World Mandela Day

Two charities, The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664, are calling for the establishment of a global "Mandela Day" to mark the former South African President's birthday on 18th July. The charities are hosting events in New York this year but want the marking of the date to be an annual, global event.

The aims of the charities are for people in all corners of the planet to give 67 minutes of their time to good causes every 18th July. The 67 minutes reflecting the 67 years Mandela spent as an activist. 46664 and The Nelson Mandela Foundation hope that marking this day each year will be a "call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better".

In a statement released by Mandela he says "We would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation."

The charity 46664 (the number Mandela wore during his years in prison) was formed to increase HIV/Aids awareness.

Read the BBC news story here.

Read more about "Mandela Day" on the 46664 website.

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Quest Overseas at yet more Gap Year Fairs

Once again we here at Quest Overseas will be at various Gap Year fairs across the southern end of the country this week.

Starting with Andy and Jon at Esher College in Surrey today. They will be giving a talk as well as attending the fair from 2 - 8pm so do go and say hi! Click here for directions to Esher College.

Later today Si will be at Bryanston School in Dorset from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Directions down to the school can be found here!

Tomorrow (29th April) Si will be giving a talk and presentation about gap years at Richmond College at 12:15pm. For information on how to find Richmond College click here.

Thursday 30th April we will be at Berkhamsted Collegiate School in Hertfordshire for another gap year fair from 7pm. Once again click here for directions to the school!

It would be fantastic to see you at these events so if you do have any questions or would like any advice about Gap Years do come and say hi to us!

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Boliva and Paraguay put a land dispute and war behind them.

Bolivia and Paraguay have signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which led to a bitter war in the 1930s.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, who signed the pact in Buenos Aires with Paraguayan counterpart Fernando Lugo, described it as historic.

Argentina has played a key role in resolving the dispute.

Mr Morales blamed multi-national oil firms - in their quest for natural resources - for fuelling the Chaco war, which claimed 100,000 lives.

The key energy companies operating in the region at the time were US Standard Oil, backed by Bolivia, and the Anglo-Dutch Shell Oil company, supported by Paraguay.

President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries without any foreign intervention."

Rich in mineral and energy resources, Bolivia is one of South America's poorest countries.


From the bbc
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Well done to Quest Marathon girls

It was a scorcher! But they all finished it, a massive well done to ex-Quest students Amy Hammond, Heather Rayment and Jenny Bloomfield for completing the 26.2 mile London Marathon yesterday.

They made it look so easy, Heather was still waving at the crowds on the final straight, Amy had hardly broken into a sweat at mile 20 and Jenny was knocking back the Corona and lime within half an hour of crossing the finishing line - we'd like to think Quest helped make them like this!

With the 2010 marathon already open for applications, the London Marathon website had crashed with all the hits from potential new runners - don't think Jordan's completing it makes it easy though (well done to Katie by the way - she raised £220,000 for her charity Vision!)

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