Awesome Foundation - Projects

On the Water – Row 3: The dugout canoe its bouquet

2023-01-15T00:00:00Z

Recently, we were offered a residency at La Becque on Lake Geneva in Switzerland to work on a project linking Lake Malawi and Lake Geneva. The residency runs from January to end March 2023. The Awesome grant will assist in the production costs of one aspect of the project at La Becque. We would like to create collages composed of images of the rich textual surfaces of the Malawian dugout canoe, which we have gathered over the past five years, nailed and glued to wood and other flotsam material found on the shores of Lake Geneva. The technique of collaging the different materials is inspired by the Malawian fishers' methods of repairing the dugout canoe by patching with different materials. The fishers method of patching turns the dugout canoe into a beautifully textured and textual surface, carrying multiple stories of the lake shore communities and of the larger Malawian society. Our collages will therefore carry Malawian stories as well as those of Lake Geneva to point at how the two vastly distanced geographical locations are actually closely linked ecologically on the planet.

Watertown, SD (Inactive) – Downtown Lights

2023-01-15T00:00:00Z

We would love to light the intersections of downtown Watertown 12 months of the year! It is always so fun when the Christmas lights go up in the intersections and we would like this to stay year round. Our idea would be to put up lights that can be color changed for all of the different seasons and activities of the year. We believe this is something all citizens can enjoy. The Municipal Utilities is willing to put up the lights, but we need to fund the lights fully. The lights will be run by various downtown businesses and colors changed throughout the year.

St. Paul, MN – Pop-Up Advocacy

2023-01-12T00:00:00Z

We are proud to announce our AwesomeStPaul January 2023 grantee. Pop-Up Advocacy provides safety, support and connection to victims of domestic abuse in St. Paul. They provide safety planning, lease termination assistance and referrals to legal assistance to victims who are not living in domestic violence shelters. The grant will provide hygiene items and grocery gift cards that will be distributed at twice-weekly pop-up events at libraries and community service centers in St.Paul. Pop-Up Advocacy was chosen for its unique approach to helping build trust with survivors and victims of domestic abuse who are not connected to programs provided by shelters. Congratulations to our winner! According to Mary Beth Becker-Lauth, program director, Advocacy services for domestic violence survivors are often only accessible to those staying in a domestic violence shelter. Survivors who cannot access shelter fall through the cracks and cannot access the advocacy services they need to stay safe from their abuser. Pop-Up Advocacy aims to correct this problem by meeting survivors where they are- in the community. Twice a week, our Community Outreach Advocates staff a table at the Rondo Community Outreach Library and at the Hmong American Partnership offices. At these public locations, survivors can receive the resources and support they need to live a life free from domestic violence. At Pop-Up Advocacy we provide safety planning, lease termination assistance, and referrals to legal assistance. Not every victim-survivor can access shelter- but that doesn’t mean they should go without the support that most shelters provide.

San Francisco, CA – The Chicken of Change

2023-01-12T00:00:00Z

This idea started out as the result of a tragic incident at my house, and from a strange dream that triggered images of an art project. A beautiful red chicken showed up in my driveway, and I wanted to keep her safe. I tempted her with chicken feed and food scraps, and she started sleeping in my front yard. Eventually I taught her to go into a crate so I could transport her to a rescue. The night before I was supposed to take her to a rescue in San Francisco, I saw her in the yard as we all got ready for bed. I called my 2 rescue dogs into the house, but could only find one of them. I ran around the house, and then into the yard. I saw feathers all over, but could not find the chicken or my dog. Panicked, I ran back to the house, calling for my dog. I found her happily trotting out of my bedroom. I turned on my bedroom light and found my red chicken, dead, covered in blood, with feathers all over the room. My sweet rescue dog had killed my rescue chicken. Devastated and blaming myself, I never slept in that room again. Since then I have wanted to create a memorial to that poor murdered chicken.

