andrea Suica was a participant on GVN and GVN Foundation’s Be The Change Program in Breckenridge, Colorado last June. On the program she developed her dream to inspire a movement to end child and women sex trafficking.

Andrea describes her process on the Be The Change Program below:

"The Be The Change Breckenridge program definitely exceeded my expectations in every way. Instead of just learning about the mechanics of NPO's, NGO's and social entrepreneurship, I also came out of the program more focused, driven and confident to implement my idea of developing a global awareness campaign around sex-trafficking. ... There have been a number of pivotal moments in my life, and I would consider this one of them. I came out of the course with the confidence that I can achieve my dream of setting up a global awareness campaign around sex-trafficking. BTC Breckenridge has been the catalyst to initiate making my dream into a reality."

Since leaving the Be The Change Program Andrea has further developed this idea and, last week, GVN Foundation asked her to head up our new ‘Anti-Trafficking Fund.’ She has graciously accepted and 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.

Prior to her departure Andrea will work with GVN Foundation to develop a whole new educational portion of the GVN Foundation website dedicated to information about human trafficking. Andrea will also author a blog about the beginnings of her personal mission to end sexual slavery around the world.

For more information on GVN Foundation’s Be The Change Program please go to: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/courses/

Ashley Shuyler : Founder and Program Director of AfricAid

 

Ashley is the founder of AfricAid and is a hardworking and amazing young woman. AfricAid is a US non-profit organisation that supports the education of young girls in Tanzania, helping to equip them for a bright future.

AfricAid provides funding for scholarships, school supplies, school building projects, school lunch programs, vocational training and teacher training, and works in conjunction with the local initiatives of Tanzanians and other African leaders committed to education. Since it's inception in 2001, over $600,000 has been raised in its mission to support the education of girls in Africa.

The organisation will also be one of the non-profits that will benefit from funds raised through Eat So They Can 2009.

At the young age of 11, Ashley first witnessed the devastating effects of extreme poverty when visiting Tanzania with her family. With a lack of access to education, very few girls in Tanzania are able to obtain education beyond primary school level, being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential for creating greater futures for themselves and their families. Moved by what she saw, young girls her own age working instead of being schooled, Ashley became determined to do something about the suffering she saw and several years later AfricAid came into being. Starting out by raising scholarship money for young girls the same age as herself, she has expanded to support more students, schools and educational initiatives.

Returning to Tanzania almost every year, Ashley is firmly committed to helping equip young girls with the necessary education and skills that will lead them to a bright future. Ashley commented that her favourite aspect of her work is "Being here for the long-haul, and in the process watching as the small opportunities we provide are translated into big change, growth and transformation."

Looking to the future, Ashley envisions that education provided for the young girls will play a crucial role in creating opportunities for them to transform their lives and the futures of their communities, that their "Confidence in their ability to do great things in their lives…as they become leaders and mothers and teachers, they will recognize the power of their own voice," said Ashley.

Ashley's dedication to the future of these young women is inspirational. Through Eat So They Can, we are looking forward to helping Ashley and AfricAid nurture the education and dreams of the young women who benefit from AfricAid initiatives, and ultimately, in helping to empower them to shape the futures they desire for themselves.

For more on how Ashley is driving change, please visit the AfricAid website, www.africaid.com.

 

Jenn Winter: Eat So They Can Host, 2008

 

Raising big bucks for Eat So They Can, the record for most donations raised by an ESTC host goes to Jenn Winter who raised just under an incredible $8000US! What a fantastic amount Jenn, well done!

A previous GVN volunteer, Jenn spent six months in Kenya last year working with our partner and their orphanages, witnessing first hand just how great the need is. Jenn says the Eat So They Can fundraiser holds a very special place in her heart and the best part about being a host was that it gave her an opportunity to reconnect, "I guess since leaving Kenya I have this need to somehow stay connected and active in the work that I was doing when I was there."

Jenn's event was a simple affair, held in her parents' garden with good food, good company and being able to raise awareness of child poverty as well as a phenomenal amount of money for the African Children's fund. In commenting on what really touched her guests, Jenn noted, "The media at our party is what did the trick. I had a slide show of some of my photos of the kids from Kenya playing on a loop along with some Kenyan music playing. We had the DVD from GVN Foundation playing on a loop, too." Adding a few Kenyan mementos for some African detail, Jenn's event is a great example of the simplicity and the spirit of Eat So They Can.

