What We Do

Vision

We work towards a world where locally led organisations have the resources, knowledge and partnerships they need to lead lasting change in their communities.

Over the next 2–3 years, we’ll focus on delivering our purpose and living our values through six strategic priorities designed to strengthen our impact and our partnerships.

1. We are a resilient, well-governed charity with an engaged Board
We have the leadership and systems to consistently support our partners and deliver on our purpose.

2. We have a stable, diverse income base
We can reliably support our partners, thanks to our broad and growing income base.

3. We are clear where we add value, and we support learning between partners.

We are agile and responsive and help local organisations share knowledge and insights to strengthen impact across the communities we partner.

4. We mobilise and support skilled and committed volunteers who add value both to GSL and our partners
Our volunteering programme is ethical and partner-led, focused on adding value and building capacity.

5. We are a trusted and credible organisation with a distinctive approach
We are recognised by partners and funders alike for our respectful relationships, practical advice, professional staff and volunteers, agility, speed of response, transference of knowledge and commitment to locally led development.

6. We focus our efforts where we can build strong partnerships that can make a lasting difference
We invest in relationships where trust, shared purpose, and local leadership create the conditions for lasting impact.

Here are some projects we’ve been involved with…

Carrying Out a Health Education Project

The people of the mountainous region of Nagaland, NE India are mostly subsistence farmers and suffer from poor health with very limited access to medical facilities, mostly due to poor infrastructure.

Working with our local partner, NARUDA, and with assistance from our partner, Iqarus *, we are carrying out a health education program so that the people may better look after themselves.

We have now visited twenty villages and advised nearly 2000 people.

*(Iqarus is an internationally recognised world leader in delivering medical care and training in the world’s most challenging operating environments)

Bee-Keeping/Honey Production Project – Nepal

Earlier this year we enabled a local NGO to carry out a beekeeping project for ten women in Bhethanchok village, near Kathmandu in Nepal. The project is now up and running, with the bees developing their hives (as shown in the photo).

These are some of the poorest people in the vicinity and they do not have regular incomes. In order to survive they get occasional work on local farms and are given a meal for three hours work or perhaps a small amount of money. They have very unfortunate circumstances and this project helped them gain some dignity and empowerment to make changes in their lives.

We expect that, over time, the group will grow their income with assistance from the local NGO, providing a better quality of life for them and their families.

Building a home for children who have been forced to leave their families in Nagaland

The people of the mountainous region of Nagaland, NE India are mostly subsistence farmers.

Working with our local partner, NARUDA, and with a team of volunteers from Nottingham University, we financed and built a home for children in Nagaland.

The House of Hope, Agun Ki, now has ten children in its care.

Financing and Providing a Volunteer Team to Build an Agricultural Centre and Biogas Plant in Cameroon

We raised finance to install a pig farm, fish farm and biogas unit in Fundong in NE Cameroon. This is a community project and benefits the local people who no longer have to cook over open fires indoors and suffer from smoke inhalation.

The project was realised with the help of the Ramboll Foundation and a team of university undergraduate volunteers from Engineers Without Borders

The money generated from the sale of fish and pigs helps our partner, BERUDA, finance other projects and support the local community.

Supervising and Funding a Children’s Project in Cameroon

With the help of international sponsors we look after 65 children in Belo, Cameroon. We provide money for clothes, education, food and medical needs.

We do not have an orphanage and care for the children in the community, as this fits with the local culture.

We send volunteers to act as fieldworkers and one long-term volunteer to supervise the project.

Lady weaving traditional clothes in Nagaland, NE India.

Single Mother and Women Empowerment Projects in Nagaland and Cameroon

We have helped women to start businesses to support themselves and their families. Typical examples are providing funds to start weaving projects and dressmaking businesses.

Not only do we support them financially but we also provide counselling to help them in what can be difficult circumstances.

Supporting the Elderly in Cameroon

The elderly are often neglected and can find themselves with poor accommodation, lack of warmth, little food and no company.

We fix roofs, provide rice and blankets for many old folk. Furthermore, our fieldworkers visit them and provide company.

Water Harvesting Project in Nzau, Nagaland.

Nzau is a hilltop village in Nagaland. During the dry season there there is no water there and villagers have carry water up from a stream for all their daily needs.

We installed a water harvesting system so that the people of Nzau might have water for cooking and drinking during dry periods.