Latest news

July 2010...

DDE AGM
This year’s AGM, held in July, was as exciting and participatory as ever! The AGM took place on a Hindu Festival day, and those attending learned some fascinating facts from cultural champion Sandhya Dave about the Hindu faith and the important role of festivals and celebrations in the Hindu tradition. There was also an opportunity to take part briefly in a Model United Nations Assembly! To view a copy of our AGM report: The Global Year, April 2009 - March 2010 click here.

Premises update
Exciting news on the future of the Community Centre where the Global Centre is based! Exeter Community Centre Trust was able to secure a grant and loan in March 2010 to refurbish the centre, once Devon County Council has handed over the building. The refurbishment will start in October 2010. This does mean that the Global Centre and DDE will probably need to find temporary accommodation until September 2011. Watch this space for an update!

Financial situation and the future
Financially DDE remained secure this past year, due to grant funding, coming mainly from DfID (Department for International Development). DDE has continued efforts to generate its own income through selling services to schools and has been rewarded by some success. However, we were unsuccessful with some grant applications, which means we have had to shelve some exciting projects. With the current financial climate and a change in direction for DfID, the outlook for further funding is not good. DDE is working hard to identify new funding streams and grants, and increase earned income. However, donations and financial support from you, our members and supporters, would be most welcome.

There are a few key ways in which you can support DDE and the Global Centre continue to provide its valuable work and service:
1. Voice your support for development education – write to your MP; write to DFID. For a template letter in Word click here.
2. Continue to support Global Centre events – especially if and when the centre moves to its new temporary home.
3. Donate some money or sponsor a programme or package – and please consider increasing your regular donation.
4. Give us your expertise – we need help with financial planning and other development work.
5. Spread the word – tell others about our great products, services and events.

Stand Up 2010
Following the sucess of the 2009 'Stand Up' campaign to raise money for toilets and clean water supplies to schools in parts of rural Uganda, a second Fundraising Day is now being organised.

On Tuesday 9th February 2010 children and young people from schools and colleges across Devon, together with employees of Devon County Council, will again participate in a special fundraising day.

Last February over £8,000 was raised which has so far been spent on improving the facilities at two schools. Click here for further details.

Previous news...

The Global Centre AGM celebrates five years in Exeter!
June 2009 saw the Global Centre AGM and a celebration of 5 years since the centre opened.

Since Devon Development Education opened the Global Centre in Exeter it has had a significant impact on children, young people and adults in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

The year 2008-09 has seen many successes:
• We led the campaign to achieve Fairtrade status for the county
of Devon.
• With Devon County Council, we organised the Stand Up for Toilets and Clean Water fundraising day, to provide decent toilets and water on Ugandan school sites, to encourage girls to complete their primary education.
• We started our 3 year French, Mali and Tourism project, to explore the ‘inter-cultural understanding’ strand with primary pupils learning French.
• A third group of trained and enthusiastic Cultural Champions are already raising awareness of different cultures in Devon.
• More students explored how young people cope in a conflict situation through direct connections with Keyo Secondary School, Northern Uganda and Hebron city, Palestine – and also students in Dublin and Bristol.

Our success is due to the commitment of many people: DDE staff, Trustees, our volunteers and Local Authority advisers - and the schools, teachers, pupils and members of the community with whom we work. Our thanks go to everyone and to other organisations and individuals who give us their support.

Sustainable funding, especially to cover core costs, remains a difficult issue for us. DDE has survived the current difficult financial situation relatively well, and project grants for next year are secure. But our situation is still quite precarious and we want to be able to plan for the future.

We hope that the commitment made by Devon County Council in March 2009, to hand over Exeter Community Centre to the community, will happen. When it does, we want to be ready to make plans. In the past we received core funding from Oxfam, Christian Aid and Unicef, but all that has now ceased. And we do not receive any core funding from the local authorities.

Fairtrade fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 was a great success with thousands of Fairtrade bananas eaten on the final weekend. Many local schools ran very successful events, including school conferences in Bovey Tracey and Cullompton, where School Councils learned more about how they can push for Fairtrade School status. See the Fairtrade Devon website for more about the successful events during Fairtrade Fortnight in Devon.

Membership of the Global Centre
As you may know, our grant funding is never enough to cover our costs, and we depend on donations and fees to bridge the gap. For a mere £10 a year membership fee you can borrow books and resources from our excellent collection, use the photocopier and the computer, and know that your money is helping to keep us going. You can also go the next step, and support us with a one-off donation or a standing order.

Global Learning Award 2006
The Global Centre was awarded the prestigious Global Learning Award 2006. Doug Bourn, director of the Development Education Association said when awarding us the Global Learning Award: “Key to building awareness and understanding of development is giving people the space and opportunities to discuss and learn about how global issues relate to their everyday lives and personal experiences. The work of Devon Development Education's Global Centre provides this through a supportive learning environment and is therefore an excellent example of community based development education practice.” For details of the award click here