Merry Christmas from Selvin and Friends!

A warm hello to all of our friends in our final newsletter of 2014.

Short but sweet...

Due to your extraordinarily generous donations over the past four years, we decided that 2014 would be a 'year off' of fundraising.

That does not mean it has been all quiet at Selvin HQ, on the contrary...

Douro Half marathon

Vicki got back into her running shoes and took on the Douro half marathon earlier this year.

She completed the course, not with a personal best time, but given the 31 degree Portuguese heat, and the sun stroke she suffered afterwards, it was, all in all, a relatively successful event!

Twelve for Twelve

After taking a year off of fundraising, we will be back in 2015 with a new challenge, 'Twelve for Twelve,' twelve events over the next twelve months.

Events have not yet been finalised for the entire year, but the first few events include:

1. Hyde Park 10K
2. Brighton Half Marathon
3. 5k Glow Run
4. London Easter 10k
5. Bupa 10k

We must however note that these are subject to change on account of an anticipated arrival in 2015!

In 2015, we will be supporting...

Primary and kindergarten schools in the Quechua-speaking communities of Triunfo and Maldonado, in Sachaca on the outskirts of Arequipa, in Peru.

The project that we work with in Central America, The Phoenix Project, also seeks to provide Secondary school scholarships to the pupils so that their education can be continued.

By providing the teaching and education materials that are needed in these schools, it frees up school funds to allow this money to be put towards a teachers salary, and for meals to improve the nourishment of the pupils.

More on this to follow in the new year.

And finally, a great big huge thanks...

For your continued support in 2014, and for generally making Selvin what it is. Its been an incredible four years, with schools in four Central American countries receiving much needed school and teaching supplies.

This simply would not have happened without you!

Happy New Year amigos de Selvin x

Merry May

While things may have been quiet on the Selvin front of late, that doesn't mean we haven't been busy behind the scenes!

Last weekend, Vicki completed her latest running event, and this one added a new challenge, heat! Yes, as the sun beat down on the Douro Valley in Portugal, heating it to a toasty 31 degrees, she ran 13.1 miles for Selvin.

We are also currently in the process of finalising the country we will be supporting in 2015, and in what form that support will take.  Look out for an update nearer to Christmas!

A special thanks to Vicki's work, who named Selvin as their charity of the year during the last financial year, raising over £500 through cake sales, sweep stakes, and a number of Festive activities at the end of last year.  An amazing effort!

For now, some very wise words to end on...

And thank you for playing such a big part in our change.

Gracias amigos de Selvin

Stu & Vicki

A warm hello to all of our friends in our first newsletter of 2014.

Short but sweet...

With the bulk of our 2013/14 work completed over the summer months of 2013, our first round up of the year is somewhat shorter than usual, but there are still a few developments to report!

Charity of the year

Vicki's workplace continued their support of Selvin as their charity of the year with some festive fundraising.

On 13 December, numerous colleagues donned their christmas jumpers, and one even decided to come fully dressed as Santa, raising over £65 in the process!

In addition to Christmas knitwear, there was a collection in lieu of sending Christmas cards, which raised just shy of £150.

So far, hundreds of pounds have been raised by Vicki's extremely generous and supportive colleagues, and this money will make a huge difference to the schools we are supporting in the coming years.

Run Forest Run

After hanging up her running shoes after the London Triathlon, Vicki is back in running training over the cold winter months in preparation for the Douro half marathon in May.

Other fundraising events will be announced later on in the year.

In 2014, will be supporting...

A local primary school in Honduras. Earlier this month, we delivered 100 pencil, 20 boxes of paint, 30 packs of paper, 20 boxes of crayons, 250 exercise books and 100 numeracy books to the school, sourced locally to support local businesses. We have also been able to supply the teachers with vital teaching materials such as marker pens for white boards. 

This delivery means the school will be stocked with these much needed items for the next 12 months, which marks a great achievement to see in the new year for Selvin!

The futures Selvin

Stu and Vicki are both thrilled that due to the extraordinary support we have received over the past three years, we are able to continue supporting schools in 2015 and 2016, extending our remit to Ecuador and Peru.

And finally, a great big huge thanks...

For your continued support in 2013, your generosity is ever humbling and very much appreciated. You make Selvin the success it is.

Happy New Year amigos de Selvin x