Tom Jolly

Tom Jolly started his career at Plymouth Polytechnic in 1986 successfully graduating in Environmental Sciences and followed this with his PGCE from Bath in Environmental, Agricultural and Rural Sciences. Having secured employment as a secondary science teacher he coordinated Environmental Education at his school which benefited from extensive activities in environmental education development. Tom was a founder member of Plymouth Young People’s Agenda 21 back in 1993.

Taking up a post in Lima, Peru in 1996 to help develop a more ‘environmental’ focus within a proposed new ‘national curriculum’, Tom was quickly absorbed into the vast experience of Peruvian education. He continued to develop the work but with a new focus on 'Education for Sustainable Development' working closely with the Catholic University in Lima, an assortment of NGOs throughout the country and with Peace Child International from the UK. Between 1996 and 2002 Tom with his colleagues published numerous materials for teachers and students, coordinated a multitude of projects, trained numbers of teachers and generally promoted the cause of Education for Sustainable Development in Peru.

During his trips back to the UK a gradual interest was building from schools across the country to be learning about South America within their global studies. As a result a second side of Tom’s work began to develop here in the UK; working with schools on Peru and sustainable development issues.

A ‘look’ or name to the work was required and the name GlobalEd came to mind. In 2009 GlobalEd became a registered company in the UK, trading as a 'Community interest Company' (cic). Believing that education should be free but recognising that trade is better than aid in terms of development and implementation, GlobalEd seeks to help bring benefit to the communities with whom we work.

Tom is married to his Peruvian wife Jessica, probably one of the most tolerant of people, who enjoys a busy life studying for her degree in historic artefact restoration, running her hostal in Lima and producing fabulous jewellery. When the pair are not engaged in work they enjoy the outdoor life, family and friends.