US Presidential Service Awards 2009

America has a long and proud tradition of volunteer service. Now more than ever, volunteers are renewing their commitment to helping others and making new connections that bring us closer together as families, as neighbors, as communities, and as a Nation.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities and encourage more people to serve. Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

To date, the President’s Council has partnered with more than 80 Leadership Organizations and more than 28,000 Certifying Organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the Nation's deserving volunteers.

Awards are available at bronze, silver, and gold levels for kids who have volunteered over 50 hours in a year, and adults who have volunteered over 100 hours. If you are a US organization and are interested in getting these awards for volunteers, get more information here.


I feel this is an amazing way to celebrate volunteering and social service. I wonder if we have something similar in India too?

The Girl Effect

Just saw an interesting video presented by the Nike Foundation and NoVo Foundation about the cycle of poverty in small villages and the impact one person can have in breaking that cycle. The concept is called the Girl Effect, and the idea behind it is that the life of one girl effects the lives of many others (her children, husband, brother, sister, mother, etc..). As an educated mother, citizen, entrepreneur and employee, she can make a difference.

Learn more about the Girl Effect.

2009 Nation Student Writing Contest

Sponsored by the BIL Charitable Trust to recognize and reward the best in student writing

How has the recession affected you, your family or someone you know?

Essays should not exceed 800 words and should be original, unpublished work that demonstrates fresh, clear thinking and superior quality of expression and craftsmanship. Winners receive $1000 and are published in The Nation magazine.

We'll select five high school and five collegiate finalists and two winners--one from college, one from high school. Each winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a Nation subscription. The winning essays will be published in a special youth issue of the magazine in October, 2009,  and will be featured at TheNation.com. The finalists will be awarded $250 each and subscriptions, and their entries will be published online.


Entries (only one per student) will be accepted through May 31, 2009. A winner will be announced by September 15.

Please send entries to studentprize@thenation.com

Apply to become a Fellow at TEDIndia

TED has opened up its application procedure for finding 100 TED Fellows to attend TEDIndia in Mysore, held Nov. 4-7, 2009.

TED Fellows will attend TEDIndia, join a two-day Fellows pre-conference event before TED starts, and then take advantage of all that the TEDIndia conference has to offer -- amazing TED talks, performances and demos; conversation and connection with TED attendees and speakers; mind-expanding insight. It's an experience that may be life-changing ... see the TED Fellows blog for insights from current fellows.

TEDIndia Fellows will be drawn from many disciplines that reflect the diversity of TED's members: technology, entertainment, design, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, NGOs, business ... and we're especially looking for international applicants. Tell your friends!

Find out more about the TED Fellows program >>
Apply to become a TED Fellow at TEDIndia >>

Applications close June 15, 2009, at noon.

PS: Read our Facebook note full of tips for applying to become a TED Fellow >>

Indicorps initiates the Young Professionals Initiative

Indicorps invites YOU, a young Indian professional, to commit your time and skills to India!  Young Professionals Initiative (YPI), a new sabbatical program at Indicorps, allows you to meaningfully bring your knowledge and talents to your land of heritage.  This pilot program of YPI gives you an opportunity to participate in short-term, goal-oriented service projects that can have an enormous impact.

 

The projects include:

 

• Legal: Amend Gujarat court processes to reduce sizeable backlog of cases
• Finance:  Assist a socially responsible start-up to create robust franchise systems and strong local entrepreneurs
• Information Technology: Integrate information systems for bottom of the pyramid start-up business
• Marketing:  Capture stories to generate interest in Ahmedabad's unique 600-year heritage
• Environmental Planning: Reinvigorate urban environmental policies for walled-city of Ahmedabad
• Education: Formulate innovative public-private partnerships to increase the adult literacy rate
• Education Policy: Strategize comprehensive action plan for statewide vocational programs

 

YPI hopes to empower young professionals to understand that their potential extends beyond 'traditional' jobs.  As with all Indicorps programs, YPI Associates will be constantly challenged and encourage to explore their roles as changemakers. 

 

The program begins with a week-long orientation and includes a mid-point and close-out workshop to track progress and share experiences.  Successful candidates for YPI will have at least three years of work experience in a capacity relevant to their applicable project.

 

YPI Term: 1 July to 1 December 2009

 

For more information and to apply, please visit us online at:  www.indicorps.org/ypi.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (preference will be given to applications before 1 May 2009) until the start date.

 

Please contact us at ypi@indicorps.org with any questions.

 

Warm regards in service,

The Indicorps Team

Dell Social Innovation Competetion shortlists projects

Out of the 527 ideas, Dell has selected 100 ideas to move forward and compete in the next round of the competition. Check out the semifinalists listed on the website. Really happy to see some interesting ideas to change the world.

More ideas on Dell Social Innovation Competition website.

