Criteria

Do you want to live the UWC ideal after you graduate, but don't have the money to do it?

Is GoMakeADifference for you?

Are you excited about the prospect of receiving a grant for your potential project? To be a successful GoMakeADifference grant applicant, projects must meet the following criteria:

Criteria for your GoMakeADifference project:

  • GoMakeADifference is only open to current UWC students. Projects must be in led by 1st or 2nd year students studying for their IBDP at any UWC school or college.
  • It must put the UWC mission into action, answering a real need of the recipients and leave an enduring benefit to the community they are serving.
  • It should be your own initiatives and creation, but can be within an already existing NGO.
  • It can be carried out anywhere in the world, but experience so far has shown that those students who return to their country of origin contribute the most.
  • The minimum period for a project is 4 weeks (excluding travel/start up). You can do the project the summer you graduate or as part of a gap year – you say when it’s best.
  • The project should be identified and carefully planned ahead of its start date. You should produce a well-prepared and budgeted application.
  • Projects delivered by a smaller number of participants will be favoured
    • Generally a project should be delivered by one or two people, but we recognise that some projects may require more people.
    • Larger projects may require a team and possibly more than two project leaders.
  • Grants are unlikely to exceed $2,000 – it is meant to be catalyst seed money.
    • However if students can demonstrate why they would benefit from additional funding then additional funding may be possible.
  • The project needs to demonstrate it can be delivered in a safe manner with no risk to anyone.  We shall be seeking assurances in this regard from your teachers, parents or other relevant people.

When thinking of a project...

  • Develop a project which will leave a significant and enduring benefit.
  • Include a personal challenge for you and any students going with you. Besides helping other people, it is important that you learn some skills and develop your own identity and belief in yourself.
  • Remember, in this regard, small projects may be seen as representing a bigger personal challenge. Try to keep your group as small as possible. If you can do it alone, then go for it.
  • Bear in mind there are advantages if the project is in an environment familiar to the project leader. Far away is not necessarily a benefit. And you don’t have to restrict yourself to developing countries. Developed countries have their problems too.
  • Your project is more likely to be successful if it demonstrates innovation with a creative idea that has not been delivered before.
    • Projects based around sustainability, peace and social justice are likely to have a better chance of being granted an award
  • Consider when developing your project plan how the applications will be assessed. Have you covered all aspects to give your application the best chance of success? Our guide will show you how.

Be original! Originality is one way of challenging yourself. Do something you haven’t done before.

Be inspired, check our case studies of projects delivered by students who were just like you!

Think about the UWC mission statement. Think of a project which helps to foster peace and a sustainable future by uniting peoples, nations and cultures... and then apply for a GoMakeADifference grant!

Testimonials

As a team and as a village, we would like to pass our sincere gratitude to the Go Make a Difference grant scheme – through which a massive difference and impact has been done on the lives of hundreds of villagers in the Kolonyama community. We stand in eternal gratitude to Colin and Jill for creating this selfless grant scheme.

— Nthati & Morero Mofolo, Hydro-Pure project (2021)