What do you mean by “Davis Projects for Peace”?
Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative for all students at the Davis United World College Scholars Program schools to design their own grassroots projects for peace that they themselves will implement anywhere in the world during the summer of 2009.  Through a competition on over 85 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.

Who is funding this and why?
Davis Projects for Peace is being funded by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist (who earned a B.A. from Wellesley, an M.A. from Columbia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva) who is now over 100 years of age.  She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis UWC Scholars Program currently involving over 85 American colleges and universities.  Mrs. Davis feels some urgency to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world and so is committing $1 million to fund one hundred $10,000 projects for peace.  She believes that today’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

What do you mean by “projects for peace”?
Intentionally, no clear definition is offered so as not to limit the imagination.  We leave it up to the students to define what a “project for peace” might be.  We hope to encourage creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.  The overall program (all 100 projects) is to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere and as grassroots as desired, including in the U.S., but excluding countries with travel warnings.

Who is eligible to design a “project for peace”?
Undergraduate students at any of the Davis UWC Scholar schools (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) are eligible – so long as the president of their institution has signed and returned the grant agreement form.  While the schools included are restricted to those in the Davis UWC Scholars Program, all undergraduates (not just Davis UWC Scholars at those schools) are eligible.  Groups of students from the same campus, as well as individual students, may submit proposals.

How does the funding for these projects work?
Mrs. Davis has committed $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace in 2009.  While Davis funding per project is limited to $10,000, projects with larger budgets are welcome as is co-funding from other sources (such as other philanthropists, a college or university, foundation, NGO/PVO or students’ own fundraising).

How does a student (or group of students) make a proposal?
To be considered, a student (or group of students) must prepare a written statement which describes the project (who, what, where, how) including expected outcomes and prospects for future impact (not to exceed two pages) as well as a budget (one page).  Proposals should include pre-approval of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project.  The two-page proposal (11-point type or larger) and one-page budget should be submitted electronically to the designated official at each campus as outlined below.  Student queries should be directed to the campus designated official (see below), as communication between students writing proposals and the Davis UWC Scholars office is prohibited.

 How are these proposals submitted and judged?
Each involved campus has a designated official to coordinate the process on each campus.  Colby's is Marci Bernard mbernard@colby.edu or extension 4342.  She will guide the internal campus procedures for: announcing and promoting the opportunity to students; organizing the selection committee to evaluate the proposals submitted; communicating results on a timely basis to the Davis UWC Scholars office; and distributing the awarded grant funds for the winning proposal(s) on campus. Final review and approval of all recommended proposals from individual campuses rests solely with the office of the Davis UWC Scholars Program, which will then forward the appropriate grant funds to each school with winning project(s).

How will the 100 grants be awarded?
The intention is to fund 100 projects, with at least one at each of the Davis UWC Scholar schools.  Therefore, all involved schools are invited to select and submit one proposal for funding and one or two additional proposals as alternates that might be funded as well.  Final decisions on all grants are made by the Davis UWC Scholars Program office.  Grants are made upon assurance that the project proposed will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2009.

What is required for each project's final report?
For each funded project, the responsible student(s) must prepare and submit electronically a draft final report to the Colby coordinator by September 1, 2009, and a final report by September 14, 2009, to both the campus official and to the Davis UWC Scholars office.  The final report is to be limited to two pages of narrative using the final report form posted on the website. It should also include a one-page accounting of the funds expended. Students have the option of including up to three digital photographs, attaching them to the end of their two-page final report.  The narrative should include:  a brief restatement of the project’s purpose/plans, actual work completed, outcomes/achievements/failures, and long-term prospects of the initiative.  Reports will be posted on the program’s website for all to see and learn from.