Ann Arbor, MI – Dementia Friendly Days At The Movies

2023-01-11T00:00:00Z

A “Dementia Friendly Day at the Movies” has never been done on a regular commercial basis in US, but very successful in UK. Partnering with Emagine Entertainment, every month we’ll show classic movie musicals (eg Oklahoma, Singin’ In The Rain) with lights on and sound lowered, and encourage persons with dementia and friends to talk, clap, sing along, sway, dance—have a good time at the movies with other people on the dementia journey. With community volunteers (including students) monthly events will feature: curbside greeting, with seated reverse valet parking (guest parks while person w. dementia waits with greeter at curbside); welcome/ticket table; customized name badges w. movie’s title; printed movie programs; goody bags w. giveaways; movie memorabilia eg posters; lobby piano playing movie’s theme; purple-hatted volunteers to guide folks to auditorium (and to and from restrooms). Other lobby tables have dementia information and resources such as from Alzheimers Assoc. Show will have soft start with catered snacking and mingling on proscenium before movie, then a Fun Film Facts discussion led by U of M film student before show starts. During show, volunteers will maintain eyes on audience to assist any needing to get to a restroom or to the Quiet Room. After show, soft wrap-up to announce coming attractions and door prizes. Our team includes person who’s done this in UK. We’ll train Emagine staff (and our volunteers) in Dementia Friendly techniques (which will be useful every day), and the facility will have special signage, extra hallway chairs, and valet parking for walker devices. Emagine plans to use Saline property as pilot for entire 5-state chain. Wide publicity planned, with Mayor and various other officials invited. Along with our growing Memory Café events for persons w dementia and caregivers, these movie events will help meet the urgent need for enjoyable, engaging activities for Washtenaw’s roughly 12,000 persons w. dementia and their caregivers.

Philadelphia, PA – Cultural Enrichment & Conflict Resolution Skills

2023-01-10T00:00:00Z

The mission of the proposed program is to help troubled inner-city teens to learn how to resolve conflict without violence by Implementing innovating resolutions through performance of creative expression. The program will provide a haven, unite, educate, and inspire our youth. It will provide various aesthetic educational activities while promoting emotional, moral, physical, and cultural enrichment. The program is structured as a 3 hour after school program, 5 days per week, for 10 and 16 years of age. Curriculum/program activities include: 1) talent shows in which learned lessons are performed in acts, 2) Real talk/Conflict Resolution -Group Therapy and cooking class, 3) educational Adult for 17 to 25 years of age workshops on Life Skills, 4) structured mentoring and tutoring services, and 5) presentations from visitors of various Organizations-Trade Schools, different career backgrounds, Youth & Music Activities, Colleges, Financial Advisors, Anti-violence organizations, etc. to offer their knowledge and assistance. The program will culminate with a Close Out Show/Stop the Violence Community Event. This program will teach youth impacted by violence how to deal with obstacles they encounter throughout life. The skills they learn will help them not only resolve conflicts more healthily but also build resilience. In turn, the youth will be able to process, prevent, and heal from acts of violence. The skills they learn will help them not only resolve conflicts more healthily but also build resilience. Resilience is critical to overcoming stressful situations, which the youth of West Philly encounter often. Resilience allows people to thrive even under tumultuous circumstances and can determine if one succeeds or fails. By imparting this pivotal skill, Philly Peace in Progress gives these youth the chance to crawl out of poverty, increase health outcomes, and experience greater satisfaction with life.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – The Pastry Project

2023-01-09T00:00:00Z

We are a community kitchen that provides free baking and pastry training for individuals with barriers to employment. Students learn with us for 14-weeks, starting with the creaming method and how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie - all the way to laminated pastries like croissants and danish! After graduation we help place graduates in baking and pastry jobs. We work with several non-profits to recruit students, and work with several bakeries, dessert shops and grocery stores to place graduates in jobs. We fund the program by selling our own pastry products and also by applying for grants and getting sponsorships! We are a social enterprise, so we try to earn a lot of the money ourselves.

Newburgh, NY – Newburgh is a Broadcast

2023-01-08T00:00:00Z

Newburgh is a Broadcast is a community project where together we create media in the format of ‘ live radio’ broadcast online via youtube. In a partnered storefront at 163 Broadway, a pop up ‘radio station’ will transform and activate the empty storefront. The radio programs will be a mix of interviews documenting the lives and day-to-day reality of living in Newburgh and showcasing local musicians by giving them a timeslot to play their own productions and/or their favorite records. Multi-lingual and intergenerational, educational and artistic Newburgh is a Broadcast aims to showcase the broad and diverse city that is Newburgh. Over three days in March (24th-26th) Newburgh is a Broadcast will be live from 3 to 6 pm. Each segment will be either 15, 30, or 60 minutes long depending on the desires of the radio djs/musicians. Activating the space, there will be a cooking/food class offered, partnered with the local Newburgh Farmers market and ecology projects from 11am to 12pm. From 1pm to 2pm there will be a children’s story hour read by local parent(s) in the storefront. After the live broadcast is over, a talent show featuring local Newburgh musicians will be programmed from 8pm to 10pm, recorded for future broadcast and archived. Community Radio is an essential connective tool that occupies both the digital and physical space. Currently, there is no community radio in Newburgh. This proposal fills a gap, offering opportunity and uniting Newburgh residents of diverse backgrounds to meet, interact and exchange knowledge. This is an accessible platform where all people can tune in and feel connected to and part of the larger community of living in Newburgh. The history of free form independent media assists everyday people in having a voice. Comparatively corporate media is limited in scope, programming and accessibility. Should this pop up project prove successful there is interest to extend hosting the program on an ongoing weekend basis.

