Thank you to Vodafone for two months working full time for Quest4Change. All the hard work and effort I have put in during the last two months will continue to benefit our projects in Africa and South America for years to come. It’s been brilliant, thank you, Heather.
Recent posts
17:03 on March 10th 2010
Post | Comedy in Burma is no laughing matter
Burma’s most famous comedian, Zarganar is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence, after criticising the Burmese government’s handling of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The cyclone devastated the country – more than 140,000 people died and millions were made homeless. Zarganar organised relief for many villages which had received no official help. He was convicted of “public order offences”.
You can help Zarganar by letting the Burmese ruling Generals know people are concerned about him. Get the campaign’s free, pre-printed postcards from Equity (the UK trade union for performers) and send them to the Burmese Government. Artists and non-artists around the world are joining in the postcard campaign – get yours now from Equity. Ask for a bundle so your family and friends can join in too. For more information have a look at the film featuring UK comedian Andy Parsons talking about the campaign.
Tags: Burma, Comedy in Burma, Zarganar
Posted in Post
10:03 on March 9th 2010
Post | Congratulations Sam and Pat
Congratulations to Sam O’Kane and his father Pat who completed the Hasewater half marathon last Sunday, raising over £1,000 for Quest4Change. 100% of the money they raised will support projects which improve the lives of children and poor families living in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru.
Sam and Pat before starting the Hasewater Half Marathon
“It was a great run, the weather could not have been better and the scenery was beautiful!! Myself and my dad completed the course together managing to get a time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 33 seconds, which we were both happy with considering it was quite a hilly route!” Sam O’Kane
Well done and a huge thank you to Sam and Pat and everyone who has supported them for such a fantastic effort. The money they have raised will go towards the construction of new houses for the poorest families living in Villa Maria, giving them solid, warm, secure new homes. Donations will also be contributing to a summer recreation programme for the children of Villa Maria, providing workshops in sport, art, dance and music, which helps keep them off the streets and out of trouble.
Show your support and donate here
Find out more about our Children’s project in Villa Maria
Tags: Children's project Peru, Hasewater Half Marathon, Quest4Change.org, Sam O'Kane
Posted in Post
16:03 on March 8th 2010
Post | Benefit Gig for Joshua Orphan Care
Oxford Young Artists present “Soundpool – The New Generation”
A Benefit Concert for the Joshua Orphan Care Trust of Malawi – Get your tickets now!
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest nations. There are more than 500,000 orphans. Joshua Orphan care support community-driven sustainable development projects to assist HIV/AIDS orphans, vulnerable children, and their families in Malawi.
Joshua is running an ever-expanding programme of education, health, feeding, water and income-generation projects to address orphans’ needs. These programmes are tightly managed by an energetic team, who ensure that revenue is applied directly to address these projects. And you can support their fantastic work at this great evening of music.
Where: Tuesday 23rd March 2010, Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford
Time: 19.30
The details: The Oxford Young Artists perform a concert of exciting new works by:
Nicholas Hooper – Award winning local film music composer whose most recent projects include the fifth and sixth Harry Potter films
Helen Roe – Award winning composer and member of the Gemini Fellowship for composers
John Stringer – Internationally accredited composer and lecturer in music at York University
as well as pieces composed by members of the Oxford Young Artists.
Tickets £12 balcony, £10 stalls and £5 concessions. Get your tickets now.
Interesting in finding out more – visit the Joshua Website
Interested in volunteering on this project this summer- click here for more information.
Tags: Joshua Orphan Care, Nicholas Hooper, Quest4Change, Quest4Change.org, Volunteer in Africa, Volunteer in Malawi
Posted in Post
10:03 on March 5th 2010
Post | The Villa Maria team are kitted out
They’ve flown over 6,320 miles, have survived baggage reclaim and cancelled flights, but the Burgess Hill Town Football Club shirts have finally made it to Villa Mara, Peru.
The official handover
The shirts we handed over a couple of days ago by the current team of volunteers working out in Villa Maria to the Juan Velasco community who then went on to destroy the English volunteers in a suitable embarrassing game of football.
The Villa Maria team smash the Quest team
Quest4Change has been working with the Juan Velasco community in Villa Maria since 1999, their demon football team is made up of kids who we’ve worked with over the years and parents of many of the kids at the Quest school in Villa Maria. Once again our thanks go out to the fabulous Burgess Hill Town Football Club for their support and for donating five full football kits.
The Juan Velasco Team
As you can see from the pictures in Villa Maria they start them on their football young, I wonder if we can find any shirts that will fit baby Manuel?
Tags: Burgess Hill Town Football Club, Children's project Peru, Quest4Change.org, Villa Maria, Volunteer in Peru, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
11:03 on March 3rd 2010
Post | Grants for gap year’s
The Sir Philip Recklitt Educational Trust (SPRET) has grants and funds available to gap year students which can be put towards travel and expenses for projects both overseas and in the UK.
The Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust (SPRET)
The SPRET funds are only available to people residing in, or in full time education in the former East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull and Norfolk and any successful applicants must submit a report on the project undertaken after it has been completed.
For more information take a look at the SPRET website – http://www.spret.org – where you can find out how to apply.
Find out more about volunteering with Quest4Change in your Gap Year
If you are from Norfolk and have any questions contact spretrust@googlemail.com and if you are from the East Riding of Yorkshire/Hull contact hull@spret.org
Tags: Gap year grants, Quest4Change.org, SPRET, Volunteer in Africa, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
11:03 on March 1st 2010
Post | Introducing Sam and Patrick
My name is Sam O’Kane, I’m 18 years old and am a student currently in my first year at The University of Sheffield studying Civil and Structural Engineering. I enjoy a lot of outdoor sports such as cycling and running and also play squash at the University Club. I love football and am a Celtic fan thanks to my Scottish family, although that’s been bringing more misery than joy lately!
Sam and Pat are ready for the challenge
On the 7th March Myself and my father Patrick O’Kane will be running the Haweswater Half Marathon in the Lake District for the charity Quest4Change. It is hilly course run on road and boasting beautiful scenery all the way round. It will be the first half marathon I have run and we are very much looking forward to it, mainly due to the free mug of tea at the end of it!!
The Hasewater Half Marathon is a challenging but beautiful course.
We are running for Quest4Change as we are a great fans of the work and projects they fund worldwide. The money we raise will be going towards the Villa Maria construction project in Peru which I will be working on this summer.
