Partners

GVN Foundation and ESTC would not exist without our amazing partners. Our partners come from every corner of the world but they all have one thing in common - they are committed and passionate about creating social change in their communities. We are proud to introduce the individuals and organization who will benefit from the ESTC funds you raise.

 

 

Aberdare Ranges School: Cassandra Treadwell

 Cassandra Treadwell (Center)- Aberdare Ranges School Director
 

Cassandra Treadwell is the Director and Founder of Aberdare Ranges School in Northern Kenya. Due to her vision almost 80 children (and soon many more) are now receiving an education in Northern Kenya. Most of these children are disadvantaged and come from the nearby Pipeline IDP Camp.
 

 "It was just so nice to be able to do something (through Eat So They Can) that will make life a bit easier for the incredible children of Africa." -Cass  

VICDA, Kenya: Irene Wairimu

Irene - VICDA

 

Irene Wairimu is the Executive Director of our partner organization, VICDA, in Kenya and is a tireless, hardworking and incredible woman. Irene started VICDA in 2003 and is involved in assisting 60 different schools and orphanages throughout Kenya working with vulnerable children and marginalized communities.

 

"I was inspired to start VICDA because I came from a poor background and I never knew that there could be a better life." - Irene.

 

 

Faith Victory Association, Rwanda: Dr Immaculate Mukatete and Mwanafunzi M Willy

Dr Immaculate Mukatete - FVA

 

FVA works with the local community and all stakeholders to put in place mechanisms that eradicate poverty, that promote public health and that build capacity of women and children. 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 was compounding this.

 

"More and more women were becoming widowed and children were becoming orphaned due to the pandemic. This was adding to the already big number of widows and orphans resulting from the Genocide of 1994. FVA was therefore formerd to bring together people of different backgrounds to fight against poverty and the HIV/AIDS." - Dr Immaculate Mukatete.

 

 

 

Mercy Ministry Home, Ethiopia: Namrude and Eyob

Mercy Ministry Home

 

Mercy Ministry Happy Children's Home was founded in 2005 in response to the growing numbers of street children in Ethiopia. MMHCH is a home and rehabilitation center for street children where the 8 children who currently live there can receive food, clothing shelter and education.

 

"When we looked at these kids without proper education, food, health, low self esteem, we decided to do our part to reach these children and change the situation they live in." - Eyob.

 

 

 

AfricAid, Tanzania: Ashley Shuyler

Ashley - AfricAid

 

Since returning from a photographic safari to Tanzania in 1996, and forming AfricAid, Ashley has worked tirelessly to help students throughout Tanzania and East Africa. AfricAid is a nonprofit organization that supports girls’ education in Africa in order to provide young women with the opportunity to transform their own lives and the futures of their communities. In support of its mission, 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.

 

"After learning that only about 5% of girls in Tanzania are able to complete a secondary school education, I quickly realized how privileged American children are to receive an education, and became determined to find a way to help provide young African girls with their own educational opportunities." - Ashley.

 

 

 

ZOTE, South Africa: Nyawira Tshivhengwa

Nyawira - ZOTE

 

Nyawira is the co- founder and Director of ZOTE Investments and Projects, South Africa and spearheads the education and Management Department. She has extensive experience in education administration and management.

 

ZOTE have a number of children's homes, day care centres and schools that they are helping through Eat So They Can. From making sure there are enough baby suppplies, to educational supplies and building materials for care centres, Nyawira and Tshifhiwa work to help the organizations they are involved with to the best of their capabilities.

 

"We are grateful to be a part of ESTC, and the community will benefit tremendously." - Nyawira.

 

 

 

The Real Uganda, Uganda: Leslie Weighill

Leslie - Real Uganda

 

Leslie was a former GVN volunteer herself on the Ghana Teaching program. During her program she recognized the scale of the work that needs to be done in Africa and returned to Uganda 4 months later.

 

Once in Uganda, Leslie found a number of small non-governmental organizations and schools operating in Mukono District that were struggling to help local people with very few resources. The Real Uganda's reason to be is to provide skills and funding for local NGOs and schools on a consistent and on-going basis through its partnership with GVN.

