A Q&A for Middlebury Students
about "100 Projects for Peace"
This is the Middlebury College version of the information posted at the 100 Projects for Peace web site.
What do you mean by "100 Projects for Peace"?
100 Projects for Peace is an initiative for all students at the Davis United World College Scholars Program schools to design their own grassroots projects for peace that they themselves will implement anywhere in the world during the summer of 2007. Through a competition on 76 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.
Who is funding this and why?
100 Projects for Peace is being funded by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist who is now in her 100th year of life. She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis UWC Scholars Program currently involving 76 American colleges and universities. Middlebury College recently named our Summer Language School of Russian in her honor. Mrs. Davis feels some urgency to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world and so is committing $1 million to fund one hundred $10,000 projects for peace. She believes that today's youth – tomorrow's leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.
What do you mean by "projects for peace"?
Intentionally, no clear definition is offered so as not to limit participation or one's imagination. We leave it up to the students to define what a "project for peace" might be. We hope to encourage initiative, creativity, and innovation. The overall program (all 100 projects) is to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere and as grassroots as desired, including in the U.S.
Who is eligible to design a "project for peace"?
Undergraduate students at each of the 76 Davis UWC Scholar schools (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) are eligible. While the schools included are restricted to those in the Davis UWC Scholars Program, all undergraduates (not just Davis UWC Scholars at those schools) are eligible. Groups of students from the same campus, as well as individual students, may submit proposals.
How does the funding for these projects work?
Mrs. Davis has committed $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace in 2007 with the funding per project limited to $10,000. Students are welcome to submit proposals for more expensive projects if they are able to secure co-funding from other sources (such as other philanthropists, a college or university, foundation, NGO/PVO or students' own fundraising). Evidence of co-funding for projects costing greater than $10,000 should be included in the budget section of the proposal.
How does a student (or group of students) make a proposal?
To be considered, a student (or group of students) must prepare a written proposal that describes the project, including expected outcomes and prospects for its future impact (not to exceed two pages). Each student, or group of students, must answer these questions in the proposal:
What differentiates you from others who are applying for this grant in terms of your skills and talents?
How will you translate those skills and talents into a project related to world peace? And
How will you draw on Middlebury's faculty, staff, and fellow students, as well as networks off campus, to develop a project that is both practical and can be implemented within the proposed budget?
Proposals should include a budget (one page), plus pre-approval of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project. The three-page proposal should be submitted electronically to projectsforpeace@middlebury.edu by the deadline outlined below. Please type "Projects for Peace" in the subject line for the message.
How are these proposals judged at Middlebury?
Proposals at Middlebury will initially be reviewed by a committee that will be organized by President Liebowitz. This committee will recommend funding for at least two proposals to the Davis UWC Scholar Program office. Final review and approval of all recommended proposals from individual campuses rests solely with the office of the Davis UWC Scholars Program which will then forward the appropriate grant funds to each school with winning projects.
How will the 100 grants be awarded?
The intention is to fund 100 projects, with at least one at each of the 76 Davis UWC Scholar schools. Middlebury College has been invited to submit two proposals for funding and one or two additional proposals as alternates that might be funded as well. In addition, President Liebowitz has committed to funding a third proposal from his presidential discretionary funds. Final decisions on all grants are made by the Davis UWC Scholars Program office. Grants are made upon assurance that the project proposed will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2007.
What is the timetable for proposals and decisions?
- During the fall of 2006: Student should begin to work on developing their proposals paying particular attention to securing the approval of those parties and organizations whose permission or support will be required to complete the project.
- All student proposals from Middlebury College must be submitted electronically to projectsforpeace@middlebuy.edu by January 15, 2007.
- Each campus will submit their recommended proposals to the Davis UWC Scholars office by February 15, 2007.
- The Davis UWC Scholars office will send final decisions on all winning proposals to campus officials by March 15, 2007.
- All grants will be distributed to the grant winners by March 30, 2007.
- Alternates will be informed if their proposals have been selected in April 2007.
- Projects must be started during the summer of 2007. In some cases, work on the project may continue after the summer, subject to the $10,000 limit in funding by Mrs. Davis, if substantial progress can be reported by the end of the summer.
- Final reports are due to Davis UWC Scholars office by September 15, 2007.
What is required for each project's final report?
For each funded project, the responsible student(s) must prepare and submit a final report (or a substantial progress report) by September 15, 2007, submitted electronically to both the campus official and to the Davis UWC Scholars office. The final report is to be limited to two pages of narrative with an accounting of the funds expended and one page of digital photographs of the project. The narrative should include: a brief restatement of the project's purpose/plans, actual work completed, outcomes/achievements, including reference to one's personal growth/failures, and long-term prospects of the initiative. Reports will be posted on the program's website for all to see and learn from. A complete set of reports will be compiled for Mrs. Davis and her family as a way of thanking her for her belief and investment in young and motivated peacemakers.
For more information ...
A web site for 100 Projects for Peace can be found at the following address: http://www.kwd100projectsforpeace.org/.
Questions on matters of clarification for Middlebury students may be sent to projectsforpeace@middlebury.edu. Please type "Projects for Peace" in the subject line of your message. Project ideas and proposals may not be submitted in advance for review or pre-approval. The intent is to rely on student initiative to explore new ideas for building peace in the 21st century.