Vegan (Inactive) – Brigada Animal México

2023-01-03T00:00:00Z

Brigada Animal México is represented by its brigadiers. Who is a Brigadier? A brigadier is a vegan who actively works in anti-speciesist activism with our collective. Brigades are duly organized and trained groups of people. BAM is not a rescue brigade. We are the union of anti-speciesist activists from all over the country as a non-governmental and non-profit collective. Our goal is to create structures and tools for solidarity and effective activism, develop educational campaigns, document, inform, do journalism on issues of ethical interest about animals, give training workshops for animal liberation activists, raise funds for rescued animals, among other activities. Since our foundation in 2017, we have participated in more than 200 pedagogical activities and conferences for all educational levels to teach about veganism, anti-speciesism, intersectionality and animal liberation activism. Almost all of our activities are recorded and broadcasted live, so in the "videos" section of our Facebook page you can find a lot of material. We also start pressure campaigns against animal exploiters and collaborate with different groups and collectives for animal liberation locally, nationally and internationally, with whom we have carried out multiple days of activism, public information campaigns, protests against various forms of violence and collaboration for the implementation of empathetic and effective communication strategies that make easier the exercise of knowledge and non-violent decision making in the population. We believe that the first step to stop domination and injustice is through knowledge and action as an ethical stance. Brigada Animal México was funded by PhD, yoguini, artist and nomad Poli Sotomayor. Winner of the Emerging Leaders of the America's Program scholarship and creator of the biggest Animal Advocate Tour with +200 trainings and conferences for activists in Mexico.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Stapledon Arts: Melanin Series

2023-01-02T00:00:00Z

Did you know that only 9.8% of Art Teachers in the US are BLACK. This realization birthed Stapledon Arts. Our mission is to inspire Black & Brown Communities through Art Education. To provide greater access and make our mission tangible we created Melanin Series!. Melanin Series is a set of acrylic paints, made with people of color in mind, featuring 12 inclusive skin tone colors. With the push for Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education now is the perfect time to bridge this representational gap. Forming identity is important for children, creating self-portraits gives them agency in this process. Melanin Series ensures more BIack and Brown students see themselves, if not in their Art Teachers, at least in the materials they use.

State College, PA – Essence 2, LTD Black History Month Concert PLUS+o

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Essence 2, LTD performs choral repertoire in the African and African-American traditions. Our singers share the joy of singing secular sacred music in a genre that is distinctly unique from the repertoire of any other volunteer choir in the Centre Region. We are rehearsing for a Black History Month performance in February, and a Spring performance in Bethlehem, PA to share what work is happening here in State College! Our work is ongoing. We want to bring to light an African American tradition that does not emerge from the doors of the black church very often. This music brings awareness of one another, touches souls and shares a new 'language' with our audiences. We are as much a musical performance as a cultural education ...And this is our mission! Our choir members are all ages and all professions. Although we are 98% white, each member across Centre County is currently listening, memorizing and learning about the traditions of African American Music from our director Dr. Anthony Leach, who hails from an African American Church in Washington, DC.

Ottawa – From Idea to Implementation School

2022-12-31T00:00:00Z

December’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Mykola Apetyk and Sofia Zhestokova, both young people living in Lviv, Ukraine, to support their efforts to help other young people turn ideas into reality. “Because of the war in Ukraine,” explains Mykola, “many young people were forced to move to safer regions of the country. Because of this, many young people in my city do not know what to do. Why does this happen? I am convinced they have many ideas but lack the knowledge and resources to implement them. It is injustice, so our idea is to organize training for young people about project management and how to implement their own ideas.” “One of the biggest problems of young people,” Sofia adds, “is that they have really great ideas but don’t have – or think they don’t have – enough knowledge and resources to implement them.” Mykola and Sofia’s “From Idea to Implementation School” will tackle this problem, giving opportunities for youth to learn more about project management, leadership, and team management. “We expect the participants to come up with ideas for their own projects,” explains Mykola, “or to develop already existing ones so they can implement them later – and of course it is also in our plan to continue supporting and helping them with implementation of their projects after our training is over.” Mykola is a 22-year-old public sector project manager and a mentor for young people. When he is not helping others with their projects, he plays chess, runs competitively, and watches football. Sofia is a 17-year-old college student who returned to Ukraine in August 2022 after studying for a year in Kansas.

