The GVI National Scholarship Program  has seen some healthy donation in recent months which has allowed us to start seeking partners and agreement to expand the program. We are however presently seeking further sponsorship for training placements, or indeed training placements from educational institutions to allow us to continue to expand the program. The objective is to be able to allow select under-privileged young adults from the Australia, have already shown initiative within their own communities, further opportunities to help increase their awareness regarding global and local issues, facilitate an opportunity for them to help make direct impact on those issues and empower them to continue making impact once their scholarship is finished, either within their own communities or through developing a career in their chosen field. As our Trust grows in both scale and reputation we are finally accessing the funding required to both maintain our present commitments globally and initiate some of our other longer term aims. Especially in regard to sponsoring training programs within all the countries we work. We are presently working on the selection criteria and application process for applicants and hope to be able to invite applicants over the summer for the first round of training placements for Australian applicants. http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/national-scholarship-program-australia/

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.

This has been by far the most successful period. In six months we have raised nearly as much as we did the whole 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. This includes 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 see impoverished students complete primary education to earn 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.

• GVI Charitable Trust Annual Report (PDF)
  

The GVI Charitable Trust National Scholarship Program supports projects around the world benefitting disadvantaged people and providing opportunities for them to receive education and training which will lead to long term improvements for them, their communities and environments.

For example in Nicaragua where we work with poor rural communities . Support for the GVI Charitable Trust has helped us to construct two schools providing first time or re-enforced education for hundreds of children who may otherwise go without.

Recently in Nicaragua scholarships were provided for children as they progress into their secondary education which offset the costs of uniforms, transport and equipment making it possible for them to continue their education.

As we now expand the National Scholarship program to Australia we aim to here too provide opportunities for disadvantaged individuals which will help them to undergo training and create opportunities which will open doors and lead to positive developments. Many thanks to everyone who supports us in this endeavour.