Spark MicroGrants is redefining development. Using a new model that's been featured on Forbes.com, we're supporting communities as they design and implement their own development projects. Local solutions to local problems - it's a spark that ignites lasting change.
Help us meet the challenge! Get sponsored and volunteer around 12 hours in October to use your video editing, writing, or social skills to help communities in Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania! We've helped 16 communities so far. If we can get $10,000 in contributions before the end of October, the Segal Family Foundation will match that with another $10,000. That's enough for 4 new primary schools, 480 acres of additional farm land, or 120 new sustainable sanitation systems in the communities we're working with!
What’s a spark-a-thon?
It’s like a work-a-thon
but you volunteer your hours and skills to help more communities develop new projects. No matter where you are in the world, in October you can
join others in volunteering just a few hours each week, and work from your home
to help support these communities-led projects. You can help in the following
ways:
- Writing an op-ed or short article: We'll help you learn about examples of local solutions in action. Explore the issues that interest you the most and write a short article about them. This can be submitted in local papers, posted on blogs, and distributed to sponsors. The best articles will be featured on the Spark MicroGrants blog. (download the project description document here)
- Video editing: We’ll supply raw footage of the inspiring work our partner communities are doing. Your job is to make compelling videos. The best ones which will be featured on our website and presented to partner communities. (download the project description document here)
- Interviewing & investigating: We'll provide a few good sources of information to get you started. Start a conversation with people you know or people you meet about local solutions and community-led development. Ask them a few key questions and create a short write up of thoughts, ideas, and perceptions that you uncover. (download the project description document here)
- Online networking: We want to get the word out to a wide audience about the great work communities are doing. You can help by connecting with us on facebook, twitter, and the Spark MicroGrants blog, and passing updates and information along to your online networks.
Who’s going to be involved?
Our goal is to get at
least one person from each of the 50 US states to sign up. The whole Spark team
will be actively engaged in the Spark-a-thon during October including optional
skype chats from with project workers in our partner communities, and frequent feedback from media and grant writing
experts. We’re all going to have a lot of fun and learn a lot!
How do I participate?
This is a great chance
to get some exposure to international development work and help support
communities fighting poverty! If you want to join there are just a few steps: - Sign up below indicating
which type of volunteering you want to do.
- Set up a fundraising
page and get people to pledge donations to match your time commitment. Here's an example page.
- Until Oct 31, get people
to sponsor your work for Spark by donating to your fundraising page. Donations of $50 or greater will be matched by
Segal Foundation until November 1 (max $1000 per donor, max $10,000 total).
- During October, be prepared
to work 3 hours a week on your project and joining weekly progress conference
calls.
Sign up!
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