Be The Change Alumni

Jan Reid

After Be The Change in New Zealand in July 2008, Jan returned home and founded the organization 'A Helper�s Hope'.

A Helper's Hope connects childhood professionals (teachers, physical therapists, speech therapists etc.) with children in orphanages in the developing world, children who could benefit from their skills. Jan is leading her first expedition of childhood professionals to an orphanage in Peru in July of 2009.

The main goals of A Helper's Hope are:

• Lend a hand to children in need.
• Make a positive impact on the lives of others through teamwork.
• Promote cultural awareness and international volunteering.
• Inspire skilled professionals through cross-cultural interactions.

To learn more about her work please visit the following website: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/international_fundraisers/peru/helpers/.

Rafe Steinhauer

Rafe joined a longer version of our Be The Change Program in November of 2007.

While on the program Rafe and another participant, Celeste Donovan, developed an idea for a social enterprise. When Rafe finished our program he went to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for GVN Foundation's African Children's Fund. Rafe then stayed in Africa and volunteered with GVN in a school in Kenya for 2 months.

Upon his return home, Rafe re-visited the social enterprise idea he had developed while in New Zealand and recently founded 'Benefeast'. Benefeast is a social enterprise in which people who are interested in meeting other socially conscious people in their area pay a small fee to Benefeast to go to a group dinner in their area. Benefeast sets up dinners in cities around the USA. Benefeast then donates a portion of their payment to the charity of their choice.

Rafe has created a sustainable company that promotes community and social change!

Dr. JR Toledo - Mexico

Dr. Toledo joined a longer version of the Be The Change Program in June 2007. Dr. Toledo was interested in creating a partner GVN volunteer program in Mexico. During his time on the program he designed an innovative volunteer leadership program in Mexico. When he returned home he founded the partner organization in Ciudad Guzman, Mexico. He accepted his first group of GVN volunteers in August, 2008.

To learn more about his program please visit: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/mexico/

Laura Dinham and Taryn Lilliston

Laura and Taryn joined a longer version of our Be The Change program in March 2007.

While with us each worked on GVN Foundation's innovative fundraiser Eat So They Can. Laura designed and wrote GVN Foundation Eat So They Can fundraiser website. Taryn assisted Laura and wrote and designed the resource packet for Eat So They Can. Due to their incredible work, and vision, Eat So They Can is fast becoming a world renowned fundraiser and advocacy campaign. Eat So They Can raised over $35,000 for kids in Africa the first year. Thousands of kids in Africa have been provided with food because of the vision of these two ladies.

To visit the Eat So They Can website (and see their hard work first hand) please go to: http://www.eatsotheycan.org.

Nicola Feldman - Bermuda

Nicola joined an extended version of the Be The Change Program in March 2007.

After the program Nicola travelled the world and participated in GVN Foundation's fundraising hike to Mount Kilimanjaro, raising $2,000 for children in Kenya. During her travels Nicola also visited GVN's volunteer program in Ghana, The Liberian Refugee Camp. Wanting to assist the children in the camp she gave 6 of them disposable cameras and asked them to take pictures. She collected the pictures and held a photo exhibition when she returned home to Bermuda. She raised over $7,000 that will go to build a school for those kids in Ghana.

Danny Dodson - Peruvian Hearts

Danny joined an extended version of the Be The Change Program in November of 2007.

When Danny joined the program he was the Executive Director of the organization Peruvian Hearts, a non-profit dedicated to assisting children in Peru. During his time on the program he spent time with Colin and worked to re-do the Peruvian Hearts Website. During the program Danny also focused on learning as much as he could about management and marketing a non-profit organization. When Danny returned from the program he re-created the website and has grown his non-profit considerably.

For more information on what Danny is doing please go to: http://www.peruvianhearts.org/