Varkey Foundation
{{Short description|Nonprofit arm of GEMS Education}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Varkey Foundation
|logo = Varkey Foundation logo.jpg
|type = Charitable foundation
|formation = {{Start date and age|2010||}}
|founders = Sunny Varkey
|headquarters = London, United Kingdom[http://www.britishexpertise.org/bx/pages/Organisation_view/4090.php The Varkey Foundation]. British Expertise. Retrieved 2 August 2015.[https://edition.cnn.com/videos/international/2014/10/06/spc-inside-africa-ghana-girl-power-c.cnn "Strength of Ghanaian women"]. CNN. Edition.CNN.com (video). 6 October 2014.
|key_people = Sunny Varkey
{{small|(Chairman)}}
|area_served = Worldwide
|purpose = Education, teacher training
|method =
|revenue =
|endowment =
|total grant commitments since 2010 =
|total 2015 grant payments =
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|former name =Varkey GEMS Foundation
|homepage = {{URL|http://varkeyfoundation.org}}
}}
The Varkey Foundation, initially the Varkey GEMS Foundation, is the nonprofit arm of GEMS Education, an education management company.Abrioux, Marc and Jill Rutherford. [https://books.google.com/books?id=D1UGVo8AI2AC&pg=PT128 Introducing the IB Diploma Programme]. Cambridge University Press, 2013. p. 118. It was formed in 2010 by Indian businessman Sunny Varkey, GEMS chairman.[https://www.forbes.com/profile/sunny-varkey/ Sunny Varkey] – Profile at Forbes. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
The Varkey Foundation has partnered with a variety of major global organizations including UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Clinton Global Initiative. It gives out the Global Teacher Prize, a {{currency|1|USD}}{{nbsp}}million award.
History
The foundation was formed by Sunny Varkey in 2010 as the philanthropic arm of GEMS Education, and was initially called the Varkey GEMS Foundation. Its stated intention is to impact 100 impoverished children for every child enrolled at GEMS schools.[https://www.varkeygemsfoundation.org/projects Varkey GEMS Foundation – Projects] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109012526/https://www.varkeygemsfoundation.org/projects |date=9 November 2014 }}. VarkeyGEMSFoundation.org. Retrieved 7 May 2015.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160222222833/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-244246171.html "Gems launches new education initiative"]. Trade Arabia. 13 December 2010. Bill Clinton was involvement at the official launch of the foundation.Hamdan, Sara. [http://issuu.com/global-citizen/docs/global-citizen-09 "Building an Education Empire"]. Global Citizen. July/August 2012.George, Joseph. [http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/bill-clinton-launches-varkey-gems-foundation-2010-12-13-1.328657 "Bill Clinton launches Varkey GEMS Foundation"]. Emirates 24/7. 13 December 2010.
Sunny Varkey is chairman of the Varkey Foundation. The foundation's trustees are Sunny Varkey, as well as his sons Dino and Jay Varkey.[https://www.varkeyfoundation.org/about/governance Varkey Foundation – Governance]. VarkeyFoundation.org. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
The foundation has a Teacher Training Programme in under-served communities.[http://www.zawya.com/story/Dubai_Cares_partners_with_Varkey_GEMS_Foundation_to_train_and_develop_teachers_across_the_developing_world-ZAWYA20140316130416/ "Dubai Cares partners with Varkey GEMS Foundation to train and develop teachers across the developing world"]. Zawya. 16 March 2014.Coughlan, Sean. [https://www.bbc.com/news/business-32397213 "The man behind the million-dollar teacher"]. BBC News. 5 May 2015.
In 2013, the foundation launched the annual Global Education and Skills Forum,[https://educationandskillsforum.org/ Global Education & Skills Forum] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150326173949/https%3A//educationandskillsforum.org/ |date=26 March 2015 }}. Retrieved 7 May 2015. in partnership with UNESCO and the UAE Ministry of Education.Buller, Alice. [http://gulfbusiness.com/2013/07/full-excusive-interview-gems-chairman-sunny-varkey-talks-profits-and-philanthropy/ "Exclusive Interview: GEMS Chairman Sunny Varkey Talks Profits And Philanthropy"]. Gulf Business. 3 July 2013. Bill Clinton gave the inaugural keynote address at the 2013 summit.Prois, Jessica. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/bill-clinton-global-education-and-skills-forum_n_2883435.html "Bill Clinton: Educating Underserved Girls Is 'Deeply Human Drama' Of This Century"]. Huffington Post. 15 March 2013.
In October 2013, the foundation published the Global Teacher Status Index,Gupta, Amita. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_CxzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 Diverse Early Childhood Education Policies and Practices: Voices and Images from Five Countries in Asia]. Routledge, 2014. p. 150.Coughlan, Sean. [https://www.bbc.com/news/education-24381946 "Teachers in China given highest level of public respect"]. BBC News. 14 October 2013. a 53-page study on the public and social status of teachers in 21 countries around the world.
= Global Teacher Prize =
{{Main|Global Teacher Prize}}
In order to raise the status of teaching, at the second annual Global Education and Skills Forum in March 2014, the foundation launched the Global Teacher Prize, an annual $1 million award to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.[https://educationandskillsforum.org/press-release-applications-open-for-worlds-first-one-million-dollar-teacher-prize/ "Applications open for world’s first one million dollar teacher prize"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515021533/https://educationandskillsforum.org/press-release-applications-open-for-worlds-first-one-million-dollar-teacher-prize/ |date=15 May 2016 }} (press release). EducationandSkillsForum.org. March 2014.
References
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External links
- [https://www.varkeyfoundation.org/ Varkey Foundation] – Official site
- [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150326173949/https%3A//educationandskillsforum.org/ Global Education & Skills Forum]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varkey Foundation}}
Category:Organizations established in 2010
Category:International educational charities
Category:Child education organizations
Category:Educational foundations
Category:Educational charities based in the United Kingdom