Excellence Awarded

To coincide with this years Gibraltar Careers Fair organised by the Department of Education, Kusuma Trust Gibraltar sponsored three university representatives and a representative from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to come and speak to sixth formers from Bayside and Westside Schools.

 Minister Gilbert Licudi, centr, with UK speakers and representatives of the Kusuma Trust .

The Excellence talks are in their fourth year with representatives from the top UK universities.  Imperial University, The University of Oxford and The University of St Andrews were this years participating universities. They delivered a series of talks aimed at encouraging students to aim for excellence and to help them understand the application process of higher education in the UK.

VSO was a  welcomed addition to the talks, promoting volunteering and giving information to students on GAP year opportunities. Susie representative for VSO also discussed the current scheme available for 18-25 year olds from Gibraltar called ICS which is fully funded by the Kusuma Trust.

Sarah Dallas-Ross from St Andrews lecture was particular insightful into the educational system in Scotland which differs slightly from the rest of the UK. This was the first time St Andrews has had a representative come to Gibraltar.

Albert Isola trustee of the Kusuma Trust also gave a short talk explaining the Excellence Scholarships on offer to students,  in order to  "help students achieve excellence" the trust offers the opportunity for students to compete for a number of discretionary scholarships to encourage young people to study medicine, technology and business related subjects at top universities.

This drive for excellence was highlighted at the talks when Kusuma gave an award to Sophia Lombard, a Westside student who scored the highest information Computer Technology mark in the whole of Europe.

Sophia Lombard presented with her prize by Trustee Albert Isola from the Kusuma Trust

Sophia was presented by Albert Isola with a Galaxy Note as a token of acknowledgement for her success.

Applications for the next academic year 2013/14 will commence on May 1st 2013.
For more information on volunteering with VSO -ICS or the Excellence Scholarships go to the Kusuma Trust website www.kusumatrust.gi 

Real World War II Enigma Machine in Gibraltar

Cambridge Mathematics Outreach Programme 

The Cambridge Maths Outreach team for the second year running will be conducting a series of workshops in Bayside and Westside School which will involve students tackling problem solving in situations where mathematics can be applied. 

One of the most popular parts of the outreach programme  is THE ENIGMA PROJECT where the team do a presentation of the history and mathematics of codes and code breaking including a demonstration of a genuine World War II enigma machine. Later the students are able to become code breakers themselves being thrust into the exotic world of Cryptography. 

Presenter James Grimes with the authentic Enigma machine

The team will also be delivering three other workshops designed to help students apply mathematical thinking and communication processes in a range of situations.

Our young students are not the only ones who will have their analytical and mathematical skills put to the test 2013 will also see the introduction of a session dedicated to Westside and Bayside teachers to get their mathematical inspirational and problem solving into over drive. We hope that they will find it as inspiring as their students. 

Science Road Show

The Science outreach team from the British Science Museum have been performing a series of experiments throughout the week aimed at encouraging the learning of Science based subjects. A week worth of shows have been organised for all First year primary students and year 8 and 9 Secondary School children,. The shows have been an incredible hit with Children and teachers alike.

The trust hopes that with events such as Science Week and its equally popular Maths Road show they will excite children in science and math subjects, and perhaps to even inspire them to consider it as a career, all of the shows are based on the curriculum so it is also another way to support the fantastic jobs that the teachers are already doing in schools but making it more interactive and accessible .

We are only two days into the shows so keep up with the blog as we will be posting even more on the crazy experiments that the outreach team will be doing in Gibraltar......

Supporting Professional Development

Giving Grants in Support of Professional Development 

Kusuma Trust Gibraltar is dedicated to the training and support of professional development where it can be of benefit to the applicant and the community at large. Our next deadline for applications are the 6th November 2012. 

CASE STUDY: Supporting PAAMOA through Professional Development 

Kusuma Trust Gibraltar have given  Simone and Alison from the Physical Activities Association for Mature Older Adults Charity the opportunity to study Pilates as a means of helping the older community in Gibraltar. 

Pilates is a physical activities programme based on the exercises developed by Joseph Pilates (1880-1967). Modern Pilates has adapted these exercises to confirm with up-to-date research from the world of physiotherapy and sport science. It differs from many other types of exercise programmes as it focuses both on strengthening weak muscles and stretching tight areas (often in the same exercise). The essence of the programme is on precision, not repetition or momentum. It addresses trunk stability, shoulder stabilisation, maintenance of good posture and spinal curves along with the correct use of muscles. It is suitable as a rehabilitation programme after injury or operation.

