Support International Service In The Era Of COVID

Challenge

AP supports marginalized communities and the need is great. Current partners include survivors of rape in Mali; girls facing child marriage in Zimbabwe; people with disability in Uganda; and victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam. For 18 years we have sent talented students - Peace Fellows - to help partners find their voice and take action. The pandemic deprives students of this opportunity while plunging communities deeper into misery. But after this turbulent year, we feel we have a solution.

Solution

In 2021 we will rely on civil society to come up with innovative responses, and provide up to $30,000 of seed money for 15 startups launched by partners in 6 countries. We will also recruit up to 20 Peace Fellows from the Global North - graduates and undergraduates - to support the startups remotely. While this cannot substitute for field service, 2020 has shown that remote service can provide a rich educational alternative for students while strengthening partner organizations, even in crisis.

Long-Term Impact

Peace Fellows have played a key role in helping AP's partners turn ideas into sustained, long-term programs. 2020 shows that this can also happen through remote service. Our long-distance support has helped a startup in Zimbabwe secure over $100,000 from donors (video). Two micro-businesses in Uganda, which make soap and face-masks, also thrive. Our brand of remote service also opens up possibilities for research. This will help universities to find a new long-term strategy for placing students.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources