Year Highlights 2024

South Africa
Bloemfontein and Nogas Post, Free State, February

On 6 February the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein, hosted an action learning workshop facilitated by Karen Venter and Richard Teare (below left). We also visited and celebrated with community members from Nogas Post (below right). It is encouraging to see that the community self-determination project with GULL is gathering momentum. The partnership is led by Tribal Queen Moroka, Jeevarani Munsamy and colleagues from the Central University of Technology (CUT) and Karen Venter and colleagues from UFS. We began at Nogas Post in 2022/23 and Queen Moroka plans to extend the project to many other villages in 2024, led by the pioneering group of GULL participants from the starting point village, Nogas Post.

(Above left) Karen and Richard with workshop participants

(Above right) Nogas Post lead group – they will cascade the self-determination project to other villages.

 

Bolivia
El Alfarero, 6 May 2024

In May, El Alfarero celebrated the tenth year of its El Aprendiz programme in Strategic Leadership for Ministry supported by GULL. To-date, there have been 20 graduates from four different countries and organizations. In 2024, there are 25 El Aprendiz candidates, reflecting growth in numbers year on year. Richard Teare supported an online staff development team for 15 months and so it was encouraging to meet the team in person, to talk at length with Debbie and Graham, directors of El Alfarero and its El Aprendiz initiative for mature candidates and to participate in the celebrations.

(Right) El Alfarero leaders Debbie and Graham Frith with Richard Teare and ten of the 2024 graduates.

 

Malaysia
Wisma MCA Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur, 26 May 2024

Dato’ Vincent Tang GULL Regional President, Asia was instrumental in securing an array of endorsements for GULL’s work in Malaysia in 2008/09 and in 2010, conceived and developed a partner network that has flourished in Malaysia.

The 2024 Convocation was attended by representatives from China where Vincent is developing partnerships for workplace learning that will launch in the Autumn of 2024. This is an exciting development, especially given the scale envisaged.

(Above, left) Vincent Tang and Richard Teare flanked by representatives from China

(Above right) Award recipients and audience members pictured at the opening of the 2024 Convocation

 

Malaysia
Wisma MCA Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur, 26 May 2024

Vincent Tang, GULL Regional President Asia, leads a large partner network of Malaysian Skill Centres. As Malaysia does not have an established Further Education sector, these Skill Centres provide vital technical preparation for a wide range of vocations. Additionally, via GULL, the Skill Centre staff equip their students with action learning skills for on-going personal and professional development. On 26 May, GULL participants from Kuala Lumpur and various regions of Malaysia received their GULL awards (pictured below) and it is encouraging to know that the majority of these young people secure jobs in their chosen field. Our thanks to the partner Skill Centres and congratulations to the Class of 2024!

 

Cambodia
AusCam, 29 May 2024

AusCam aims to prevent exploitation in Cambodia, especially Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE). There are many different and creative ways that AusCam’s volunteer change agents can use GULL to stretch, learn and grow as they campaign to prevent OCSE. Specifically, the collaboration with GULL enables volunteers to be recognised for the roles they undertake as advocates, campaigners, leaders, flash mob designers, gamification designers, website developers, trainers, policy makers and communicators. Our shared goal is that the growing network of change agents supported by AusCam and GULL can be an unstoppable force for good in Cambodia.

Right: Richard Teare and Nigel Goddard, AusCam executive director, met at the AusCam offices in Phnom Penh on the 28/29 May, to discuss next steps for the collaboration. Here, they are pictured with members of the office team.

 

Compass USA
21 June, Carlsbad, California

Established in 2008, the GULL progam at Compass USA is a key enabler of personal and professional development at work for team members in one of America’s leading employers. This year, 17 graduations took place (in 17 US States) between 30 May and 27 June to recognise the attainments of 206 participants. GULL Chairman, Edward Mooney and colleague John Capone were able to attend the graduation that took place in Carlsbad, California on 21 June.

(Above left) Preparing for the graduation

(Above right) Congratulations to the Carlsbad group!