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Bill Gates addresses Global Poverty Ambassador

27/01/2012 by Yvonne Batten

Bill Gates addressed an audience of Global Poverty Ambassadors from across the UK in London on 25 January

The Co-operative have supported The Global Poverty Project (GPP) to recruit and train the Global Poverty Ambassadors, anti-poverty advocates who will become leading voices in the campaign against extreme poverty, informing and inspiring their own communities to take meaningful action on behalf of the poor.


The event, held at the London School of Economics (LSE), saw Gates introduce the themse in his “Annual Letter”, setting out what he sees as the key steps to be taken in order to achieve a world without extreme poverty.


The partnership between The Global Poverty Project and The Co-operative will run throughout 2012, the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives. Tackling global poverty is a key element of our rolling three year Ethical Plan and last year, we committed to spending £7m per annum supporting projects such as this.


The Co-operative’s six million members can be vital in the fight against global poverty - Peter Marks

Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive, The Co-operative Group said: “Campaigning has always been at the core of the co-operative movement. The International Year of Co-operatives is the ideal opportunity for our members and customers to mobilise, join with the Global Poverty Project and help make this a fairer world where everyone’s basic human rights are met and respected.

“The Co-operative’s six million members can be vital in the fight against global poverty. From becoming a Global Poverty Project Ambassador, to committing to buy Fairtrade products, to resolving to switch to a Co-operative Bank account, there is something we can all do to help.”

Elisha London, UK Director of the Global Poverty Project said: “For the GPP Ambassador scheme we are looking for people from all walks of life, who are keen to spread the news about ending extreme poverty in a way that others can understand, through engaging real-life stories and positive examples of change.

“The Co-operative Group is the ideal partner for us to identify these individuals; the business, along with its members, is committed to raising awareness and prompting positive action to help the 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty.”
 

The Co-operative's Global Poverty Ambassadors

The Co-operative has been working alongside The Global Poverty Project to recruit over 100 individuals who will become leading voices in the campaign against extreme poverty, informing and inspiring their own communities to take meaningful action on behalf of the poor.



Back row: Raj Burman (Co-operative Member, South East), Kevin McGrother (Co-operative Member, North), Tom Brookes (Employee Member, The Co-operative Bank), Eleanor Carey (Employee Member, National Membership Team) Front row: Lynda McDermott (Elected Member, Surrey & Berkshire Area Membership Committee), Christine Eddowes (Co-operative Member, North) and Debbie Mitchell (Employee Member, South East Membership Team)

Celebrating the International Year of Co-operatives

The partnership between The Global Poverty Project and The Co-operative Group will run throughout 2012, the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.

Tackling global poverty is a key element of The Co-operative's three year Ethical Plan and last year, the business committed to spending 7 million per annum supporting projects such as this.

 

Left to right: Pinky Badhan (Regional Co-operative Membership Manager), Hugh Evans (CEO, The Global Poverty Project), Len Wardle (Chair of The Co-operative Group), Simon Moss (Co-founder, The Global Poverty Project) and Elisha London (UK Director, The Global Poverty Project).

  

It's not too late to become a Global Poverty Ambassador!

The deadline for applications is Friday 10th February at 5:00pm – so what are you waiting for? Apply today to be with a chance to be trained by some of the world's leading experts on the eradication of extreme poverty.

The application is also available here as a word document which you can complete and email to the address below. Global Poverty Ambassadors Application Form .doc

To find out more about the programme click here or visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page

For further enquiries, please email 2012ambassadors@globalpovertyproject.com

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