Канадська благодійна організація «Awesome Ottawa» віддає свою грудневу нагороду українському проекту - оффлайн тренінгу «From idea to implementation», який допоможе молоді розвинути та втілити свої ідеї в реальність. Організаторами школи є Микола Апетик та Софія Жестокова, обидвоє зі Львова. «Через війну в Україні, пояснює Микола, - багато молоді було змушено переїхати до безпечніших областей. Власне через це багато молодих людей у моєму місті не знає що робити, чим зайнятися та де бути корисним. Чому так стається? Я впевнений, що у молодих людей є безліч класних ідей, проте вони стикаються з нестачею знань та ресурсів щоб втілювати свої ідеї в життя» «Я вважаю, що однією з найбільших проблем молоді є те, що у них є безліч неймовірних ідей але немає (або вони гадають), що немає потрібних навичок, людей чи можливостей навколо для їх реалізації» - зазначає Софія. Мета школи «From idea to impersonation» - власне зробити крок до вирішення цієї проблеми і надати можливість молоді дізнатися більше про проджект-менеджмент, лідерство та роботу в команді. Організатори розраховують на те, що під час проекту у учасників з‘являться ідеї або ж вони розвинуть уже існуючі задуми щодо власних проектів, які зможуть потім реалізувати. Софія та Микола також зазначають, що в їхніх планах - підтримувати учасників під час реалізації власних проектів і на далі, по завершенню тренінгу. Микола (22 роки) працює проджект менеджером у громадському секторі, а також займається менторством молоді. Софія (17 років) - студентка Львіського національного університету імені Івана Франка, що навчається на спеціальності «Публічного управління та адіміністрування». Вона рік навчалась у США за програмою обміну і повернулась додому у серпні 2022го року.

Disability – DeafCan: Mentorship for Deaf-Autistic Adults

2022-12-31T00:00:00Z

Due largely to communication barriers, Deaf adults with cognitive/intellectual disabilities are often excluded from mentorship opportunities and job training programs. I plan to change this by establishing a mentorship program designed by and for Deaf adults. Through this program, entitled DeafCan, I will partner Deaf mentors with DeafDisabled mentees. Mentors will work 1:1 with their clients, teaching them daily living skills, leisure skills, job readiness and more. This program is split into three parts, with programs designed to match individual needs. Some of participants prefer working on specific job skills–our practice coffee shop is particularly popular!–while others prefer to hone their daily living skills and others prefer community practice. Over the past 6-months, we've run a pilot version of this program and have been met with great success! Our mentors and mentees have developed strong bonds with one another and the skills gained have surpassed our expectations. We're excited at the opportunity to grow this program and serve even more members of our community! **What our grantee is saying:** “ Receiving this grant means so much to me. It means we can help more people, give them more quality time and provide more activities. I’m so excited to watch this program grow!”

Gloucester, MA – The Fisherman: Life in a Seaside City

2022-12-29T00:00:00Z

With their newly hatched interest in the visual arts ,the students of the Gloucester Alternative Program (GAP) will experiment with various mediums and evolving styles to illustrate life as seen through the eyes of a high school student living in Gloucester, Massachusetts, culminating in an art show open to the greater Gloucester community.

Georgetown, MA – Mental Health First Aid

2022-12-28T00:00:00Z

I am a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. I would like to offer the class to the faculty and staff of the city of Georgetown. Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people ho to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and additions.

New York City, NY – A Jury Of Our Queers

2022-12-28T00:00:00Z

_A Jury of Our Queers_ is an "intoxicating mix of drag show, courtroom drama, and theater that playfully blends historic texts and original writing in an act of radical queer re-envisioning." Section 175 explores moments of hidden queer history that are not otherwise being shared in society. _A Jury of Our Queers_ centers around a single week when "Bombshell broad Mae West and rising Broadway starlet Helen Menken are arrested in 1926 for artistic obscenity and summoned to a metatheatrical courtroom. Their charges: serving face, serving legacy, and serving queer community." In this interrogation of queer icons and the justice system, the audience will be asked questions of whose history is remembered, whose become lost, and whose stories are saved. _A Jury of Our Queers_ will be performed at Target Margin Theater as part of the Exponential Festival, **January 13th-15th, 2023**. Get your tickets now! * [Purchase tickets on the Exponential Festival website](https://www.theexponentialfestival.org/ajuryofourqueers) * [Follow Section 175 on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/section175/)

