This week I’ve been back in the UK. Yes, it’s getting really cold, and yes, it gets dark before 4pm and sure unlike Australia I don’t have to wear protection from the sun right now, BUT….it’s brilliant to be here nonetheless.
This week – in between study for my thesis – I’ve been having some really good meetings with potential partners including presenting 1.4 Billion Reasons at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. This is a significant step for GPP and I can’t wait to see where that takes the project. This week I’m also meeting with Tear Fund’s CEO and a few other potential supporters.
In the lead up to the end of the year we are going to be having a hugely busy and exciting few weeks ahead and I want to focus my blog over these weeks on GPP’s short term objectives.
First and foremost we are overhauling of our digital media and communications platforms, developing a new strategy to better engage with new and existing supporters. Australian Communications Manager Emeli Paulo, is doing an awesome job working with our advisors in the Media and Marketing sector to develop a 2010 campaign strategy. We’re also working on a scale-up of our web site in the coming weeks. We are particularly keen to focus our efforts on developing content that enables you to follow through on your commitments to help end extreme poverty.
On the GPP Presentation side of things, Mach III (the third version of the presentation) will be completed by the end of this week; it’s looking so GOOD! This version has been redesigned, shortened and is packed full of new stories and information. It will be finished just in time for our presentation hosted by News Limited on Friday night in Sydney.
This Friday December 4th, we will present 1.4 billion reasons in partnership with News Limited who have joined with us and made their commitment to help end extreme poverty. They will provide more opportunities for stories relating to the issues of extreme poverty and this week will run a week-long campaign in Sydney’s MX Magazine to promote this very special event. The presentation will be filmed by our producers at The Conscience Organisation, the team behind our documentary film scheduled for release in 2011. The presentation is at University Hall at the UTS at 6.30pm. RSVPs are essential as places are limited.
This weekend I’ll be back in Melbourne for the Parliament of World Religions. The Parliament is a fantastic 3-day convention promoting interfaith community and communication. Presenters include PM Kevin Rudd, and the Dalai Lama. I will be presenting an interfaith version of 1.4 billion reasons, and the Youth Plenary on the topic of ‘youth in action’. It’s a really important event because it brings together people representing all of the major faiths in the world and explores the common themes that unite all, such as a commitment to social justice. I hope to see some of you there.
I look forward to spending some more time in the Aussie sun before a cold trip to the US the following week. We will be in San Francisco and New York next week. I’ll update you more on this soon.
As we draw near to the end of 2009 I am encouraged by the great progress the team has made and also full of hope for what is possible next year. 2010 will be a great year with the gpp film really ramping up. We will be launching GPP UK in February also.
I hope the Christmas period is a really refreshing and restful time for you and your family. Let’s start next year with a renewed passion to see an end to extreme poverty within a generation.
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