Over 200,000 children have had an afternoon's fun swimming thanks to Quest4Change
Quest4Change started working in Villa Maria in 1997, providing a programme of summer activities for children in the district. The aim is to give these children a focus for their free time, reducing the risk of them falling into bad habits such as drugs and crime. From the project’s beginnings offering 2 months of games during the summer holidays in its first few years, this project now provides year round workshops in sport, art, dance and music, as well as after school clubs to help with school work.
When visiting different communities within Villa Maria they saw the need for improvement in many of the houses in the area, particularly those of vulnerable single mothers. They have since managed to build 25 houses for families, giving them solid, warm, secure new homes. This is the project I am going to be working on.
Volunteers constructing new homes in Villa Maria
The money I raise and my time as a volunteer with Quest4Change is going to make a great difference to some of the families living in Villa Maria. Any donations we receive will go a long way to improving the lives of those in need. For more information you can visit my page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/samokane.
Find out more about how you can volunteering on this project.
Tags: Children's project Peru, Gap Years, Hasewater Half Marathon, Quest4Change.org, Villa Maria, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
11:02 on February 25th 2010
Post | Driving rain and hail doesn’t put Scott off
This April Scott Osborn will be donning his trainers and running the first ever Brighton Marathon. The route will take Scott through the city, along the coast and back again before he finishes his epic 26mile journey at the famous Brighton Pier. And he won’t be alone, he is one of 12,000 runners who are hoping to make history, achieve personal goals and raise considerable sums for charity by taking part in this event.
Scott's still smiling even after the rain and hail.
Scott, who works as a freelance IT consultant based in Ipswich, has decided to get involved in the Brighton Marathon to raise funds for the charity Quest4Change, an international grassroots charity working in Africa and South America, fighting poverty and the destruction of the environment.
Scott has been training hard in preparation for the big day and faced the elements down in Brighton over the weekend whilst running a Half Marathon in the driving rain and hail. But this hasn’t put Scott off, far from it, he’s ready for the challenge, so we asked him, what is his reason for running for Quest4Change?
“We live such a comfortable and easy life in the West and it’s very easy for us to forget some of our less well-off relatives, I believe Quest4Change is trying to readdress this balance. I’m looking forward to running with thousands of people and all the enthusiasm and energy that brings. But I have to say I’m dreading those last 4-6 miles when the ‘Wall’ of running low on energy is starting to seriously kick in!!”
New homes being built in Peru
Scott is aiming to raise £600, 100% of which will directly go to the projects the charity supports, like the work they do with children in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru. For over 14 years now Quest4Change has been working to improve the lives of these children, they have provided over 200,000 children with activities to keep them off the streets and away from the lure of drugs and crime. They have also established a primary school where over 100 children receive a free or subsidised education and their most recent project is tackling the appalling living conditions many of the poorest family’s experience, by building low cost housing for those worst off.
Children working hard at the Quest school
Now not all of us are like Scott and have the desire and determination to run 26miles to raise funds for charity, but all of us can support him from our arm chairs by donating anything from £5-£500 to his fundraising appeal, it’s cost £15 a month or just £180 a year to give a child in Villa Maria an education, and for just £500 you can help build a new home for a family. Your support will make a real difference in their lives and will boost Scott as he hits the wall at mile 20.
If you would like to support Scott please visit his online fundraising page http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ScottOsborn
To find out more about this project and how you can get involved visit www.quest4change.org or call Heather Rayment on 01273 777206 e-mail heather@questoverseas.com
Tags: Brighton Marathon, Charity fundraising, Children's project Peru, Quest4Change, Quest4Change.org, Scott Osborn
Posted in Post
10:02 on February 24th 2010
Post | The Power of Half
I am a regular reader of the fantastic site Optimist.com which if you are an optimist – or aspire to be one – you will find as a breath of fresh air, they cover daily good news headlines, inspiring stories, promote charities, and spread optimistic stories from all over the world.
Their regular e-mail is a great tonic and this morning one story in particular caught my eye. The Power of Half is the true story of Salwen family, from Atlanta, Georgia, who is 2007 sold their $2 million home and moved into a property half the size and with half the status, donating the difference to anti-hunger efforts in Ghana.
The family tell us on their blog about the experience “Through The Power of Half, our family set out to make a small difference in the world and ended up transforming ourselves. We found that creating a “half” project was an amazing powerful tool to building deeper connections and trust among us.”
It started with a comment that daughter Hannah, who was 14 at the time, made when she saw a homeless man begging on the street beside a Mercedes. “Dad, if that man”—she pointed to the Mercedes—“had a less nice car, that man there”—she pointed to the homeless man—“could have a meal.” Kevin, the quintessential modern dad, recognized a teachable moment: “But you know if we had a less nice car, he could have a meal.”
Now Kevin and Hannah Salwen have written ‘The Power of Half, One Family’s Decision to Stop Talking and Start Giving Back’, a book with a big concept – if you can’t give up half your home, what about half your wardrobe, half your car? What can you live without? In an age of recession following an era of conspicuous consumption, it’s a novel and timely idea.
And you can buy it in support of Quest4Change, just click through this link and follow it to the store of your choice and at no extra cost to you a percentage of the sale will go directly towards supporting our projects in Africa and South America. Inspiration and a donation to charity in one go – Brilliant!
Yes, that’s right, you can shop online with massive retailers like M&S, Amazon and many more and raise valuable funds for our projects. You can access over 100 leading retailers using our webshop and every time you’ll automatically earn money for us! You don’t pay anything extra, so please try to use it whenever you can.
Find our webshop at buy.at/Quest4Change (please bookmark this link for future use).
Tags: Optimist.com, Quest4Change.org, Shop for charity, The Power of Half
Posted in Post
09:02 on February 22nd 2010
Post | A powerful weapon against poverty
For years education has been spoken of as the most important means of transforming lives. It is a powerful weapon against poverty, ignorance, and conflict. It is the ultimate weapon for change, encouraging, nurturing and inspiring young minds to reach their full potential and make their communities and the world a better place to live in. Understandably education is at the heart of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which aim that by 2015 every child will be able receive a primary education and why this year with your support we aim to double the number of children at the Quest school in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru.
The children in Grade 3 working hard
As you may know, the charity La Vida works in partnership with Quest4Change and is sponsoring 26 very disadvantaged children to attend the Quest school in Villa Maria, Lima, Peru. Last year they launched a scheme whereby individuals can sponsor a child themselves through La Vida. Sponsors receive photos, an update on the child’s progress through the year, and news from the school through videos and other messages. As a result of the scheme another 20 kids were able to attend the school in 2009, which had 70 pupils on its books at the end of the year. The new school year begins in March and there is capacity for 120 children in total at the school, so if anyone else would like to become a sponsor for 2010 please get in contact with La Vida as soon as possible via email at sponsorachild@lavida.org.uk or our Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/sponsorvillamaria.