Theory of Pilates 

PAAMOA is the Physical Activities Association for Mature Older Adults. They organise exactly what their name suggest and offer in conjunction with the GSLA an extensive programme of classes. Alison and myself already give aerobics classes on their behalf in the stadium and the small pool. The committee felt it would be hugely beneficial to also offer Modern Pilates classes. 

Modern Pilates for the senior population in Gibraltar would increase their mobility, improve their quality of life and greatly reduce the risk of injury from falls. PAAMOA asked Alison and myself if we were willing to undergo training to become Modern Pilates instructors and with the financial help of Kusuma Trust it has been made possible!

Going from theory to practice 

On 12th October we flew to Leeds for the first of six weekends of the course. We had already worked through six weeks of home study material, which we revised on the first day of the course. The whole weekend was about Anatomy and Physiology theory, so mainly muscles, where they come from and go into and what they do, and the Nervous System and Circulatory System (we now know where the bicuspid valve is!) Also some on nutrition and a big part on the different energy systems we use. We noticed we had retained more info from the home study than we thought we had, so went into the exam on the second day fairly confident. And look what happened, we passed it!

(Simone Redman a current recipient of the Kusuma professional development grant) 

  

To apply for a grant please go to the Kusuma Website for more information  Kusuma Trust Professional Development

The Movember Campaign and the Kusuma Trust

Kusuma Trust to coincide with the Movember campaign and as part of our commitment to the Prostate Cancer Support Group Gibraltar have committed substantial funds for a new scanner and probe to be used in the GHA. We hope in doing this more men in Gibraltar will feel comfortable in going for regular check ups and be happy in the knowledge that not only will they be getting the best possible care provided by the Gibraltar Health Authority they will also be provided with the newest and most comfortable equipment. 

MOVEMBER 

Movember is responsible for the the sudden increase of the "mo" or moustaches seen on many a man's face during the month of November. The aim of which is to raise funds and awareness of Prostate Cancer. Originally started in Australia 1999 the craze of raising awareness and funds of men's health during the month of November and with the growing of a moustache spread across the world and has for the last few years been a prominent place in the Gibraltar social calendar......

RULES OF BECOMING A MO BRO (as given on the Movember site) 

1. Once registered at movember www.mobro.co/gibraltar each mo bro must begin the 1st of MOVEMBER with a clean shaven face.

2. For the entirety of November each Mo bro must grow and groom a moustache

3. There is to be no joining of the mo to [one's] sideburns. (That's considered a beard)

4. There is to be no joining of the handlebars to [one's] chin. (That's considered a goatee)

5. Each mo bro must conduct himself like a true country gentleman. 

DO YOUR PART AND BECOME A MO BRO....or pass on the message of promoting men's health ! 

To find out more about prostate cancer support group gibraltar : http://www.pcsg.gi/

Volunteer Abroad

VSO-ICS "The secret to changing the world is you" 

Kusuma Trust Gibraltar has come together with the internationally renowned VSO, the worlds leading independent developmental organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.  Kusuma currently offer the young people of Gibraltar the opportunity to partake in the VSO -ICS scheme, which is a youth programme aimed at 18-25 year olds, no previous experience is necessary or special qualifications needed. 

Through the VSO -ICS scheme the Kusuma Trust hope to give young people in Gibraltar the chance to experience a completely different culture in a duel impact approach which we hope will build international understanding, share skills and allow young people to contribute in a positive way. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO 

Gibraltar Junior Chess Festival 2012

The Gibraltar Junior Chess Festival sponsored by the Kusuma Trust and supported by the Gibraltar Sports and Leisure Authority was held  the weekend of the 17th August 2012. With 81 participants the tournament comprised of 37 unders 12's and 37 under 16's. Countries represented at the tournament included Gibraltar, UK, Hungary, Portugal and Spain. The festival encourages chess playing and promotes healthy competition and critical thinking in our youth but it is also a  fantastic way to build friendships and improve cross cultural relationships. 

Organiser Brian O'Callaghan with Chess Players 

The festival also included a fantastic educational opportunity for our young people to attend Master-classes. Presented by renowned Grandmasters such as Pia Crambling and Juan Bellon provides a  unique experience in itself. English International Master Jovanka Houska and Stuart Conquest both lead workshops and were were both at hand to help the young chess players improve their chess skills and being active promoters of chess .