Projects for Peace

How would you like to receive a $10,000 grant to be a changemaker and a peacebuilder? If so, then apply for the Projects for Peace grant!

The grant

Projects for Peace is a global program that encourages young adults to develop innovative, community-centered, and scalable responses to the world’s most pressing issues. Students submit a project proposal, which includes a description of the project (who, what, where, how), expected outcomes, and the prospects for future impact. Along the way, these student leaders increase their knowledge, improve skills, and establish identities as peacebuilders and changemakers. In 2022, the administration of the program moved from its original location at the Davis United World College Scholars Program to its new home at the Middlebury College Center for Community Engagement

Each year a student or student team's project proposal is selected from Lake Forest College and awarded a $10,000 grant to help them accomplish their project. Projects are implemented over the summer.

Eligibility

  • You are eligible to apply for the Projects for Peace grant if you are a current full-time undergraduate (any major/minor) and passionate about making your global or local vision of peace a reality.
  • You can apply by yourself or in collaboration with up to 3 other students. The other students can be from Lake Forest College or other institutions around the United States.

Here are three things you need to know 

1. Full information about the Projects for Peace program, including examples of other winning projects and proposal guidelines, can be found on the website.

2. Students need to submit a grant proposal. Review the information on the Projects for Peace guidance page for the exact proposal requirements. The on-campus deadline for grant proposal applications is 4:00 PM CT on January 15th. Proposal applications will need to include a proposal narrative, a proposed budget, and a short essay about why the student is interested in Projects for Peace.

3. The decision about the winning proposal, as well as the alternate proposal, will be made by early February by an on-campus selection committee which consists of multiple staff and faculty.  The final decision regarding the winning proposal will be made by Middlebury College (the institution that oversees the grant)  by mid-March.

How to submit your proposal

The first step to apply is to meet with Allie Olson, Director of Global Engagement. You can email her to schedule an appointment at aolson@lakeforest.edu. Allie will provide information on the grant and its expectations, as well as answer any questions you have. After your meeting, she will provide the grant proposal application.

Past Lake Forest College projects

2022: Fighting the Stigma - Parkinson's Disease in Uganda

2021: Home of Happiness for Children with Disabilities in Zambia

2021: Agroecology for Peace and Development in Mexico

2020: Language and Libraries: Expanding Educational Resources in Kosovo

2020: Kuvaka: The Bolgatanga Library Project in Ghana

2019: Safe Water, Safe Homes in Mexico

2018: Build Playgrounds, Not Walls in Palestine

and more! You can explore all past Lake Forest College peace projects here.

Interested in another way to make an impact on a community?

If so, then pitch a social innovation venture at Lake Forest College's Venture Design Challenge! 

What is a 'social innovation venture'?

A social innovation venture is a solution to a societal problem that creates social value (education, science, environment/climate, health, medicine, psychology, equality/social justice, etc…). It involves developing effective solutions to challenging and often systemic social and environmental issues in support of social progress.

For more information, visit the Venture Design Challenge page!