Edy and Aylyn - Two of the children sponsored through La Vida
The cost is £180/year or £15/month. There are more details on the project on our website: www.http://www.lavida.org.uk.
Quest4Change has been working in Villa Maria for over 14 years now, over the years this project has grown from providing two months worth of sporting and recreational activities for local children during their summer holidays to running year round workshops in sports, arts and music. We also established a pre and primary school which provides free and subsidised education to 100 children, who due to circumstance beyond their control would otherwise receive no formal education at all. And our most recent project is tackling the appalling living conditions of many of these children, through a targeted community led programme of home construction. To find out more about this project and others, click here.
Your support will make a real difference, thank you.
- Summer activities have reached out to over 200,000 children.
Find out more about volunteering on this project.
Tags: Child sponsorship, Children's project, Children's project Peru, Gap Years, La Vida, Peru, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Peru
Posted in Post
09:02 on February 19th 2010
Post | Support La Vida
La Vida are a fantastic charity who sponsor 50 of the children at the Quest school in Villa Maria. This was Quest4Change’s first project and we have been working in Villa Maria, Peru for 14years now.
Over the years we have taken over 200,000 kids swimming
Our projects help the children of this, one of the world’s largest shanty towns, escape and avoid the prevalent drugs culture. If you would like to participate in a 10K run in London on Sunday the 11th of July and raise funds for the projects La Vida supports (http://www.facebook.com/l/60f8a;www.lavida.org.uk), you can get in touch with them through their facebook group, they would love to hear from you!
From La Vida:
The race was a lot of fun last year, so please help us beating the money raised in previous occasions. The money always goes a long way!
We have guaranteed 18 places for the race and you can sign up now to secure your place.
The entry fee is £30 per person, (which La Vida has already prepaid on your behalf). We have now set up the page in Justgiving for the London 10K run, please find the link below, which you can use to pay the entry fee please.
http://www.facebook.com/l/60f8a;www.justgiving.com/LaVida10K2010
In the past, people have set up their own pages in JustGiving to raise funds for La Vida, so probably best to carry on with the tradition. All we ask is that you raise a minimum of £150.
Please forward this onto anyone that may be interested in raising funds for us, getting fit and also having lots of fun.
Thanks very much
La Vida team
Tags: 10k run, Children's project Peru, La Vida, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
10:02 on February 18th 2010
Post | In need of some inspiration?
It’s Thursday, it’s raining and I don’t know about you but I’m in need of a bit of inspiration this morning.
Jane Goodall is Patron of the UK charity Friends of Inti Wara Yassi, one of Quest4Change’s partner charities working to support the work of Inti Wara Yassi at their animal sanctuaries in Bolivia. Jane is an English primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. She is well-known for her 45-year study of chimpanzee social and family interactions in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, and for founding the Jane Goodall Institute.
Here she talks about how we all make a difference every day with what we do – it is a great interview to inspire on a Thursday.
Interested in volunteering on an animal refuge in Bolivia? Find out how you can get involved here.
Also find out how you can make a difference by helping to conserve nature reserves in Swaziland this April.
Tags: Conservation volunteering, Jane Goodall, Make a difference, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Bolivia, Volunteer in Swaziland
Posted in Post
11:02 on February 17th 2010
Post | Win a £500 donation for your charity challenge
realbuzz.com is giving charity challengers the opportunity to win £500 towards their fundraising goal. And it doesn’t matter what type of charity challenge you are undertaking; marathon, 5k, trek, triathlon or swimathon, as long as you are raising funds for a registered charity, you are eligible to enter.
Plus, as well as the winner, we will be selecting five runners up, and they’ll each receive a swanky realbuzz.com running vest – style, size and colour of their choice of course.
Steve is running this years Brighton Marathon to support orphans in Malawi through school
So if you are running, walking or cycling to raise money for Quest4Change why not log on an apply for a great boost towards your fundraising efforts?
Or if you were thinking about doing an event in aid of Quest4Change then that’s brilliant – and now is the perfect time to do it! Contact Heather for more information on how you can support us and all the great work we do.
Lucy cycled from London to Paris for Quest4Change
So, what do you need to do to win the £500?
To be in with a chance of winning, just login and tell us why your charity and your challenge should be the winner of the £500 prize. Easy…
Please note, you need to be a member of realbuzz.com and logged in to enter this competition. If you are not a member of realbuzz.com, it’s no problem, you can join here.
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Tags: Charity fundraising, Lucy Lapere, Quest4Change, Raise money for Malawi, realbuzz.com, Steve Robinson
Posted in Post
11:02 on February 15th 2010
Post | Rio Carnival – Be there next year with the boys of Casa Lar
Have you ever dreamed of being at the Rio Carnival? Well this years festival has launched with it’s usual bang and the BBC have released a fantastic selection of photo’s which you can see online here.
But why just dream of watching the carnival when you could be a part of it? Since 2006 Quest4Change have been working with the Mangueira Social Project during their particularly busy Rio carnival period. During this time we provide extra man power and financial support for the Tia Neuma school and Casa Lar de Mangueira a home for orphaned and abandoned boys with special needs.
Volunteers and the boys of Casa Lar preparing for Carnival '09
The Tia Neuma School is for gifted children of the Mangueira favela, the school provides the children with opportunities they would otherwise miss out on as a result of living in a favela. Our volunteers help out at the school during the busy carnival period, helping the children prepare for this event which is the highlight of their year. The main focus of this project however is the Casa Lar home for boys with physical and mental disabilities. Volunteers help the boys prepare for carnival and then get to join the boys on the parade as well.
Volunteers dressed up and ready for Carnival
Find out how you could volunteer for this once in a lifetime experience on this fantastic and challenging project now.
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Tags: Gap Year Brazil, Quest4Change, Rio Carnival, Volunteer in Brazil, Work with children with Disabilities
Posted in Post
10:02 on February 12th 2010
Post | Our supporters in Action for Haiti
Burgess Hill Town Football Club Vs The Albion
The fabulous Burgess Hill Town Football Club, who donated 5 sets of football shirts to our children’s project in the shanty town of Villa Maria, are hosting a charity football match in aid of Help for Haiti on Sunday the 21st of February. Find out more here.
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Tags: Burgess Hill Town Football Club, Children's project Peru, Quest4Change, The Albion
Posted in Post
13:02 on February 11th 2010
Post | 20 years ago today one man led the way
Its difficult to put into words exactly the impact that Nelson Mandela has had, not just on South Africa, but on the world as a whole. It’s not difficult because the words aren’t there to describe him, they are, Brave, Courageous, Forgiving, Inspirational, the list really is endless. It difficult because you don’t know which words are the most important, which ones you should use. Images perhaps are a better tool, the bbc’s audio slideshow definitely goes someway to explaining his impact, his legacy.
For me personally his greatest lasting effect will be inspiration. Whenever I read, hear or see something relating to Nelson Mandela I become inspired. My heart beats a little faster, I get excited by the knowledge that I can make a difference. Nelson Mandela inspires us all to reach further, higher and to work hard for a better world.
Find out more about the charity I work for Quest4Change and how there making a difference.
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Tags: 20 years ago today, Be inspired, Nelson Mandela, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
12:02 on February 10th 2010
Post | Conservation in Peru – get involved!
Rainforests are the world’s powerhouses, the most vital habitats on the planet. Characterised by high rainfall, they only cover 6% of the Earth across the tropical regions, but they contain more than half of its plant and animal species. Fast-growing trees form a dense canopy that prevents much sunlight reaching the forest floor and discourages undergrowth. The canopy is where it’s at, and it hums with an incredible diversity of life (bbc.)
Working with the Crees Foundation Quest4Change aims to reduce the destruction of the Peruvian Amazon by alleviating poverty in local communities by bringing economic, social and environmental harmony to the Manu region, and you can get involved.
What’s the problem? A large amount of land in the Manu region has been logged and cleared for pasture or farming. This quickly depletes the nutrients in the soil resulting in the land being abandoned and farmers and loggers moving onto new virgin forest areas. As a result the land is abandoned and left unused, whist more pristine rainforest goes on to be destroyed.
How Quest4Change helps. By working with CREES we aim to rehabilitate this land for local communities by creating Polycultures. Firstly a garden containing many crops is planted, locals can sell this produce to visiting tourists as well as feeding their own families. After a few years trees are then planted with the vegetables. This system of using multiple crops in the same space imitates the biodiversity of natural ecosystems and makes crops more resistant to disease, thus increasing the annual yield and it provides habitats for more local species.
Find out more about how you can get involved in this sustainable project.
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Tags: Conservation volunteering, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Peru, Volunteer in the Amazon
Posted in Post
13:02 on February 8th 2010
Post | Volunteer with animals in Bolivia – Are you interested?
Working with Inti Wara Yassi in Bolivia, Quest4Change helps to protect, rehabilitate, and where possible re-releases into the wild animals that have been rescued from ill treatment and inhumane captivity.
Volunteer working in Bolivia
What’s the problem? Animals in Bolivia are often kept illegally, exotic animals are traded on the black market with little care as to their well being, they have often been abused which can result in permanent disabilities meaning that they would die without our help.
How Quest4Change helps: We have been working with Inti Wara Yassi since 2003, providing much needed financial and volunteer support. Volunteers have spent thousands of man hours caring for, feeding and rehabilitating 1,000 of rescued animals from Monkeys to Pumas. When re-release into the wild is not a possibility our aim is to make their lives as comfortable as possible through the construction of bespoke cages.
Ambue Ari 2009
Are You Suited to Working in an Animal Sanctuary?
If you love animals and want to stand up for animal rights, you may want to explore the possibilities of volunteering in an animal sanctuary or for an animal rights organisation. This is a great option for people who are looking to make a career out of caring for animals but need more hands on experience with animals.
To work in an animal sanctuary you need to have a huge love of animals. The work can be hard and somewhat draining, so a true desire to help animals will make this so much easier. As well as loving spending time with animals, it is important to be compassionate. Rescued animals have sometimes been through hard times. They may be traumatised and have behavioral problems. Patience and empathy are needed to help these animals.
Find out more about this Project and how to Volunteer in Bolivia with Quest4Change.
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Tags: Animal Sanctuary project, Volunteer in Bolivia
Posted in Post
15:02 on February 5th 2010
Post | The shirts are on their way
This years Villa Maria Gap volunteers headed out to Peru on Wednesday and flying with them were 5 sets of football shirts from Burgess Hill Town Football Club.
Pictured (left to right) Gary (BHTFC) Jon and Simon (Quest Overseas) and Heather (Quest4Change)
The Club donated the shirts to Quest4Change at the end of last year after their Commercial Manager Garry Newton, walked in off the street one day to find out more about what we do. Garry then got Chief Exec Gary Croydon involved and before we knew it five full sets of shirts had been delivered to our offices in Hove. The shirts flew out early on Wednesday and have safely arrived. They will be making their way to our Children’s project in the shanty town of Villa Maria in the next couple of weeks.
Jon handing the shirts over to the volunteers at Heathrow
Quest4Change started working in Villa Maria in 1997, providing a programme of summer activities for children in the district. The aim is to give these children a focus for their free time, reducing the risk of them falling into bad habits such as drugs and crime. From the project’s beginnings offering 2 months of games during the summer holidays in its first few years, this project now provides year round workshops in sport, art, dance and music, as well as after school clubs to help with school work. The donation of the shirts came at the perfect time as the community has just launched it s latest initiative, a community football league and these shirts from Burgess Hill Town FC will give a real boost to the newly formed teams. Our thanks go to Garry, Gary and everyone at BHTFC for their support.
Interested in volunteering in Villa Maria? Click here to find out more.
Interested in supporting this project? Well there’s loads of ways to get involved – visit quest4change.org for some inspiration.
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Tags: Burgess Hill Town Football Club, Children's project Peru, Corporate Support for Charity, Quest4Change, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
13:02 on February 4th 2010
Post | Swaziland Introductions Update from Shewula
The Shewula community are moving ahead with the plan to introduce 6 giraffe into the Shewula Nature Reserve using funds from Quest4Change volunteers. They’ve had a series of meetings with the community and the chiefs inner council. The rules have been finalized and now the document must be signed by the chief after a community general meeting.
To protect the new introductions from poachers the community have mobilised volunteers from different areas who will start working on law enforcement after the appropriate training.
The 6 giraffe are set to be released in May 2010 which coincides with the Quest Overseas Gap Team. Check out how you can volunteer on the project here and have the chance to be part of this important event which will help Shewula which is Swaziland’s first community eco-tourism project.
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Tags: Conservation in Africa, Quest4Change, Swaziland Game Reserve project, Volunteer in Africa
Posted in Post
12:02 on February 1st 2010
Post | Making a difference in Rio
Quest4Change has been working with the Mangueira social project in Rio de Janeiro since 2006, providing extra man power and financial support for 17 physically and mentally disabled boys who live at the specialised care home of Casa Lar during their busy Carnival period.
The boys of Casa Lar 2009
Last year was a very difficult one for the boys with regular funding from the governement failing to materialise due to the world-wide recession. This meant that the boys were living without even the basic supplies they needed to be free of pain and distress. Casa Lar is a model institution when it comes to the care of mentally and physically handicap children in Brazil and we here at Quest4Change are determined to keep the home open and running efficiently.
Carnival 2009
Since last summer we have been working hard to support the home, volunteer and supporter donations over over £3,500 last year helped the home through a very difficult period and I am delighted to let you know that due to two further generous donations the good work is continuing.
Every penny donated to this project goes directly towards improving the lives of the boys of Casa Lar. All these donations, both large and small have been a real lifeline to the boys and I want to say thank you to everyone who has lent their support to this project, in particular Mr and Mrs White and The Marr-Munning Trust.
Your support has helped make a real difference in the boys lives. Thank you.
Find out how you can get involved here. Find out how you can support this project.
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Tags: Making a difference in Rio, Quest4Change, Thank you, Volunteer in Brazil
Posted in Post
10:01 on January 29th 2010
Post | Are you a birdman?
This August enthusiastic souls from across the UK will descend on the little seaside town of Worthing to fling themselves from the end Pier whilst dressed in ridiculous outfits, from a crocodile to the van from only fools and horses.
The Birdman is a flight competition for human powered flying machines held each summer in the picturesque seaside town of Worthing on England’s South Coast.
Lee Taylors photo from the 2009 competition
Many flyer’s take part to raise money for charities, other design complex machines to aim for the distance prizes. A substantial prize of £30,000 is offered for the furthest flight should a birdman achieve over a 100 metre distance.
There are three Classes that can enter the competition:
Leonardo Da Vinci Class is for self/team-designed built and innovative craft. This class allows one flight each day; however on the Saturday competitors can choose not to fly if conditions are unfavourable.
Another great photo (credit Lee Taylor)
Condor Class is for modified hang-gliders and similar craft. This class will fly on both days and the current birdman champion is a Condor competitor.
Kingfisher class is open for fun flyer’s and is a great way to earn more money for charity. Individuals and teams of two can enter this category; the prizes are not awarded for distance but for the entertainment value of the flight. The public can also vote on this category to crown a people’s choice winner.
We here at Quest4Change are getting a team together, from builders to flyer’s, this is your change to get involved – contact Heather for more information.
Tags: Birdman of Worthing, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
11:01 on January 27th 2010
Post | Congratulations Emma
Well done to Emma Taylor for completing her first Marathon on Saturday in support of our Children’s project in the Shanty town of Villa Maria Peru.
Emma got in touch to let us know how it went:
“I am happy to say I have run my first marathon! It was tough – a lot more hills than expected and the long stretch or shingle beach at mile 20 something was not my friend!! But in 5.5 hours I was the 12th fastest girl (I realised when I got there not many other girls actually do this kind of thing!) so I am stiff yet pretty proud.
Emma's the one in front.
Thank you all so much for your sponsorship it will really make a difference. And to those of you who were waiting to see if I actually did it to sponsor me… now is the time!”
Log on to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmmaTaylor
To find out more about the marathon and look at the pictures:
http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=29&location=77
Well done Emma!
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Tags: Children's project Peru, Emma Taylor, Portland Marathon 2010, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
14:01 on January 25th 2010
Post | EDUCATION FOR CIWY’S YOUNG PEOPLE – HELP GERMÁN BECOME A DOCTOR.
From: Laura
We all love animals. If we didn’t, why would we have come to Inti Wara Yassi? But the thing about CIWY is that it doesn’t matter who you are. If anyone needs help, animal or human, big toothed or small footed, smelly or clean, child, traveler or monkey, CIWY will offer that help if it can. And a huge part of CIWY is the home that it offers to underprivileged kids. Over the years this family has grown. At Ambue Ari there is Jaime, Germán, Oso, Agrippina, Eugenia, Maria, Magali and Christina, and in Machia there’s Rusber.
German
These kids work harder than any of us volunteers, they remember our names, they always welcome a newbie with a smile, they stick it out through floods, mosquitoes, filth and fire…they are always there and let’s be honest, when we are busy with our furry friends often we don’t give them the notice they deserve. Whilst we are swimming with pumas and climbing in trees with monkeys, they are building toilets and fixing the roof of your dorm, washing sheets and cooking your dinner, feeding the birds and sweeping the paths. When we are out in Santa Maria or already sleeping soundly in our beds, they are still doing their homework by candlelight.
They have a tough life; they get to watch all of us come and go, listen to the stories of the countries we have visited, the jobs we’ve had, the educations we’ve been given. Imagine how incredible it would be if we could help these young people benefit from some of the opportunities that we take for granted. They all have dreams that extend outside of CIWY. But they need our support to help realize them.
Germán wants to be a doctor. He graduated in 2009 and will hopefully begin medical school in Santa Cruz this March. He cannot do it by himself. Tuition and books alone cost about $2000 a year. Anything that we give will help to secure this future that he wants so much, and maybe even secure the futures of the rest of our young CIWY family as well. Please, if you can, send Germán your donations by clicking the SPONSER ME button. Alternatively, if you would like to give a little bit every month then you can either email youngpeopleCIWY@hotmail.com and I will send you a standing order form, or if you don’t live in the UK use PAYPAL with the email address heather@questoverseas.com. For larger donations, similarly email Heather at Quest4Change.
All money that is donated will go to the charity Quest4change and then directly to Bolivia to pay Germán’s expenses. I know that a lot of us Parkies are unemployed (myself included!) but anything you can spare will help!
Many of us give money to large charities, but here is an opportunity to do something personal. We know these kids. We have watched them grow up. When we are in the parks, it is easy to say that they are our friends. However when we leave, it is all too easy to forget. Now we have the chance to stay in touch. We can continue to watch them grow into adults and we can help them achieve incredible things. Anything that we donate will help to secure a future that Germán wants so much, and maybe even secure the futures of the rest of our young CIWY family as well
On the 12 and 13 June, there will be a camping weekend to help us remember our Bolivian home that often seems too far away. There will be dirt, laughter, singing, chicken, mucho rum and maybe some animals too. RECREATE CIWY IN THE WOODS OF ENGLAND! Put the date in your diaries now! An annual reunion is well overdue for us CIWYians, and hopefully we can raise some money for these kids at the same time. If you have any questions or want to get involved, please email me youngpeopleCIWY@hotmail.com.