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Move She Does

2022-12-26T00:00:00Z

Move She Does is a global storytelling project about pioneering women and girls blazing trails with their vehicles. Women face obstacles moving in public spaces, be it prejudices, traditions, prohibitive laws, violence. All over the world courageous, creative women have found ways to overcome these obstacles. Using specific means of transportation, they challenge gender stereotypes, gain independence, self-confidence, and strength. Each one of them changes her society from within, and becomes a role model inspiring others to follow suit. In the West, the pioneering work is often —yet not always!— done in the past. Women truckers no longer raise eyebrows, nor do woman motorbikers and pilots. Many of the pioneers (still alive) are born in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. Dispatch riders of WWII for instance. Outside of the West, it is often happening now: Iranian truck drivers, skateboarding girls in Cambodia, a pilot in Pakistan, 4×4-riding bedouins in Oman, cycling girls in rural India, drivers in Saudi Arabia, taxi scooter riders in Bangladesh and Tanzania. The project consists of portraits, interviews, context, audio recordings and short videos of these trailblazers, and will take several years to develop to its full range and potential. The stories will be spread through articles in magazines; talks in schools; a dedicated website; and in 4-5 years, this will become a book. Another roll out of this project at any given time, is the distribution of the Move she does-stories in the countries where I find them: in local media, in schools, in villages, together with and by local women.

Homelessness (Inactive) – Prema Metta Orphanage School Trust

2022-12-22T00:00:00Z

In Bodhgaya, there are a lot of children who cannot go to school and missing the opportunity to receive a foundational education. It is caused mainly by “poverty” and repeated same in the generations. The ignorance of the parents about the needs of basic education is also the cause of this issue. For the farmers, even a small child is a really important work force in their field.  Many parents make their children work on the field in order to support a daily life. In that way, children are missing the opportunity learn how to read, write and how to calculate. The ones who are not be able to receive the fundamental education are facing troubles when they are grown and try to sell crops in the market. They have to accept unfair contract without knowing. In that way, it is so hard to get out of the spiral of poverty by them. To change this situation, we are visiting villages around school frequently to convince all the patents to send their children to school.  This has enabled many children to start coming to school although they still have to work on the field. In our school, we teach not only all the basic subjects but also English and Yoga to widen children’s choice for future carrier. Furthermore, lunch is provided to the children whose nutrition is insufficient.  One meal per day is secured for those children and it helps them grow up. These activities are four fundamental activities of the present PremaMetta School and we believe these are inseparable to achieve our goal. We are also working on other activities such as finding child sponsors, collecting used clothes, raising donation,etc. All our activities are fully supported by the non-paid volunteers.

Javakhk – Կտորմ Կարին

2022-12-21T00:00:00Z

Ծրագրի նպատակն է Կարծախում և Ախալքալաքի շրջանում հայկական ազգային մշակույթը ընգծելու նպատակով Ջիվանի տուն -թանգարանի հուշային հատվածում իրականացնել լուսանկարահանումներ ազգային տարազով, առավել հետաքրքիր դարձնել թանգարանի առօրյան, ներգրավվել նոր այցելուների։ Ջիվանի տուն-թանգարանը հայապահապանության առումով կարևոր նշանակություն ունեցող մշակութային կենտրոնն է։ Թանգարանում ներկայացված են 19-րդ դարի կոլորիտային նաև գործածությունից դուրս եկած ցուցանմուշներ, որոնք այցելուներին հնարավորություն են տալիս վերադառնալ տվյալ ժամանկաշրջան, զգալ ժամանակի շունչը, նիստ ու կացը, ապրելաձևը։ Հայկական ազգային ինքնույթյունը շեշտելու համար ցանկանում ենք տուն- թանգարանը համալրել հայկական ազգային տարազով, քանի որ տարազը, անցնելով պատմական զարգացման երկար ուղի, հանդիսացել է ինքնապահպանման ազդակներից մեկը։ Սա նոր շունչ կհաղորդի թանգարանին, այցելուներին հնարավորություն կտա իրենց զգալ միջավայրի լիարժեք մաս, բացի այդ նրանք կծանոթանան հայկական ազգային տարազի պատմությանը, տարազի յուրաքանչյուր մասի և նախշի նշանակությանը Ծրագրի իրականացնելու համար նախատեսվում են իրականացնել հետևյալ քայլերը • Ազգային տարազի ձեռք բերում • Թանգարանի աշխատակցի լուսանկարչական հմտությունների բարելավվում՝ համապատասխան դասընթացի մասնակացության միջոցով • Լուսանկարչական ապարատի ձեռք բերում Որից հետո • այցելուները հնարավորություն կունենան Ջիվանու տուն- թանգարանի հուշային հատվածում նակարահանվել ծրագրի շրջանակներում ձեռք բերված տարազով։ • Լուսանկարներից ձեռք բերված հասույթը կուղղվի թանգարանի մասին ինֆորմացիա տարածելուն, նախատեսում ենք պատվիրել երկկողմանի կտորե տոպրակներ (պայուսակներ) մի կողմում աշուղ Ջիվանի ստեղծագործություններից քառատող և թանգարանի հասցեն, հակառակ կողմում ազգային տարազի նախշեր։ Տարազները հնարավոր կլինի նաև տրամադրել վարձույթով, օրինակ՝ ազգային մոտիվներով հարսանիք ազմակերպելու նպատակով։ Ստացված հասույթը կօգտագործվի թանգարանը զարգացնելու և թանգարանի մասին տեղեկատվություն տարածելու նպատակով։

