Questions & Answers
What do you mean by “Projects for Peace”?
Davis 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 2009. Through a competition on over 90 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.
Who is funding this and why?
Davis Projects for Peace is being funded by Kathryn W. Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist (who earned a B.A. from Wellesley, an M.A. from Columbia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva) who is now over 101 years old. She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis UWC Scholars Program currently involving over 90 American colleges and universities. 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 the imagination. We leave it up to the students to define what a “project for peace” might be. We hope to encourage creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. 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 any of the Davis UWC Scholar schools (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) are eligible – so long as the president of their institution has signed and returned the grant agreement form. 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. Note: Again for this year, Davis Projects for Peace grants will include selected International Houses around the world, organized by International House, New York. Kathryn Davis and her husband lived in International House while working on their masters’ degrees at Columbia many years ago, and Kathryn remains a staunch supporter of International House.
How does the funding for these projects work?
Mrs. Davis has committed $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace in 2009. While Davis funding per project is limited to $10,000, projects with larger budgets are welcome as is co-funding from other sources (such as other philanthropists, a college or university, foundation, NGO/PVO or student’s own fundraising). Note: Additional funding has been committed for projects submitted by International House.
How does a student (or group of students) make a 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 of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project. The two-page proposal and one-page budget should be submitted electronically to the designated official at each campus as outlined below. Students with queries may direct them to their campus designated official as communication between students writing proposals and the Davis UWC Scholars office is prohibited.
How are the proposals submitted and judged?
Each involved campus has a designated official to coordinate the process on each campus. This official, in ways s/he deems appropriate, will guide the internal campus procedures for: announcing and promoting the opportunity to students; organizing the selection committee to evaluate the proposals submitted; communicating results on a timely basis to the Davis UWC Scholars office; and distributing the awarded grant funds for the winning proposal(s) on campus. 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 project(s).
How will the 100 grants be awarded?
The intention is to fund 100 projects, with at least one at each of the Davis UWC Scholar schools. Therefore, all involved schools are invited to select and submit one proposal for funding and one alternate proposal that might be funded as well. Final decisions on all grants are made by the Davis UWC Scholars Program office. Grants are made upon assurance that the project will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2009.
What is the timetable for proposals and decisions?
- During the fall of 2008: details of the school’s participation are finalized; promotion on campus by school officials; creation of selection processes and appointment of evaluation committees on campuses; and further communication, if necessary, between the Davis UWC Scholars office and school officials (communication between students writing proposals and the Davis UWC Scholars office is prohibited).
- All student proposals must be submitted electronically to Nate Jacobi (jacobi@stolaf.edu) in the Center for Experiential Learning by January 16, 2009.
- Recommended proposals must be determined and submitted (electronically as an attachment) by campus officials to Davis UWC Scholars office no later than February 16, 2009.
- Final decision on all winning proposals rendered by Davis UWC Scholars office to campus officials by March 16, 2009.
- All grant payment letters signed by recipient schools AND student proposers due by March 31, 2009.
- Grant payments to the schools will be made shortly after all agreements have been received by the Davis UWC Scholars office.
- Any alternates selected will be finally agreed to in April 2009.
- Projects completed during summer of 2009.
- Final reports due to Davis UWC Scholars office by September 14, 2009.
What is required for each project’s final report?
Each funded project must submit a final report to the UWC Scholars office by September 14, 2009. The final report is to be limited to two pages of narrative using the final report form for 2009 posted on the website. It also includes an additional one-page accounting of the funds expended. Students have the option of including up to 3 digital photos, attaching them to the end of their two-page report. Final reports are submitted on disk to the Davis UWC office by the authorized campus contact. Reports will be posted on the program’s website for all to see and learn from.