You've heard the hype about UNICEF's worldwide Xchange Movement and now the NGO is putting its money where its mouth is. UNICEF is offering youths with positive ideas up to $2,000 to create positive realities. If you are between the ages of 10 and 24, Project Coordinator Herbert Wiltshire says you could qualify.
Herbert Wiltshire,
"We are inviting young people to submit proposals to us identifying an issue within their community and how they, as the young person in the situation, would want to address it and also listing activities that they would do in order to accomplish their objectives and also a budget. This is a national effort we are pushing because then we will be awarding two winners per district, anywhere between $1,000 to $2,000 to implement their project which they have proposed.
What we are looking at is proposals in terms of crime and violence, how they think they could alleviate it, HIV/Aids--whatever issues. This is where young people get the opportunity to say, 'this is what is affecting me and my community and this is what I want to do about it.' (It is) taking ownership, leading the initiative.
People just come out and support the initiative. It is not we are trying to say you can't apply or you can't apply. We've already stated the age limit that we are working with and come on young people, you have your ideas, let us hear what they are and the possibility is you might win and we could also help."
You can submit applications to UNICEF's office in Belize City or you can their email them at cvillar@unicef.org. The deadline for submission is September 15th.
