Our story – and our Founder, John Vidal – written by Jen Vidal (Bates)
The Gumbi Education Fund (GEF) was founded in 2002 by John Vidal, my husband, who sadly died in October 2023 (John Vidal obituary | News article), together with Patrick Kamzitu in Malawi.
John was an Africa man – having been born in Accra, Ghana and grown up partly there and then in Nigeria due to the postings of his father. He became a journalist and the Guardian newspaper’s Environment Editor, a post he held for more than 25 years, taking him back to Africa many times, including to Malawi which he loved.
John thought of the Fund as his greatest achievement. He had started it personally in order to pay for secondary education for some children from the village of Gumbi after he met Kennedy there who had sold his precious ox cart to give his gifted sister Marghareda education that couldn’t have otherwise be afforded (see picture below of John with Kennedy).
John had travelled to Malawi professionally as a journalist to report on a severe hunger in 2002 and ended up in Gumbi after hearing that many people needing assistance at a feeding station had come from that village. John had typically gone to see for himself, visiting together with Patrick Kamzitu a local health worker, who went on to run the Fund in the community in Malawi.
This is the original article John wrote, having got back to Gumbi a few times to see how it was faring: An ox cart named Hope – Part One – Gumbi Education Fund and An ox cart named Hope – Part Two – Gumbi Education Fund. John was bowled over by the generosity of Guardian newspaper readers giving to support the Fund, and all who have kindly followed.
John continued to visit Gumbi many times over the following years – as much as he could, often making a personally financed detour on the way to or from assignments in Africa.
The Fund was run by John, supported by Trustees Jen Vidal (Bates) and Pauline Smout, and by Patrick Kamzitu in Malawi.
Current Administration of the Fund
Jen Vidal and fellow Trustees are committed to doing everything possible to continue the Fund as a key legacy of John’s life, for the benefit of the community in Malawi.
As before, all Trustees are voluntary , and the Gumbi Education Fund has no administrative costs beyond paying an honorarium to our Fund Co-ordinator in Malawi.
The Fund now has new and additional Trustees (while Pauline Smout has now stepped back), and further support in Malawi. The Fund is now operating under the umbrella of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action (CIVA) (http://civa.org.uk/) which gives the Fund the benefit of CIVA’s charitable status for applications to grant making Trusts and Foundations.
The Malawi Team
Patrick Kamzitu
Patrick is a Health Community Worker who works with the Ministry of Health in Malawi. Patrick works with the Gumbi community in giving vaccines to under five children and also to support the community to take action to reduce some preventable diseases.
Patrick met John Vidal in 2001 when the Gumbi community was badly hit by hunger. Very many children under 5 suffered malnutrition and a lot of people died from hunger.
Patrick was chosen by John Vidal to be the Gumbi Fund project coordinator and, working with the community, he chose the children to be assisted by the Fund for secondary school education.
Patrick is still the administrator of the Gumbi Education Fund in Malawi liaising between village education committees and schools, with University students and he also runs the Gumbi Alton Permaculture Project, which is a solution to end hunger and malnutrition amongst the people of the Gumbi community.
James Gomani
James was the first boy in the whole community to attend university in 2015 and graduated as one of the best students in 2019 with an equivalent of 1:2. Currently, he is working as a finance officer with SolarAid Malawi. His role focuses on operations and maintenance of sound financial systems and controls as SolarAid embarks on reaching out to 86% of Malawians that are not connected to the grid.
James is also working with Patrick in monitoring and tracking the finances and operations of the Gumbi Education Fund. He is mentoring young boys and girls to thrive with education and shape their career paths. He says that for him, “Education has not only been a key to a good life, but also an eye opener to solutions that my community needs to combat poverty.”
UK Trustees
Jen Vidal (Bates) – Chair
Jen is the widow of John Vidal and has been involved with the Fund as a Trustee since its inception. Jen has worked for Friends of the Earth (Friends of the Earth | Home), the UK’s biggest grassroots network dedicated to protecting people and planet, for more than 20 years. Previously Jen co-ordinated a local voluntary Friends of the Earth group while working a professional photographer specialising in the travel and charity sectors. Jen has visited Gumbi twice with John and in 2024 with Jenny Griffiths.
Jenny Griffiths
Following a career in health service management and public health (including sustainable development), Jenny has chaired several local charities and agencies in the south of England (e.g. Connexions Surrey, Headway Surrey, The Eikon Charity, Surrey Youth Consortium). She is a founder Trustee of Alton Climate Action Network in Hampshire www.altonclimatenetwork.org.uk which works in close partnership with the GEF to support sustainable farming practices.
Josephine Lane
After many years working as a leader in education Josephine changed career a year ago and now works for two different charities working as a legal immigration advisor to migrants and refugees. She was one of the early supporters of GEF when John Vidal launched the fund over twenty years ago and in 2023 was honoured to be asked to join the board of Trustees.
Madeleine Lane-Radcliffe
Madeleine studies International Relations and Spanish at The University of Birmingham and has had experience working with NGOs including Amnesty International. After visiting Gumbi village in June 2023 and witnessing the Fund’s amazing work both with local schools and sustainable agricultural projects, Madeleine became a Trustee. Madeleine is dedicated to the Fund’s future and alongside Sophie is focusing on the Fund’s publicity.
Sophie Groenheijde
Sophie was introduced to the GEF by Madeleine and became a Trustee in June 2023, following a visit to Gumbi village. Currently pursuing a degree in International Security Studies at Leiden University, Sophie brings experience from her involvement in various charitable initiatives, including Effective Altruism (EA) and Amnesty International projects. She is dedicated to advancing the Fund’s mission and, together with Madeleine, is focused on raising its public profile.