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 2013. Through a competition on more than 90 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.
Funding
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 United World College Scholars Program currently involving over more than 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.
Definition
Intentionally, no clear definition is offered so as not to limit the imagination. Students are charged with defining what a "project for peace" might be. The hope is 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.
Eligibility
Undergraduate students at invited schools (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) are eligible. Groups of students from the same campus, as well as individual students, may submit proposals.
The Proposal
To be considered, a student (or group of students) must submit:
Proposals must include pre-approval of all parties and organizations involved in the project. The proposal should be submitted electronically to Dean Xiangming Chen (xiangming.chen@trincoll.edu) at the Center for Urban and Global Studies in January. Please return to this page for the January 2013 deadline date.
Direct questions to Xiangming Chen or via phone at (860) 297-5170.
Judging
A selection committee headed by Dean Xiangming Chen of the Center for Urban and Global Studies will use the established criteria in evaluating the proposals prior to submitting finalists to UWC. The review committee consists of:
Amy Brough, Director of Institutional Support
Xiangming Chen, Dean of Urban and Global Studies
Kristin Connelly, Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Michael Lestz, Associate Professor of History
Jason Rojas, Director of Community Relations
Applicants must have:
Thoughtfully conceived a project that is likely to succeed
Included a budget that is comprehensive and realistic
Established relationships with any partner organization
Thought out and included a plan for sharing lessons learned with the College community upon completion of the project (this can take place any number of ways)
One proposal for funding and one or two additional proposals as alternates that might be funded will be submitted to United World College by the selection committee.
Final review and approval of all recommended proposals from individual campuses rests solely with the office of the Davis United World College Scholars Program, which will then forward the appropriate grant funds to Trinity with notification of winning project(s).
Grants are made upon assurance that the project proposed will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2013.
Final Report
For each funded project, the responsible student(s) must prepare and submit a final report by September 30, 2013, submitted electronically to Anne Lundberg at anne.lundberg@trincoll.edu, which will then be forwarded 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/failures, and long-term prospects of the initiative. Reports will be posted on the program’s Web site. A complete set of reports will be compiled for Mrs. Davis and her family as a way of thanking her for her faith and investment in young and motivated peacemakers.