Your Project Proposal

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

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 2-STEP APPLICATION

The application process is made up of 2 parts, an application form online, and your Project Proposal PDF document.

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

  1. Complete the online application form.
    • Ensure you answer the questions and provide statements for each section as requested.
  2. Attach a Project Proposal document in PDF format with sections A-G completed;
    • 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.

(To help cover everything, you may wish to download the Project Proposal Requirements (PDF, 160KB). This may be useful to ensure you have everything before you submit your application).


PROJECT PROPOSAL

You must ensure your application covers all Sections outlined below.


SECTION A: Introduction

A short overview of your project, to include the following information:

  • A short title (name) of your project.
  • A brief description of your project (max 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-G.
SECTION B: Project Details

This section gives the opportunity to explain your project in detail. 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? Provide a brief introduction of your proposed project.
  • Problem (max 150 words) – What are the issues you want to address, and why?
  • Solution (max 300 words) – What activities do you and your team propose to deliver? How does your project address the issues you are concerned about?
  • Benefits (max 300 words) – Who (including numbers of people) is likely to benefit? Why will this make a difference to them?
  • People – Who is 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 confirms you have considered the activities, budget and timescales required to deliver your plan, using the following format:

Budget plan:

  • How much budget you need to deliver your project (the grant award maximum is $2,000).
  • How the money will be spent. What resources are needed and from where will they be sourced, how much will they cost and what is the basis for the costings.
  • If your budget is more than $2,000, outline how you intend to gain the extra budget to ensure your project's success.

The timetable:

  • What will be delivered when and by whom.
  • Confirming, in a table format, the activities and proposed timescales.
    • What are the stages in the development and implementation of your project?
    • Who and when will you deliver these stages?
SECTION D: Proposal Rationale

Provide answers to the following questions (to demonstrate 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? How is your project different to others?
  • How do you think your project can be sustainable in future (especially when 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 provides information about the people responsible for delivering the project.

  • Details about you and other team members: (Max 300 words per project leader, all must be UWC students) answering:
    • What if any relevant experience do you/project team have to 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? How might you develop personally as a result?
    • Helping your future – How may delivering this project be relevant to your future goals? (Max 300 words per person).
  • Details of anyone else helping.
    • Is there any external support helping, 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, answering:

  • 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 (max 3 minutes) presenting yourselves and your project can be sent as part of your application. Be very clear by including SECTION G and providing a link to your video in your PDF document.

When you submit your application and upload your proposal, there is a link to upload a video (this could be Dropbox, Google Drive or YouTube) – from your link we will view your video when 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.)


APPLY NOW

If you are confident your project meets the criteria and have completed your plan with all sections (A-G, with G being optional) then apply now to upload your proposal in PDF format.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Applications will not be considered unless they are in the format required.

Projects more likely to be successful may include:

  • Creativity and imagination - something 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.

Check out case studies of previous projects from past students just like you!

Projects less likely to be successful may include:

  • Gifting ideas – Merely using the funds to buy items 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.

Good luck!

Be original, do something you haven’t done before, and challenge yourself! 

Testimonials

Photo of Lia Quartapelle

I cannot forget what we learnt and the service we gave in 2001, and now, in my new position as MP, I am very proud of what we did and grateful for the opportunity I had.

— Lia Quartapelle (member of the Italian Democratic Party)