Chicago, IL – Kindness Kiosk

2022-12-21T00:00:00Z

Kindness Kiosk is a community activation project that is part of an ongoing series of work which centers around community-building programs that bring people together, foster connection, and inspire goodwill. The Kindness Kiosk can be easily assembled anywhere —allowing it to pop up wherever more kindness is needed. During our pilot program at the Lincoln Square Farmers Market, we delighted and surprised a diverse group of community members over the course of two Fall afternoons and welcomed close to 200 kiosk visitors. We spread kindness with every spin of the Kindness Wheel, where participants spun for a chance to receive a kindness token, a handmade gift, a sweet treat, or other kind acts. We inspired kindness with the Random Acts of Kindness Grab Bag, where visitors picked their own act of kindness to perform within their community —continuing the kindness cycle. And, we received thoughtful responses to our Kindness Prompts and engaged in organic conversations revolving around the need and desire for more kindness in our world. Finally, to complete the cycle, we encouraged participants to grow the kindness community online in order to make sure that all communities —whether virtual or physical— are full of kindness. After piloting Kindness Kiosk in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago, Common Place Projects plans to continue its kindness campaign by developing further iterations of the project —whether that be by popping up in different settings, such as schools, parks, street corners, and more or by implementing larger, coordinated, city-wide programs.

Chicago, IL – The Angels of Menachap

2022-12-20T00:00:00Z

We are a group of four teens who came together to write an original play to be performed for our community. Our show, The Angels of Menachap, is a retelling of the tragic deaths that occurred in 1963 in Menachap, California. This fictional tale follows the story of Norma Pike, Marcus Tumble, and Jonathan Mollusk, all who tragically died, forever curing the Menachap theater. The truth behind their deaths in unknown, until now. A mysterious letter appears, revealing the true events of each of their murders. This harrowing mystery keeps audiences on their toes, questioning what is real and what isn't, keeping them on the edge of their seat as the mystery unfolds before them in a staged reading performed by local actors and performers. This 3-Part Play tells each individual story in a different form of theater. Norma's section is told through a jukebox musical. Marcus' story is told through a first-person narration. Lastly, Jonathan's tale is told in a documentary-style script. This allows for each narrator to have a different feel to the audience, making them each feel alive and unique. This production is also a prequel to Stephen Gregg's "Trap"

Melbourne (Inactive) – Keeping Collingwood Cows Happy !

2022-12-20T00:00:00Z

Nestled on the banks of Birrarung, Collingwood Children’s Farm was founded in 1979 to support and engage local children experiencing adversity. A much loved non-profit organisation, the Farm gives children in an urban environment a chance to connect to nature and care for animals. There are a number of animals on the paddock including several cows, horses, goats and sheep. For many children, it's the first place they will interact with these animals up close. Our project is to provide an even better life for the animals on the farm by providing them with a 'Cow Scratcher' ! Animals absolutely love them and it genuinely improves their quality of life. It will also be great for the children visiting the farm to see horses, cows and goats happily scratching away. (If you haven't seen one in action before take a look at this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLTfUHgwX4I P.S. This is 100% a project which won't go ahead without the Awesome Foundations support. While the Collingwood Farm is a reasonable sized organisation, the management there don't have the budget for this kind of expenditure.

Geelong (Inactive) – The Empowerment Challenge- supporting younger mums

2022-12-20T00:00:00Z

The Empowerment Challenge mobile outreach program, offers easily accessible, long-term support to vulnerable younger mums in the Geelong area, allowing them to connect, foster self-belief and improve mental health and well-being.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – A welcome center for Hispanic families

2022-12-19T00:00:00Z

I am an ESL teacher in an Elementary school called Knollwood Elementary. My school is located in Salisbury, North Carolina. This school has the largest hispanic population. A lot of families bring their kids to my school because they live in near areas. These families usually need a lot of support and assistance because they are new in the community. I want to create a welcome center for these families in my school. This welcome center will help families with the transition to a new community. In this welcome center, parents will receive full color flyers with important information about both, the school and the community. This flyer will have community resources and school resources.Also, this welcome center will provide gift cards to the new families for a fresh start. The idea with the gift cards is to provide assistance in terms of food, gas, or clothing. These new families will be monitored for 3 months to see how the transition is going. These monitoring process will be done by making phone calls and meeting a second time by the end of the third month. I think this project will definitely start building a positive relationship between the school and the new families. A relationship that is key for children's success in school.

