Global Education Fund

GLOBAL EDUCATION FUND (GEF) IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION BASED INBOULDER, COLORADO WITH THE MISSION OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH EDUCATION. GEF BELIEVES IN ADVANCING QUALITY AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION THROUGH LOCAL SOLUTIONS. SINCE 1998, GEF HAS SUPPORTED PARTNERS IN 22 COUNTRIES ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, ASIA, AND AFRICA. GEF VALUES LISTENING TO LOCAL NEEDS AND PARTNERING WITH EXPERIENCED AND TRUSTED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DEVELOP LOCAL SOLUTIONS.OVER THE YEARS, GEF HAS SUPPORTED LOCALLY IDENTIFIED LITERACY NEEDS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 74 LIBRARIES AND SHIPMENT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS. RESPONDING TO LOCAL NEEDS, GEF HAS ALSO FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS IN KENYA, WHICH HAVE TO DATE ENABLED APPROXIMATELY 140 YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY TO ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL AND RECEIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING. GEF MOVED TO A GRANT MAKING MODEL AROUND 2011 TO ENHANCE ITS WORK IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL EDUCATION LEADERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.GEF'S PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING EARLY-STAGE EDUCATION LEADERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TESTING LOCALLY RELEVANT APPROACHES TO IMPROVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WE IDENTIFY AND WORK WITH LOCAL LEADERS -- CURRENTLY IN KENYA, INDIA AND GUATEMALA -- FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY. WE PROVIDE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT. WE MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THESE APPROACHES AND PROMOTE THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN OUR GRANTEE PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE LEARNING. KENYA GEF PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS CREATING PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH THAT BUILDS THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS, HELPS THEM STAY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL, IMPROVES THEIR READINESS TO SUCCEED FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND MENTOR PRIMARY STUDENTS IN POOR RESOURCED SCHOOLS.INDIA THERE WERE NO GRANTEE PARTNERS IN INDIA IN 2018. GUATEMALA GEF PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION FOR IMPOVERISHED INDIGENOUS MAYAN COMMUNITIES IN REMOTE VILLAGES AND URBAN SPRAWL AREAS. INITIATIVES FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING OF LITERACY, LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS PROBLEM-BASED CURRICULUM ROOTED IN LOCAL REALITIES, WHICH HELP EMBED THE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES STUDENTS NEED FOR THEIR FUTURE INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS. GEF HAS LEVERAGED ITS IMPACT THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING WITH OTHER NGOS AND FOUNDATIONS. IN ADDITION, US-BASED AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT GEF'S WORK.