Here at GVI HQ we are constantly inspired by the stories and achievements that come pouring in from our field teams every month. And this one in particular caught our eye, so we decided to give it it's own article!

This is quite possibly the largest donation of resources GVI has ever received in the one go. As our Sports Coordinator, Magnus, put it: "It's like Christmas has come!"

Continue reading for the latest achievement report sent in by our team on the ground in Cape Town:

A proportion of the cost that a volunteer pays to join a program with GVI goes towards providing the basic resources needed to run the projects on the ground. However, there is a limit to the scope of resources that can be provided. Luckily, we benefit greatly from the generosity and initiative of volunteers bringing extra resources with them in their luggage. These may often take the form of smaller size items such as pens, pencils or craft materials. This month GVI Cape Town received a donation of such a scale as to dwarf all others – a full shipping container transported all the way from the UK!

This donation was arranged by one of our previous long-term interns who was with us for six months. Corina Rosca is a Special Effects Manager and has worked on some big productions that include, naming but a few, Blood Diamond, Kingdom of Heaven, The Day After Tomorrow and Clash of the Titans. Together with her long-standing work colleague Neil Corbould (whose credits include Gladiator and Saving Private Ryan!), they managed to arrange for a full shipping container’s worth of donations to be sent out to assist our projects. This just goes way beyond anything we had previously received, and could ever expect again. We cannot repeat the words ‘Thank You’ enough.

After weeks of organisation and three weeks at sea, the donation finally arrived in one of the biggest trucks allowed on the roads. After swinging open the two huge back doors to the container, we carefully unloaded all the precious cargo. As the field staff opened up each box, one by one, the look on their faces was priceless. One particularly amazing part of the contents were two large crash mats that will transform the possibilities for our sports program we run at one of the primary schools in the Nomzamo township community. From now on, high jump classes will always be one of the highlights of the year.

The hard work and effort that all our volunteers bring to the projects is simply inspiring. It is only through their efforts that we are able to continue the fantastic difference the GVI Cape Town team makes at the many township sites where we work. If you think you might be such a volunteer (though we don’t insist you bring a container with you!), please do check out the range of different options we have in Cape Town!

From everyone at GVI, we would like to extend yet another massive thanks to Corina and Neil for this incredible donation!

Click for more information on volunteering in South Africa with GVI!