Pittsburgh, PA – KIN

2022-12-19T00:00:00Z

Led by women and non-binary artists, JADED creates spaces in Pittsburgh for Asian American & Pacific Island (AAPI) representation and empowerment. From large, public celebrations to intimate AAPI-only gatherings, JADED addresses the trauma of racial violence, reveals the hidden history of AAPI migration in the region, and offers mentorship and networking opportunities for our communities. Reaching 500 participants, JADED successfully launched our pilot programming in 2022 through partnerships with Carnegie Museum of Art, Office of Public Art, and the Organization of Chinese Americans. We are now seeking capacity-building support and funding for KIN, a new public program that examines ancestral legacy and chosen family among Pittsburgh’s women and queer AAPI community. KIN features local talent through events and workshops that bring visibility, celebration, and mentorship to the greater Pittsburgh AAPI community.

Aviano (Inactive) – Reflections on the Psyche: The Self

2022-12-16T00:00:00Z

Aspects of the human condition manifest through Jungian archetypes. This series of chapbooks will explore each archetype through creative expressions in Aviano, Italy such as art, photography and poetry. Book 1 focuses on the archetype of the self.

Cass Clay – Red River Valley Kids Read

2022-12-15T00:00:00Z

The Red River Valley Kids Read is a communitywide-read project for kids held in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Grand Forks and Wahpeton. We focus on a single title of regional interest in an effort to build an appreciation for storytelling, a love of books and stories, our region, and also a sense of place. Our project links Red River Valley communities together through storytelling and quality literature. We are comprised of staff from the Fargo Public, Moorhead Public, West Fargo Public, Grand Forks Public and Leach (Wahpeton) Public Libraries. The second year of our project will take place in March 2023 and we are asking for the grant in order to provide copies of the book to kids at no cost. (The reason for asking for the grant early is because of the amount of lead time it takes for publishers/vendors to make bulk copies of the books available, and shipping time.) The book we will highlight in 2023 is a middle-grade novel titled "Summer Ruins" by Deb Watley. It is about a young girl whose parents are archeologists, and she joins them on a teaching dig in South Dakota where she learns the dig process (and some other important life lessons). We are planning multiple archeology-related events in conjunction with the book-reading, as well as book discussions, and even a tour of NDSU's archeology lab. Being able to provide free copies of the book would give more kids the opportunity to read the story and participate in the programs in a meaningful way - while promoting literacy!

Ann Arbor, MI – Deaf and Hard Hearing Social Event

2022-12-14T00:00:00Z

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department at Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) seeks funding for a social event that brings together Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from twelve different school districts for the purpose of fostering community with those who hold shared experiences in a safe and accessible environment. This project provides students from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds with the opportunity to meet other young people like themselves and build a stronger community support network. These students face isolation daily, an issue only amplified by the measures put in place at the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic. As a result, students with hearing loss are more prone to struggle with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, as well as an increased internalization of ableist ideologies. Creating space to see and learn from other students like themselves while having fun will not only increase student morale and confidence, but also support individual growth to aid in creating tomorrow’s leaders.

San Francisco, CA – Healing and Learning Garden Program

2022-12-14T00:00:00Z

The Healing and learning Garden Project I lead the Mission Moms’ Committee, a group of long-time residents and Latina mothers in the Mission District, who organized and got together to mitigate the problems caused by the pandemic and the schools’ closures. Our families have been struggling and our children/youth are the most affected by the learning loss and emotional problems. As mothers we have seen the negative impact that prolonged confinement and exposure to screens have caused, including mental-health problems, loneliness, depression, and sadness. Without help from the school district, we had to find creative solutions, so we offered outdoor enrichment educational activities to our children. All parents have some skill to share, for instance one of the parents offered a music workshop four the kids at Parque del Sol once a week, we have had cooking and baking classes. We organize filed trips to farms, camping trips, etc. Now we are organizing a healing garden workshop series. We were able to get access to a small bed at secret garden, a community garden in the Mission District. Moms have expressed interest in learning about medicinal herbs and planting them. We would love to learn together with our kids, and we decided we can organize a series of classes to learn about the planting/harvest process and learn about healthy nutrition, medicinal herbs and art activities as well other activities related to the gardening work. We have seen from our experience how music and outdoors activities have helped our children’s mental health and well-being that a healing and learning garden program will help us to expand and bring more families to experience this learning community we are building in the Mission. This grant would help us to initiate this project and fund these classes and activities. I appreciate very much and thanks in advance your support to this project!

