Erbil, KRI (February 5, 2023) - Rwanga Foundation announced the annual 'Youth Volunteers Initiative' project in a press conference for the sixth year in a row. Voluntary groups can now apply their project proposals.

Voluntary work is generally considered an altruistic activity where a group of people provide services for no personal or financial gain but merely for the benefit of the public.

However, volunteers usually need some support, including financial but not salaries, to cover the cost of necessary tools, materials, and equipment to make the project happen.

Therefore, Rwanga Foundation is launching the ‘Youth Volunteers Initiative’ project, which is to urge the youth to come up with project proposals and participate in a competition to be funded and supported to implement their projects for the best benefit of the public.

 Timeline

·        05/02/2023 until 02/05/2023 Applying initiatives (86 Days)

·        03/05/2023 until 25/05/2023 Evaluation and Selection (22 Days)

·        26/05/2023 until 15/06/2023 Preparation for starting the initiatives (20 Days)

·        16/06/2023 until 20/10/2023 Implementing the initiatives (126 Days)

·        The ceremony of presenting the projects and their outcomes will take place at the beginning of December 2023.

 General Criteria and Standards 

·        The project should be within the framework of the environmental sector, especially climate change.

·        The project should be voluntary based and for the well-being of the public, benefiting at least 200 people.

·        The youth from all the governorates of Iraq will be invited to submit their initiatives by filling in a project proposal form.

·        Each group of volunteers should consist of a minimum of five youth members (aged 18-35).

·        Groups must not represent any NGO, institution, or any other foundation; they should be formed of individual members of the society.

·        The initiative project must not have been financially supported by any NGO, institution, or any other foundation.

·        Total budget of each project should not exceed 9,000,000 IQD.

·        The project budget should not include salaries or any type of stipends for the volunteers, as it is a voluntary-based initiative.

·        Project proposals should include a narrative, financial part (detailed budget breakdown), and photos as well as other documents including maps, designs, approvals, etc., as necessary.

·        Groups that include both males and females are preferred.

·        A special committee will review the applications and select the best initiatives all over Iraq.

·        Ten (10) initiatives in total will be selected and funded.

Theme of the initiatives

The project should be within the framework of the Environment Sector, particularly Climate Change.

Environmental 

Examples of the initiatives down below:

·        Addressing Climate Change

·        Processing/eliminating plastic waste.

·        Waste recycling

·        Encouraging people, not to overuse water.

·        Photography competition for protecting the environment.

·        A campaign to clean the public and tourist places.

·        Expanding green yard areas

·        Protecting unsheltered animals

·        Beekeeping training.

·        Any project that serves the Environmental sector in the community

For more information and to apply, please visit the Youth Volunteers Initiative