Self Sustainable Apartments


Rural Research & Consultancy


Solarcycle


SWEET India: Safe Water for Everyone using Efficient Technology

Scholarships to 2009 Greener-by-Design Conference

Steelcase, the global manufacturer of office furnishings, has funded four student scholarships to the 2009 Greener by Design conference. The four lucky student winners of the Steelcase Sustainable Design Contest will receive full conference registration, as well as travel and lodging at the event, scheduled to take place May 19-20, in San Francisco, CA.

Entering is easy:

1) Write 500 words or less about your design—defined broadly as a product, service, or business venture—with an environmental/social benefit.

2) Briefly express—through the media of your choosing—how you view the intersection of design and corporate responsibility, and your perspective on how design can play a catalytic role improving people’s lives. You can submit a photo, a short statement, or even a youtube video.

3) Submit the above materials plus a brief application form to info@netimpact.org.

Applications will be judged by Net Impact, Steelcase, and GreenBiz.com. Please note that all applicants must be full-time students.

Hurry – the application deadline is Friday, April 24, 2009.

Learn more about the contest at http://www.netimpact.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=2711

IFPRI Social Media Intern Opportunity

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in Washington DC, is one of the world's leading research institutions on international development and is seeking to fill an internship position in its Communications Division for Summer 2009. The internship offers a unique opportunity to help expand coverage of IFPRI projects through the promotion of research publications and policy-related events on various social media platforms.

Essential Duties:

Under the guidance of IFPRI's Head of Library and Knowledge Management team, the intern will:

·         Maintain up-to-date information on IFPRI's social networking profiles:  Facebook, LinkedIn, Slideshare, YouTube, using each platform's core features

·         Experiment with new social media platforms and offer strategic advice on how IFPRI can leverage its presence in these platforms to reach new audiences

·         Conduct research on best practices for nonprofits participating in online social media and write short briefs based on these findings

·         Monitor IFPRI's mentions in other online media, including blogs and international news sites

·         Track usage statistics and membership rates and work with Library and Knowledge Management team to ensure sustained growth and active participation among online community members

·         Recruit friends, contacts, and networks for IFPRI and encourage online discussions through regular postings and timely responses to friend requests, etc.

·         Attend Communications Working Group Meetings and liaise with program staff to gather appropriate content for posting

·         Participate in production and editing of audio and video content for posting to online media sites

Required Skills:

Student seeking a graduate or undergraduate degree in International Affairs, International Development, Journalism, Communications, or related field. The ideal candidate must possess excellent writing skills and demonstrated experience in online community management. We are looking for someone who is highly organized and able to work flexibly, quickly and collaboratively with technical and non-technical staff alike and be willing to take initiative as new audiences and platforms emerge. Preferred qualification: fluency in a foreign language.

 

To apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to Sarah Immenschuh - s.immenschuh [at] cgiar.org - 202-862-5679

Chirag 1-year Fellowship with a Rural Grassroots Org

Greetings from Chirag! It is indeed that time of the year again! We are just commencing promotion for the third cohort of Swades ki Khoj - a program that provides young graduates between the ages of 21 and 28 with an opportunity to spend a year living and working in a rural area.

We would be delighted to answer any other queries that you may have and welcome suggestions and comments as well.

More details on www.chirag.org or contact youth@chirag.org

Click on image to see details



Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG) is a non-profit grass roots development organisation registered under Societies Act (1860). CHIRAG is dedicated to empowerment of rural communities through their integrated development and has been working in the Indian Central Himalayas since 1986.

Master in E-Government - SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS for the International Professional Master in E-government at the University of Trento, Italy are being offered. The masters constitutes an excellent opportunity to learn technologies and work with companies on concrete projects, and hence with great employment opportunities. A strong background in basic Computer Science is required.

International Master in eGovernment
November 2009 - September 2010
Trento, Italy

To apply for admission to the Master in eGovernment, please complete the Application Form online:
http://disi.unitn.it/edu/appform/login.xml

Application Deadlines:
- April 30, 2009 for Non-EU applicants
- May 31, 2009 for EU applicants

If you are interested in the program or would like to know more about it please follow the link: http://latemar.science.unitn.it/egov.html

Contact - Anelia Grigorova <anelia@dit.unitn.it> 

Student essay contest on Middle East Development

Hands Along The Nile Development Services (HANDS) is proud to sponsor the 2009 Essay Contest. HANDS is looking for students to articulate the importance of their work in the form of an essay. Information about HANDS' work can be found at www.handsalongthenile.org.

 

Applicants are required to submit an essay (no more than 2,500 words) on the following topic: How is community development in the Middle East important to the U.S.? Why is it particularly crucial to focus on Egypt?

 

To participate, students must be a United States citizen and be a registered full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited college or university in the United States at the time of entry. There will be one first prize winner, one second prize winner, one third prize winner and two honorable mentions. The first prize winner will receive $5,000, the second prize winner will receive $2,500, the third prize winner will receive $1,500, and the two honorable mentions will receive $500 each.

 

Entries must be postmarked no later than July 4th. For contest rules and more information please visit www.handsalongthenile.org.

