Just a reminder that the deadline for applications for Davis Projects for Peace funding is coming up January 28, 2014?
Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative for all students at the Davis United World College Scholars Program partner schools (of which Swarthmore College is one!) to design grassroots projects for the summer of 2014 – anywhere in the world – which promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties. Through a competition on over 90 campuses, projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each. Davis Projects for Peace has been funded by Kathryn W. Davis, a renown internationalist and philanthropist.
Eligibility
First years, sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Groups of students from the same campus, as well as individual students, may submit proposals.
Important Dates
The proposal deadline is Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Final decisions will be rendered by Davis UWC Scholars office to campus officials in mid-March, with funds released in early – mid April. Projects should be completed during summer of 2014, with final reports due September 1, 2014.
Selection Process @ Swat
There will be a two-stage selection process: proposal and, if selected, interview.
1. PROPOSAL
To be considered, a student (or group of students) must prepare a written statement which describes the project (who, what, where, how) including expected outcomes and prospects for future impact (not to exceed two pages) as well as a budget (one separate page). Proposals should include pre-approval (in the form of a letter or letters of support) of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project. The two-page proposal and one-page budget should be submitted electronically as a .doc to Jennifer Magee (jmagee1@swarthmore.edu) by Tuesday, January 28, 2014.
2. INTERVIEW
The selection committee will invite select applicants to interview. The interviews will be held during the first week(s) of February, exact date, time and location is TBD. Then the selection committee will recommend proposal(s) – a first choice and an alternate – to Davis UWC Scholars office for their review and ultimate selection.
What do you mean by “projects for peace”?
The funder hopes to encourage student initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship focusing on conflict prevention, resolution or reconciliation. Applicants are encouraged to use their creativity to design projects and employ innovative techniques for engaging project participants in ways that focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers which cause conflict, and finding solutions for resolving conflict and maintaining peace. Some of the most compelling projects to date have reflected one or more of the following characteristics:
- ameliorating conditions leading to violence/conflict;
- looking for and building on shared attributes among differing peoples, races, ethnicities, tribes, clans, etc.;
- fostering diplomacy or otherwise contribute to advancing peace processes underway;
- promoting economic opportunity and entrepreneurship among those in post-conflict areas;
- finding creative ways to bring people on opposite sides of issues together, such as through art, sports, music or other techniques to promote a common humanity;
- developing leadership and mediation skills training for those in conflict or post-conflict societies;
- starting or leveraging initiatives, organizations (e.g. education, health)
- infrastructure projects to build/rebuild community.
In general, projects should be building blocks for a sustainable peace. Specific projects may be undertaken anywhere in the world, including in the U.S.
To learn more…
1. Attend an information session on Thursday, December 12, 2-3 PM at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility.
2. Read past recipients’ project reports. Email jmagee1 to obtain electronic copies.
3. Contact Jennifer Magee (jmagee1) with questions.
4. Visit Davis Projects for Peace website. **Please note: Communication between students and the Davis UWC Scholar Program is prohibited.**
For examples of past successful projects, visit http://bit.ly/19VrRKf