Thank you so much for all the love and hard work that you have given to CIWY. Big smelly hugs all over the world!
Laura
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Tags: Inti Wara Yassi, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
16:01 on January 22nd 2010
Post | Find out more – Bolivian Animal Sanctuary Project
“We aim to protect and conserve vulnerable animals’ endangered habitats and areas of scientific and ecological importance”
Working with Inti Wara Yassi this project protects, rehabilitates, and where possible re-releases into the wild animals that have been rescued from ill treatment and inhumane captivity.
What’s the problem? Animals in Bolivia are often kept illegally, exotic animals are traded on the black market with little care as to their well being, they have often been abused which can result in permanent disabilities meaning that they would die without our help
How Quest4Change helps: We have been working with Inti Wara Yassi since 2003, providing much needed financial and volunteer support. Volunteers have spent thousands of man hours caring for, feeding and rehabilitating 1,000 of rescued animals from Monkeys to Pumas. When re-release into the wild is not a possibility our aim is to make their lives as comfortable as possible through the construction of bespoke cages.
Find out more about this project here.
Find out how you can volunteer on this project this year.
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Tags: Animal Sanctuary project, Gap Years, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Bolivia
Posted in Post
10:01 on January 21st 2010
Post | How a Gap Year can be a good year
This is a question which has been debated over and over again – is it worthwhile taking a Gap year? It’s easy to say no or yes outright but what actually needs to be discussed is not whether it is worthwhile taking a Gap Year but whether what you do with it is worthwhile:
Working: It’ll be a valuable experience, earn some money, learn that you don’t want to end up serving people drinks in a bar, inputting data or cleaning office for the rest of your life and inspire yourself to work as hard as you can at university to get your ideal job, the bonus is that you’ll have some cash to see yourself through university and won’t have to rely on your student loan so won’t exit with quite so much debt.
Travelling: Get out and about and see the rest of the world – the question is where are you going to go? And what are you going to do? Australia? It’s a well beaten path and you will be following in the footsteps on thousands of “Poms” who have travelled before you – it might be inspiring as Australia is a beautiful country. But it won’t be that challenging unless you take yourself off the beaten track.
Africa? Well, things are definitely getting more interesting, you could jump on the Baz Bus in South Africa and safely transport yourself from hostel to hostel whilst still experiencing a very different world. Or you get a wee bit more adventurous; why not start in East Africa? Fly into the madness of Dar a Salaam, Tanzania before heading to the Ngorongoro crater to see the big five, getting used to everything happening on “Africa time” and pushing your body to the limits whilst climbing Kilimanjaro.
Volunteers working with the local community in Kenya dam building.
South America? This is a continent of extremes, and is the continent for those looking for a really adventurous time. Firstly you have the opportunity to learn another language, Spanish or Portuguese or both, then you can challenge yourself physically on the well trodden but exceptionally worthwhile 4 day trek to Machu Picchu, visit the astoundingly beautiful Bolivian Salt flats before relaxing on the beach in Rio.
The Bolivian Salt flats
Volunteering? A fantastic way to see a different country whilst giving back, this option appeals to many young people taking a Gap Year, but remember, with that level of popularity for volunteering, there are bound to be both good and bad programs available. Ideally, a well-managed bit of volunteer work can help many projects that need a lot of willing hands and continued momentum, while funneling money into local economies. Volun- tourism can also be a cultural exchange that leads to greater understanding among people.
Gap Volunteers taking children from the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru swimming in their summer holidays.
So how do you choose a project that will work for you and the people you’ll be helping? Dr. Kate Simpson, a British academic who did her PhD research on voluntourism, has produced The Ethical Volunteering Guide to help potential volunteers identify a project that works for them and the place they want to visit. She says prospective voluntourists need to find out as much as possible about the work they will be doing as well as the organization they’ll be doing it for. Ask for both a project and a job description, whether the tour provider works with a local partner organization, and what support and training you will receive.
Volunteers in Malawi building a double classroom last summer.
Her Ethical Volunteering Guide also stresses the importance of investigating the organization’s policies on eco and ethical tourism, and how they are implemented.
A good volunteer project can make a real difference whist giving you the experience of a lifetime.
Remember: Whatever you decide to do, it’s your gap year so make the most of it.
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Tags: Build a school, Children's project Peru, Gap Years, Peru, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Africa, Volunteer in Bolivia, Volunteer in Kenya, Volunteer in Malawi, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
09:01 on January 20th 2010
Post | Fancy dress challenge
On Sunday the 18th of April the first ever Brighton Marathon will be taking place, the Quest4Change team is looking strong with Paul, Tom, Scott and Josh already training hard to raise much need funds for our projects in Africa and South America. To add an extra twist to the Marathon running theme the Brighton Marathon have just announced that they will be holding an official Fancy Dress Competition.
From the Brighton Marathon: For those of you who are intending to turn out on race day in something fancier than a vest and shorts, here’s a further incentive to go that extra yard.
Fancy dress inspiration
If you are planning to run in a fancy dress outfit, then on race morning at the start in Preston Park, there will be an opportunity for you to have a pre-race photo taken; this will act as your initial registration in the “Brighton Marathon Fancy Dress Competition”. However, your actual “entry” in to the competition is only confirmed when you finish the race in your costume!
My personal favourite from last year's London Marathon
Upon completion of the race in your costume we will have three judges on hand to select the three prize winners. There will be a presentation later in the day and cash prizes for a charity of your choice.
We still have one place left in the Brighton Marathon, so if you want to join our fab team contact Heather now to find out more.
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Tags: Brighton Marathon 2010, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
12:01 on January 19th 2010
Post | 4 day’s left until Emma’s marathon challenge
January is a month of resolutions but for some the resolutions were made months ago and now is a time for the final push. This is true of Emma Taylor who will be embarking upon the arduous Portland Marathon this weekend in support of our Children’s Project in Villa Maria, Peru. The children of Villa Maria live in one of the largest shanty towns in the world and suffer from the crippling effects of poverty which includes limited access to education.
Emma’s support will help run year round activities and after school clubs for these children and will support the Quest school where 100 children receive a free or subsidised education which would otherwise be unavailable to them.
Below is a video of the school, where the children are thanking their sponsors La Vida and Watson Wyatt for their support.
To support Emma click here.
To find out more about this project please click here.
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Tags: Children's project Peru, Emma Taylor, La Vida, New Years resolutions, Portland Marathon 2010, Quest4Change, Villa Maria, Watson Wyatt
Posted in Post
09:01 on January 18th 2010
Post | Danilo’s dropping the pounds.