Stanford India Biodesign Fellowship

The goal of Stanford-India Biodesign is to train the next generation of medical technology innovators in India. This highly competitive program is directed towards Indian citizens who have an interest in the invention and early-stage development of new medical technologies. Successful applicants will have advanced degrees and/or significant work experience. University faculty are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications for the 2010 Fellowship are now open. Deadline is May 22, 2009.

More Details here

Call for Nominations: 2009 Mario Savio Young Activist Award

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MARIO SAVIO MEMORIAL LECTURE  & YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD INVITES YOU TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE FOR THE 12th ANNUAL YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD.  THE AWARD THIS YEAR CARRIES A CASH PRIZE OF $6,000, DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE PRIZE-WINNER AND HIS OR HER ORGANIZATION.

This award is presented to a young person (or persons) with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and a proven ability to transform this commitment into effective action.  The nominees should have demonstrated leadership ability, creativity and integrity.

Specific eligibility requirements are:

  *  Under age 26 by 9/1/09;

  *  Engaged in activism for social change, promoting the values of peace, human rights, economic or social justice, or freedom of expression;

  *  Acting within the context of an organization, social movement, or larger community effort;

  *  Considered an inspirational leader or motivating force by others in that context;

  *  Work is centered in the United States;

  *  Able to attend award ceremony in Berkeley, CA (Oct.-Nov.; expenses paid).

 

Preference will be given to candidates who have not yet been widely recognized and who do not have personal privilege or a strong institutional base of support.

 

This award honors the late Mario Savio (1942-1996), who came to national prominence as a spokesperson for the Berkeley Free Speech Movement in 1964.  His moral clarity, his eloquence, and his democratic style of leadership impelled thousands of his fellow Berkeley students to struggle for, and win, more political freedom, inspiring a generation of student activism.  Savio remained a lifelong fighter for human rights and social justice. 

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY June 30, 2009.  Nomination forms and additional information are available at www.savio.org or e-mail: savio(at)sonic.net

Global Impact Corps: Volunteer Abroad Opportunities

Global Impact Corps: Innovative, Effective Volunteering Abroad

Be a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana, Honduras, or India
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Opportunities

http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

Unite For Sight has been featured weekly on CNN International and in The New York Times

Unite For Sight is the world's leader in socially responsible, effective volunteering abroad. We engage, inspire, and train high-impact volunteers who support and assist eye clinics globally.Unite For Sight supports eye clinics worldwide by investing human and financial resources in their social ventures to eliminate patient barriers to eye care. With the assistance of volunteers like you, Unite For Sight has restored sight to 21,190 patients and provided eye care to more than 700,000.

All volunteers participating in Unite For Sight's international programs are Global Impact Fellows. Our goal is to build entrepreneurial leaders who gain skills in social change through Unite For Sight's immersive global health experience. Through hands-on, structured training, we instill in our Global Impact Fellows a thorough understanding of sustainable best practice principles in volunteerism, global health, and international development. Global Impact Fellows gain skills and are nurtured to become new leaders in global health.

Why Become A Global Impact Fellow?

• Experience the thrill of contributing to change on the highest level
• Be part of global problem solving
• Receive hands-on training in community-based program delivery
• Be immersed in effective global health and eye care programs
• Be inspired to become a leader in global health
• Join a movement of social innovators committed to global health and sustainable development
• Be engaged in ethical, high quality and high impact volunteerism
• Volunteers are encouraged to pursue entrepreneurial projects and research studies
• Become part of an alumni network that supports leaders in social change

Locations (volunteer for 10 days, 20 days, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, or more)

• Accra Region, Ghana
• Rural Villages, Ghana
• Tamale, Ghana
• Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Bihar, India
• Chennai, India
• New Delhi, India
• Orissa, India

Complete Details:http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad

Empowering At-Risk Youth Through Sport

In Mumbai's slums where challenges are innumerable and many youth dropout of school Youth Venture's Ashok Rathod, 21, is getting kids back into the classroom while teaching them life skills that will stay with them forever. Three years ago Ashok started Oscar Club in one of Mumbai's largest slums, Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar Colony, where he also grew up. It provides boys a safe place to play and learn about soccer, with the condition that they attend informal educational classes. This opportunity has encouraged young people to give up vices common on the street and move them in the direction of healthier lives with more opportunities. We talked with Ashok about the challenges that youth face in the slums and how he is using sport to give them a new purpose.

See the video here

My Technology - Peek into some Indian Grassroot Innovations

I came across this amazing set of videos on grassroot innovations in India. I'm posting some of the interesting ones here.

An umbrella that blocks 80% of UV radiation


A non-electric paddle-driven washing machine


A bicycle that runs faster on bumpy roads


A remote control to burn crackers and avoid fire accidents



Honey Bee Network maintains the biggest database on Indian grassroot innovations & contemporary/traditional innovative practices.
http://knownetgrin.honeybee.org/innovation_database.asp

Build 50-watt Light Bulbs from 2-Liter Bottles

Talk about your village ingenuity. (And yes, clearly, it's only for indoor lighting during the day)

Check more discussions at Makezine