Events of 2010

The cooperation with
Children’s Garden ended

The overshadowing part of 2010 was the collapse of a long-term cooperation with the Children’s Garden in Nairobi. Nine years of close friendships, many projects and shared experiences came to an end. The break came only a few months after the Children’s Garden tour to Sweden and Slovakia in September 2009. After discovering one problem we discovered another and more and more… we had to stop. Globetree helped to start Children’s Garden 2001. It grew in size with more and more children – up to 300 – thanks to more donors who gave support. The name changed to Children’s Garden Home and School. When Globetree closed the cooperation 1st of January we were a minor sponsor among the others. The other donors stopped their funding in May and August. When the funding stopped it turned out about 200 children were not orphans – they returned to their homes. 60 children were taken cared of in a rescue centre which was organized by the other donors.
We have reported to the local authorities and asked for assistance from the District Children’s Officer. It’s difficult to get anything done. We donors continue to work together to support the children who need us.

Non Violence Prize
Grand Closing with
waterceremony and a book

Globetree was invited to Non Violence Prize closing ceremony at Stockholm Cathedral 30 November. The Non-violence fund started 2000 by the Christian Council of Sweden as a contribution to the United Nations proclamation; Let the first decade of the twenty-first century be “The Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2000-2010).”

Globetree received the prize from the Non-violence fund in 2008. The book “Ickevåld (Non Violence)” summarize the ten years and Globetree is one of 12 prize winners presented in the book.

World Child & Youth Forum
Invited by H.M. the King and
H.W. the Queen at the Royal Castle

In November, Globetree participated at the first World Child & Youth Forum (WCFY) at the Royal Palace. The WCFY is an initiative of the Royal Family and the aim is to inspire more people to work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The introductory forum focused on Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: The child has the right to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting the child, and adults have many good reasons to listen.

In memoriam
Torsten Föllinger – A Globroot

Torsten Föllinger left us in March, 83 years old. We met Torsten 1973 when he became Kajsa’s teacher in singing and voice-training. During 7 years in the 80’s we filmed and photographed his education, performances and every-day life in his small farm house in the country-side.

The name of the film is “Du är en människa” (First of all: You are a human being) which was broadcasted in the Swedish Television. We also published a magazine with the same title. Torsten is a Globeroot – that is a person who share inspiration and wisdom to Globetree. We really miss Torsten but we know you felt ready with your life and looked forward to your next destination.

In memoriam
Jacky Foo

In August our working partner, Mr Jacky Foo solemnly deceased only 60 years old. As late as in December 2009 he received the prize from 2009 Africa Rural Connect Award for the Rabbit project he developed in cooperation with the Globetree. The project was income generating for families in villages by breeding and selling rabbits.