GoMakeADifference

Writing your project proposal

Go on... Apply today, start your journey to make a difference. GoMakeADifference grants are awarded for projects that make a difference!

To be considered for a grant, projects must be led by a student studying for their IBDP at any UWC school or college. Other UWC students of any age can support on a project.

Unfortunately, any projects led without a UWC studying for their IBDP will not be considered.

YOUR APPLICATION

Please first ensure that you meet the criteria before submitting your application, and also are aware of how the projects will be assessed. Then, when applying, you need to:

• Complete the online application form.
• Attach a Project Proposal document in PDF format with sections A-G completed;
  • Ensure you answer the questions and provide statements for each section as requested.
  • Applications without a full proposal covering sections A-F are unlikely to be successful.
  • Section G is optional.
• Consider the use of pictures/visuals in your proposal, although this is not essential.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

In writing your project proposal please ensure your application covers all Sections (see below).

• SECTION A: Introduction
• SECTION B: Project Details
• SECTION C: Project Action Plan
• SECTION D: Proposal Rationale
• SECTION E: Project Team Members
• SECTION F: Safety Statement and Risk Awareness
• SECTION G: Video

SECTION A: Introduction

This section provides a short overview of your project and must include the following information:

• A short title name of your project.
• A brief description of your project (maximum 20 words).
• The location of where your project will be delivered.
• The start and end dates of your project.
• How long students will be on location delivering the project (number of days).
• A contents page outlining the pages in your application with clearly marked sections A-E.

SECTION B: Project Details

This section provides you the opportunity to explain your project. Your proposal must include answers to the questions below, please use the following format in writing your response:

• Overview (max 150 words) – What in summary is your project about? Please provide a brief introduction of your proposed project.
• Problem (max 150 words) – What are the issues you want to address?
• Solution (max 300 words) – What activities do you and your team propose to deliver? How your project will address the issues you are concerned about?
• Benefits (max 300 words) – Who (including numbers of people) is likely to benefit? Why will the project will make a difference to them?
• People – Who are the people delivering this project? What is their current level at which UWC College/School? (e.g., UWC Adriatic IBDP1).

Please remember to include a word count immediately following section B.

SECTION C: Project Action Plan

This section identifies you have considered the activities, budget and timescales required to deliver your plan. Please ensure your plan includes a budget and timetable, use the following format in writing your proposal:

Budget Plan, covering:

• How much budget you need to deliver your project (note the grant award is a maximum of $2,000).
• How if successful, outline how the money will be spent? What resources are needed, from where they will be sourced, how much they will cost and what is the basis for the costings.
• If your budget is more than $2,000 then you will need to outline how you intend to meet the shortfall in order to ensure the project's success.

 
The timetable, outlining:

• What will be delivered when and by whom.
• Confirming, in a table format, the actions and proposed timescales.
  • What are the stages in the development and implementation of your project?
  • Who and when will you deliver theses stages?

SECTION D: Proposal Rationale

Provide answers to the following questions to demonstrates you have considered the originality and likelihood of success for your project:

• Why do you think your project is original? Are there other projects already addressing these issues? Is this project different from other projects addressing these issues, and if so, how?
• How you think your project can have a level of sustainability once the project team have left the location?
• What measures will you put in place to judge the project's success.
• What would a successful or unsuccessful outcome look like?

SECTION E: Project Team Members

This section allows you to give us information about the people responsible for delivering the project. It should include:

• Details about you and other team members: (Maximum 200 words from each project leader, all must be UWC students) answering:
• What if any relevant experience you/project team have to help you deliver this project?
• Why you want to deliver this project? What has motivated you to apply and make a difference in this way?
• What you think are the personal challenges you expect to encounter in developing and implementing the project? How will you overcome those challenges in delivering this project? How do you think you will develop personally by delivering your project?
• Helping your future – How may delivering this project be relevant to whatever you may want to do in the future (A maximum of 300 words for each person).
• Details of anyone else helping.
• Is there any third party support helping you on this project, if so, who? This could include college staff, alumni, parents, NGOs, friends, etc.

SECTION F: Safety Statement and Risk Awareness

Confirming you have thought about the safety implications for you, the team and people affected by your project.

We do not want you to deliver your project if it is not completely safe for you and everyone affected by your project. Please ensure you have considered any safety implications which your project may have and answer the following questions:

• What are any potential risks to you or people affected by the project?
• How would you minimise those risks? How would you ensure your project can be delivered with no risk to you or anyone else?
• Is your project legal (not breaking any laws in your country or the country where your project is being delivered)?
• Do you have the approval of your parents and your school co-ordinator to run this project?

SECTION G: Video

This is an optional requirement. A short video (maximum 3 minutes) presenting yourselves and your project can be sent as part of your application. Provide a URL link in your PDF document confirming that a video has been provided with your application.

When you submit your application and upload your proposal, there will be the option to upload a link to where we can view your video (This could be Dropbox, Google Drive or YouTube) – just send us the link and we will view it as part of reviewing your application.

This is not a mandatory requirement for your application, although it is desirable. A video can provide an opportunity for the awarding panel to gain a greater understanding of your project and the people involved who hope to make a difference.

(Please note this is optional, so please do not worry if you do not have the facility or ability to produce a short video. A video will help the awarding panel, but will not be valued on its own merit. All successful projects will need to have a project proposal with sections A, B, C, D. E & F as highlighted above.)

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PLEASE REMEMBER:

Applications are more likely to be successful if the document submitted provides answers all the questions and is in the format requested and the project plan demonstrates:

• Creativity and imagination - something that is different or covers topics around peace, sustainability, social justice, conflict resolution and bridge building to improve solutions.
• Impact for the people affected.
• Resilience and commitment from students.
• A challenge.
• Personal development for students.
• A level of sustainability and a probability of success.
• It is delivered outside of term time and is not part of current curriculum activity.

 
Projects less likely to be successful may include:

• Gifting ideas – Where students are merely using the funds to buy items to make a difference, without any innovation, personal development or challenge.
• Education initiatives – That show little innovation to projects delivered in previous years, for example just teaching English or a repeat of previously run short summer camps.
• Where the application is missing fundamental components of the project plan – If there is no budget, no timescales plan or the application lacks the required detail to fully allow us to assess the project is unlikely to be successful.

Testimonials

I received a GoMAD grant for a HIV Youth Awareness Campaign in Nairobi back in 2002. Here I am now, founder of an organization that is riding on the same philosophy. I am so excited to honor Jill and Colin on the impact that they had in what I do now.

— Umra Omar (Founder/Director of Safari Doctors)