. . . And raising them too.
Danilo - the scales don't lie
Danilo started his epic challenge back in November, and even though the Christmas period has come and gone with all it’s excesses he has managed to drop over 10kg to 128kg. Danilo is aiming to drop to 100kg and is taking on this challenge in order to raise money for the Villa Maria school in Peru. The school gives local children living in one of South America’s largest shanty towns the opportunity to get a pre – and primary school education which would otherwise be unavailable to them. Danilo is hoping to raise an epic £15,000 to help double the size of the school from 100 to 200 kids.
To drop the pounds he has been on a strict diet involving a lot of lettuce, and a strong intervention program by his friend Lucio has seen any “inappropriate” food disappear from his plate before he’s had the opportunity to get excited about eating it. Support him now by dropping some pounds into his online pot.
Danilo with his trainer Nena
Find out more about how you can get involved with Quest4Change here.
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Tags: Children's project Peru, Danilo gets thin for Villa Maria, Quest4Change, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
11:01 on January 15th 2010
Post | Local football shirts head to Peru
After receiving a very generous donation of 5 full sets of Burgess Hill Town Football Club shirts at the end of last year we are exciting to announce that the shirts will be flying out to our Children’s project in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru on Sunday. We first met with Garry and Gary from BHTFC in November 2009 when the aforementioned Garry walked in off the street to ask about what we do. Since then numerous ideas have emerged and hopefully over the years a strong collaboration between BHTFC and Quest4Change will be established to the benefit of both parties.
Pictured (left to right) Gary (BHTFC) Jon and Simon (Quest Overseas) and Heather (Quest4Change)
The shirts (pictured above) will benefit both youth and adult teams, who are currently forming a community league.
Quest4Change has been working in Villa Maria for 13years. Our projects help the children of this, one of the world’s largest shanty towns, escape and avoid the prevalent drugs culture. Find out more here.
Watch this space to follow the shirts journey out to Peru
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Tags: Burgess Hill Town Football Club, Children's project Peru, Corporate Support for Charity, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
09:01 on January 14th 2010
Post | Quest4Change is on the radio Today
Tune into Juice 107.2 from midday to hear Quest4Change’s Heather Rayment talking about the charity and picking her favourite tunes from the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. If your not from Brighton but want to listen it’s easy to listen online at juicebrighton.com
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Tags: Juice 107.2, Quest4Change, Radio in Brighton
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16:01 on January 13th 2010
Post | A christmas thank you from the Kids of Villa Maria
Well this seems to be one of the most terrifying Christmas experiences a child could possibly have – with a reindeer that size so close to me, I’d be blocking up the chimney! I’ve been assured however that the kids from our the Quest4Change Peruvian children’s project in Villa Maria, loved this day, and it was thanks to donations from Watson Wyatt and the charity La Vida which allowed them to put this event on.
So thanks to everyone as always, from all the kids and parents from the Quest school in Villa Maria.
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Tags: Children's project Peru, La Vida, Quest4Change, Watson Wyatt
Posted in Post
09:01 on January 13th 2010
Post | As the snow continues to bite…
. . . . lets spare a thought for rural Peruvians who are fighting for survival after a bitter winter.
From the guardian
Climate change is bringing freezing temperatures to poor villages where families have long existed on the margins of survival. Now some must choose whether to save the animals that give them a living, or their children.
For alpaca farmer Ignacio Beneto Huamani and his young family, life in the Peruvian Andes, at almost 4,700m above sea level, has always been a struggle against the elements. His village of Pichccahuasi, in Peru’s Huancavelica region, is little more than a collection of small thatched shelters and herds of alpaca surrounded by beautiful, yet bleakly inhospitable, mountain terrain.
The few hundred people who live here are hardened to poverty and months of sub-zero temperatures during the long winter. But, for the fourth year running, the cold came early. First their animals and now their children are dying and in such escalating numbers that many fear that life in the village may be rapidly approaching an end.
In a world growing ever hotter, Huancavelica is an anomaly. These communities, living at the edge of what is possible, face extinction because of increasingly cold conditions in their own microclimate, which may have been altered by the rapid melting of the glaciers.
A consequence is that Quechua-speaking farmers and their families, who have managed to subsist for centuries at high altitude, believe they may not make it through the next southern winter.
Children at the Quest Pre-School in Villa Maria
Find out more about Quest4Change’s children’s project in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru – Get involved - Volunteer
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Tags: Children's project Peru, Peru, Quest4Change, the guardian, The snow, Villa Maria, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
14:01 on January 12th 2010
Post | World of Difference – Day 1
It’s very exciting to have embarked on day 1 of the World of Difference UK experience and I have been so busy already that I know the time I spend working for Quest4Change over the next two months is going to make a real difference. Yesterdays event in London was a lot of fun and very inspiring. I was genuinely humbled by all of the people I met and the fantastic charities they have chosen to give their time to.
I'm part of the Brighton team.
I have spent this morning responding to e-mails from people wanting to volunteer at the CIWY animals refugee’s Quest4Change supports in Bolivia, organising Brighton Marathon fundraising packs and I’m about to get down to the nitty gritty of writing a fundraising strategy. There’s a lot of work to be done and the next few months are going to be incredible.
I'm in there somewhere
Keep coming back to my blog for all the latest news from the projects, I promise to be informative and fun, whilst letting you know how this support from Vodafone is helping me make a difference.
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Tags: Brighton Marathon 2010, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Bolivia
Posted in Post
11:01 on January 7th 2010
Post | 2009 – What an amazing year!
2009 was a fantastic year for Quest4Change and we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who made this happen.
In Africa an incredible five sand dams were built by the summer team in Kenya, in Malawi the Gap team finished the clinic house and spent hours working at the local orphan feeding centre. The summer team then continued their good work at the feeding centre and built a classroom for grades 3 and 4 in the village of Chitakale. In Tanzania the team built an income generating Tilapia pond for the school at Waang’waray and a classroom with an office attached.
Volunteer Amrit working hard in Malawi
In South America volunteers built five homes for come of the poorest families living in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru, as well as spending 100s of hours providing sporting and recreational activities for the local kids during their summer holidays. In Rio the team worked tirelessly in their preparations for carnival and came an incredible 6th. They also put their hard efforts into caring for the 17 disabled boys living at Casa Lar in the Mangueira favela.
Carnival preparations in Rio in full swing at Casa Lar
And the last ever team worked on the Ecuadorian Amazon Conservation project in Yachana, maintaining many of the projects that Quest began here as well as building a raised greenhouse to protect crops from flood damage.
