View our Summer 2016 Newsletter here!
This year we’ve been continuing to celebrate and reflect on 20 years of supporting projects which enable disadvantaged young people to realise their potential. The journey started with a partnership between Ecologia and Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia during Perestroika – a time when barriers between the West and USSR were breaking down allowing people to reach out, get to know different cultures and make new friends.
Being separated from one’s parents and family creates disadvantage, and our commitment is to empower disadvantaged young people which includes creating opportunities to make friends in other cultures. Kitezh and Orion Children’s Communities have been graced by over 350 volunteers and school children since we began supporting them, who have helped look after the children and teach them English, and have supported both the children and the community through daily activities like cooking and games.
The weaving of connections extends throughout all our projects, with several of our projects having formed connections with each other as well as welcoming in volunteers.
Our volunteers have created a worldwide network of ambassadors for Ecologia, weaving connections not only with the communities in which they are volunteering but also with their universities, schools and work-places, generating new connections. Volunteers like Ed (Kitezh, Spring 2016) and Felicity (Orion, Spring 2016) often tell us that volunteering has brought a whole new perspective. You can read about Ed and Felicity’s experiences in our Summer Newsletter.
Weaving his own web of connections throughout Britain is our very own super marathon man and campaigner, Simon Clark. Beginning on Easter Sunday, Simon has already run more than 1000 miles and raised more than a third of his £10,000 target.
Those of you who have been following the growth over the years of Kitezh Childrens Community will be interested to hear that the Sinko twins are about to spread their wings: at the age of 18 Natasha plans to train as a hairdresser and Alexey has enrolled in college to study music technology.
And in Myanmar, as part of the ‘We Love Inle Lake’ Big Lottery funded project in collaboration with local NGO Kalyana Mitta Foundation, we’re providing eco-farming training for young people like Ma Kyin Htwe who will be sharing this knowledge with her family and communities, helping sustain methods from generation to generation.
You can read even more stories about how the connections that have been weaved are changing, transforming and uplifting those that our project partners support in our Summer 2016 Newsletter.
Join our dedicated team of volunteers and experience the joy of giving back, while making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and the community
Your contribution has the power to make a difference in the lives of those in need, enabling us to continue our vital work and create positive change
“Building a world where every young person thrives.”
Ecologia Youth Trust supports children and young people to shape their futures sustainably. Keep up to date with our activities and projects by following us on social media!
Subscribe to our emails today to receive our latest news, updates, and inspiring stories.
*Names have been changed according to our child protection policy.
Subscribe to our emails today to receive our latest news, updates, and inspiring stories.
Susie has 30+ experience as a creative copywriter, editor, and proofreader, starting out as a 20-year-old copywriter in the Mad Men world of early 1990s advertising in South Africa. Ever since, she’s had a love affair with creative conceptualisation, thinking outside of the box, writing to a deadline, and being thrown in the deep end!
She took an MSc in Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University as a mature student, in 2015, and continues to keep herself busy working as a copy-editor, proofreader and copywriter in book publishing, corporate communications, and publishing project management.
Apart from her love of working with independent authors, Susie has a fondness for working in the third sector and likes to use her corporate communications and marketing experience to support projects close to her heart. She has lived and worked in the Findhorn area for 25 years, and has been involved in a number of third sector projects and organisations, and family businesses.
Working at Ecologia Youth Trust helps Susie to live in integrity with her values of supporting the next generation to be the best that they can be, and she sees it as a way to give back to Mama Africa, the beloved continent on which she was born.
Ellen joined the Ecologia team in June 2018 as Marketing and Communications Manager. Ellen has lived in Scotland for 6 years and has worked for non-profit and charitable organisations across varied fields. She currently shares her passion for helping young people through Ecologia Youth Trust and she works as a dancer and dance teacher in her spare time.
Robyn is the Associate Director of International Projects, having previously worked within the team as a Project Development and Marketing Officer from April 2019 until May 2021. As Associate Director, Robyn is co-leading the International side of Ecologia with Founder and Director, Liza Hollingshead, bringing a new energy into Ecologia as they look towards the future of the charity.
Liza is the founder of Ecologia and Director of International Projects. She was born and educated in South Africa and worked there as a high school teacher. She moved to live in the Findhorn Community in 1974. She started Ecologia in 1995 after being introduced to Dmitry Morozov, the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia, and was inspired to support the community in its mission to rescue orphaned children from institutions and give them homes, families and education in a supportive environment.
This led to projects supporting disadvantaged youth and children in South East Asia and in East Africa. TRead more about Liza’s story here.