 

"Thanks a tonne for the work you do." - Leslie.

 

 

 

CETU, Uganda: Angelo Kabunga

Angelo - CETU

 

CETU (Children’s Education Trust Uganda) was set up in 2005 by Angelo Kabunga and Sarah Harvey when Sarah was working as a volunteer in Uganda. Angelo is the Headmaster of Springs of Hope High School. He has been a science teacher for six years, spending the last year as Headmaster.

 

Angelo has done a fantastic job over the past few years building Springs of Hope High School, providing teachers and above all in making sure the children at CETU are happy, healthy, and receiving an education.

 

"Thanks to Springs of Hope High School, bright but needy kids are now getting a great education. This makes me feel very happy inside and pleased that this has come true." - Angelo.

 

 

 

Peruvian Hearts, Peru: Ana Dodson

Ana - Peruvian Hearts

 

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.

 

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 when she was a baby. 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.

 

"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. - Ana.

 

 

 

La Hesperia, Ecuador: Alexandra Hoeneisen

Le Hesperia Team

 

La Hesperia Biological Station and Reserve work to promote sustainable development through education. They recently completed La Hesperia Children Nursery! They are now working to create an elementary school for the local children inside the reserve as they believe that sustainable development is closely linked to education.

 

"Seven years ago I moved to La Hesperia Reserve, and ever since, conservation became not only my work, but my life." - Alexandra

 

 

VSN, Nepal: Kate Ale

VSN Nepal

 

Kate is the Project Funds Manager at Volunteer Service in Nepal. The mission of VSN is to work within communities to empower them and to make them self sufficient for their brighter future.

 

"Thank you so much for all your help and support, I cant tell you how much I appreciate it." - Kate.

 

 

Antardristi, Nepal: Vinita Adhikari

Vinita - Antardristi

 

Antardristi work in the field of mental health, and aim to empower youth and children to overcome various psychological problems and lead healthy lives.p>

 

"I strongly believe in individual strength, in the positive energy, which flows inside every individual which when tapped can help, solve personal problems. At Antardristi, we try to make individuals realize their own potential and give them the ability to solve problems and disorders by themselves." - Vinita.

 

 

GVN Vietnam: Viet Dang

Viet - GVN Vietnam

 

Our partner in Vietnam works with disadvantaged children in orphanages in Da Nang, Tam Ky and Tuy Hoa in Central and South Central Vietnam.

 

"Thank you very much for your efforts in fundraising for our program" - Viet.

 

 

CERV, Philippines: Raymund Villanueva

Raymund - CERV

 

The Center for Volunteerism in the Philippines was founded by Raymund, his wife, Pom and his sister-in-law, Eden. They combined their backgrounds in activism, journalism, teaching and human rights to create an organization to help Filipino communities better their quality of life. They are based in Quezon City and work both in the marginalized communities of the capital Metro Manila and in Romblon, one of the Philippines’ poorest provinces.

 

"It is always difficult to effect change in the Philippines. But these hardships are erased when we see schools completely rehabilitated, repaired or enhanced; when we see mangrove seedlings robustly growing and ecology being restored; patients regaining health; and volunteers crying while saying goodbye to new Filipino friends they've grown to love." - Raymund.

 

 

GVN Haiti: Nadine McNeil

Nadine - GVN Haiti

 

Nadine McNeil, a Jamaican author and humanitarian, has extensive experience working for the United Nations in a variety of operational roles. She joined the United Nations in 1986 and worked in Headquarters New York prior to her first overseas assignment to Kuwait, where she arrived 13 days after the cessation of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. 

 

Following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti this year, Nadine launched GVN Haiti. The goal of GVN Haiti is to bring in volunteers and resources to assist Haitians with rebuilding their lives. GVN Haiti have set up a community center in Jacmel which provides numerous services to the surrounding community ranging from English lessons to healthcare. GVN Haiti also works to support local orphanages, schools, rubble-removal projects and rebuilding projects.