And our fundraisers have been on incredible form.
- In Rio the team raised nearly £4,000 for the struggling Casa Lar.
- In Villa Maria the team raised an incredible £5,500 to save the life of Ana Mariela, a local girl with a life threatening tumor.
- An incredible £6,500 was raised at one salsa night in memory of Katie Ashbridge, a volunteer at Villa Maria back in 2000.
- Andy’s first ever Chicken week campaign raised over £1,000 for a chicken coup project at the school in Tanzania.
- Lucy Lapere raised over £1,000 by cycling from London to Paris.
- The staff at Watson Wyatt have also shown incredible support for the Villa Maria project by raising an incredible £2,600 through a cake sale and a further £2, 809 was raised at their fantastic salsa night in September.
- Ted Waite (pictured below) bared all to raise £345 for the boys of Casa Lar by doing the world famous Naked Bike ride through Brighton.
It really has been an incredible year. A huge thank you to everyone who has worked with and supported Quest4Change and were looking forward to an even more exciting 2010.
Find out more about what you’ve helped us achieve here.
Visit Quest4Change.org for more information on all the projects and how you can get involved.
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Tags: 2009 review, Build a home, Build a school, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Africa, Volunteer in South America
Posted in Post
09:12 on December 30th 2009
Post | Bolivians learning Chinese – But are the Chinese learning Bolivian?
Norma Ramos has a bathroom and kitchenware stall in a busy commercial sector of La Paz, Bolivia’s main city.
But she is no ordinary trader: she travels regularly to China to buy products to sell back home. Proud of her new expertise, she has already made more than seven trips. And, anxious to avoid the tyranny of translators and the expense of middlemen, she has taken Chinese lessons which, she says, have given her a great commercial advantage.
“I can now say – sell me this at the right price, and I want this kind of quantity, and I will return, and I will be able to speak more of your language next time,” says Ms Ramos. “And they have shown more interest and say they will give it to me cheaper next time.”
But who ultimately will benefit from closer ties with China? The Chinese are interested in Bolivia’s lithium (its home to 50% of all the worlds deposits) and they are specifically interested in the deposits found in the Uyuni desert(pictured below), high in the Andes.
Lithium is used in mobile phone batteries and in the new wave of electric cars. But China is not the only country interested and with the Bolivian President insisting that profits and jobs from the country’s rich mineral and natural resources should go to Bolivians and not foreign companies it will be interesting to see what happens.
Read the full article on the bbc website here.
Interested in visiting the Salt flats? Find out more about volunteering in Bolivia.
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Tags: Bolivians learning Chinese, China and Bolivia trading lithium, Lithium in Bolivia, Quest4Change, Volunteer in Bolivia
Posted in Post
13:12 on December 29th 2009
Post | New Year’s resolutions – what are you planning?
The end of the year has always been the time for looking back at the past and thinking about what you have achieved over the last year. And at this time of year lots of people make resolutions that they hope to follow through the coming year.
Volunteers building a sand dam with locals in Kenya this summer
But according to an article in the Guardian making resolutions is a near pointless exercise. Psychologists say this is because “We break them, become dispirited in the process and finally more despondent than we were before. Less than a quarter of those asked for a university study had managed to stick to their resolutions.”
Volunteers building a classroom in Malawi earlier this year
But on the other hand, people who kept their resolutions tended to have broken their goal into smaller steps and rewarded themselves when they achieved one of these. They also told their friends about their goals, focused on the benefits of success and kept a diary of their progress.
Here are ten of the most common New Years Resolutions:
- Spend more time for family and friends
- Loose weight
- Help others
- Quit Smoking/Drinking
- Travel
- Get a new job
- Learn something new
- Fall in love
- Enjoy life more
- Go green
Why not start the New Year with a resolution that will make a difference, not just in your life but also in the lives of others? Run the Brighton Marathon this year for Quest4Change. You train slowly, building up your endurance over time and at the end you get a huge sense of achievement. Not only will you improve your health your hard work and effort will help people living in poverty. Find out more about running the Brighton Marathon for Quest4Change now.
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Tags: Brighton Marathon 2010, New Years resolutions, Quest4Change
Posted in Post
12:12 on December 22nd 2009
Post | Emma Taylor is running the Portland Marathon for Quest4Change
On January 23rd Emma Taylor will be taking on the ultimate challenge in order to support Quest4Change’s Children’s project in the Shanty town of Villa Maria Peru. Not only will she be running her first Marathon but she has also picked one of the hardest to do, running off road, up cliffs and along pebble beaches in Portland. The Portland Marathon is a part of the Coastal Trail Series and is described thus,
“The terrain is comparatively easy going in places, but a few surprises such as a brutal and lengthy shingle beach run more than make up for this.”
Emma will be training hard over Christmas and when you’re eating your mince pies and drinking your mulled wine think of her running in the cold and ice. Find out more about why Emma is running this tough Marathon here.
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Tags: Children's project, Emma Taylor, Peru, Portland Marathon 2010, Quest4Change, Villa Maria
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18:12 on December 15th 2009
Post | Danilo is fighting the flab Rocky style!
For all of you who have taken part in our Villa Maria project in Peru, you will remember the ever present Danilo, and you will also remember that he was big! For all of you who don’t know who I’m talking about Danilo is our everyman in the Shanty town of Villa Maria Peru, he drives the school bus, fixes things when they break, manages volunteers day to day and everything in between. Nothing has changed we’re afraid, he’s still there, and even bigger than ever. Until this summer that is, Danilo has pledged to become thin by the end of this (Peruvian) summer.
Danilo the begining
Why, you may ask, he’s such a fan of food! Well the Quest school is growing fast and the classrooms in the building are no longer big enough to accommodate the ever increasing numbers they are accepting. The property next door has become available though and the team in Peru are keen to be able to snap it up as soon as possible, so they can keep doing the wonderful work they have been for over 10 year now.
Danilos first diet meal - Yum
So here’s the deal. Danilo currently weighs an unhealthy 140kgs (that’s around 22 stone!!!), he is aiming to drop down to a much more acceptable 100kgs by the end of March 2010 (about 15 stone). You can sponsor him for every kilo he drops, or pledge a certain amount only if he reaches the sacred 100. Sponsor him here.
Danilo after seeing his first diet meal
Want to know how Danilo is getting on in his battle to fight the flab and raise money for the Quest School in Villa Maria? Well here’s the latest video showing how he is working hard, and his friends and family are treating him mean to help him get lean!
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Tags: Children's project, Peru, Villa Maria
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