Jenn, along with all our hosts and their guests this year did an incredible job. Their kindness, generosity and compassion means that children all over Africa will benefit tremendously from the funds raised this year; these donations will help save lives.

 

Bernadette Gavin: Eat So They Can host, 2008.

 

We would like to introduce Bernadette, one of our hosts for the 2008 Eat So They Can campaign.

With an appetite for social change, Bernadette first heard of ESTC through a close friend who has volunteered in India with Global Volunteer Network and decided to be part of Eat So They Can by signing up to host a meal.

When not busy planning her ESTC event, Bernadette is a massage therapist, artist, surfer and mother, all whilst running an Eco Retreat in Raglan, New Zealand with her partner.

The scenic outdoor location near the town centre of Raglan and the fresh fruit and vegetables kindly donated by a local organic shop captures the community spirit of ESTC. Not only will people be bringing food to this event, there will also be some quick snacks and easy to cook food available, giving everyone the opportunity to become involved, share something delicious and healthy and help change the lives of African children, "We are hoping for a fine day and we feel it is going to be a great event." said Bernadette.

In keeping with the African theme, Bernadette also has plans to exhibit some African photography as well as having some African beats in the background to set the mood for what is looking to be the most unique day in the park this year!

We wish Bernadette, and all our hosts this year the best of luck with their events.

In signing up to be an Eat So They Can host, Bernadette and her guests are agents of change through something as simple as sharing a meal. They are making a stand against child poverty and hunger; they are changing the lives of children in Africa one dinner at a time.

 

Ana Dodson, Peruvian Hearts Founder: "Being a leader is an action, not a position"

 

We got to know and love Ana Dodson when she volunteered in the GVN Foundation office. Ana worked on GVN's Stop Child Poverty advocacy campaign and later went on to be the Youth Ambassador for the campaign. This young gun certainly has the 'it' factor and there is no doubt she will change the world. In fact she already is, through her own non-profit organisation - Peruvian Hearts. We are extremely proud to have Ana as a friend and Eat So they Can Ambassador.

At age 11, Ana Dodson founded Peruvian Hearts, a non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of life of orphans in Peru through better nutrition, health care and opportunities for education.

Ana was born in Peru and was adopted by an American family after her birth mother passed away when she was 3. Her family took her on a trip back to Peru when she was 11 years old because they wanted her to embrace her heritage. This was the beginning of Ana's Journey.

Since starting Peruvian Hearts, Ana, with the help of others, have collected over $100 000 in money and donations. Ana has won several awards for her work including, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in which she was awarded $1000. "Winning $1000 has given me the opportunity to use the money to set up a scholarship fund for girls who want to go on with their education. I am calling the fund Maria's Gift in honour of my birth mother as she never had the opportunity to learn how to read and write," said Ana. Many people have told Ana she is a born leader although she describes herself as a very shy person, she has learned to make speeches and ask for donations by reminding herself that everything she asks for and that the work she is doing is saving the children.

"Peruvian Hearts has taught me that even when one sees a situation that appears to be hopeless there is still hope. I believe that each person can change the world a little bit at a time. Our motto is "changing the world one heart at a time".

Awards

1. BR!CK Award finalist, March 2008 (winner pending)
2. Kids With Heart Award for community service, February 2007
3. E-Town E-chievement Award for community service, January 2007
4. Given the Paul Harris Award by the Evergreen, Colorado Rotary Club for contributions to worldwide service, 2006.
5. Stop Child Poverty Youth Ambassador for GVN Foundation, September, 2006-Present.
6. Prudential Spirit of Community Award - Chosen as the state of Colorado Junior High School representative and later named one of the top 10 youth service volunteers in the United States, 2005.
7. Gloria Barron Young Hero Award - This award honors youth for service to humanity or the environment. September, 2005
8. Awarded a Kids Who Care Award - Channel 9 News, Denver, CO. 2004.

> Peruvian Hearts