Sydney – Art Kits for Kids & Women in Refuges

2022-12-14T00:00:00Z

Classbunny (an arts facilitator) is using surplus, leftovers and upcycled art materials gleaned from big corporate events and festivals to create fun craft kits for kids in domestic violence refuges in Sydney. Kids craft kits are already being distributed and contact has been made with local refuges and charities. As well as the kits, classbunny provides a 'how to' video for each new project' which is accessed via you tube for case workers to reference or to be viewed directly by the children. This Project is awesome because it 1) Saves materials from landfill 2) Recycles left over materials 3) Supplies and brings art to kids & women in domestic violence refuges 4) Is a therapeutic activity for those in crisis The craft activities are artist designed and high quality. As classbunny already delivers regular classes online to the public, there is an opportunity to expand the outreach to adults in the refuge in addition to the kids. What is needed is investment into water colour kits and postage to deliver the kits to various outlying refuges, so women in those refuges can join a water colour class that are already running regularly via live stream for the paying public. One kit per refuge would be able to be used multiple time . Logistics 1. A kit for multiple attendees is delivered to a refuge 2. An email call out is sent to the refuges taking part in the scheme for participants to join a class when it is running (usually monthly) 3. As the teacher is already paid for by the general public, it can accommodate complimentary spaces for the women from the refuges. Online classes can have many more participants than a live class. 4. Women are given a zoom link and can join a scheduled online class via the refuge computer or a phone as would a paying student. They will participate beside the general public and not be identified or singled out in anyway. One kit with paints and brushes can be used 15 times. That means a staggering 450 women could take part in a classbunny watercolour class for so little outlay!

On the Water – Setting a Water Museum and Saving a Water Temple

2022-12-14T00:00:00Z

The Himalayas are dotted with water temples which were once the lifeline of the region. Fed by the forests, they form an integral part of the mountain eco system and are extremely revered by the local communities. They play an integral role in maintaining the environmental balance. However after the advent of piped water supply they have largely been abandoned and stand neglected. One such water temple stands at Matogi village in northern India . The water temple has recently been restored and given a facelift with wall murals as part of a fellowship won by my son from US based Bow Seat. https://bowseat.org/programs/future-blue-fellowship/2022-fellowship-grantees/ The activity involving local children was a one time affair and the community now feels something more needs to be done on a continual basis to highlight their water heritage and keep its importance alive in the minds of the people. They have realised that for the Water Temple to remain functioning the forests above will have to be saved and once that is achieved the environment in the village will automatically remain pristine and pure. My project aims at creating a Visitor Centre cum Water Museum in the vicinity of the water temple. An abandoned cow shed next to the water temple has been identified for the project and discussion held with the owner who has willingly agreed to let the Visitor Centre cum Water Museum be set up there. The project owned operated and managed by the village community will contain the utensils and artefacts used by the villagers in earlier times to draw water from the water temple . There will also be painting highlighting the water cycle, water festivals and rituals centred around the water temple. There will also be Water temple centred Memorabilia ( for sale to visitors) created by local artists. The project is expected to impress upon the villagers and visitors the value of the Water Heritage and importance to keep the streams and springs flowing.

Piqua, OH (Inactive) – Musical Instruments

2022-12-13T00:00:00Z

Our project would be to purchase Music and Movement instruments for our Preschool and Pre-K students. The benefit of music for children is so important in the development of many areas. For example, brain development to improve cognitive function, language and vocabulary is increased, auditory perception, which will help with future reading and phonics skills by distinguishing different sounds, and math skills by improving memory and making patterns. Along with these developmental skills, music and movement help children to express themselves, learn creativity and develop physically though movement.

Cleveland, OH – Playroom Restoration for Education

2022-12-13T00:00:00Z

The purpose of the Playroom Restoration for Education project is to restore the current toddler playroom at Zelie's Home to make it more conducive to learning. The objective of the project is to purchase new bookshelves to fill with educational books and sensory toys for babies and toddlers. This will accommodate the average age of children living in the home. Zelie’s Home serves a demographic that has experienced a high amount of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The CDC defines ACEs as potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. The mothers at Zelie’s Home have a score of 5 or more ACEs on average. This predisposes their children to ACEs, thus lowering their ability to have access to educational books and toys that are crucial for their development. As early as 6 months babies begin to explore their toys and learn important motor skills. By 9 months babies begin to use verbal skills and can begin to speak. These skills are aided by educational toys and parents reading to their children. By including sensory toys and educational books in the toddler playroom, Zelie’s Home toddlers will be able to develop critical skills and mothers will interact with their children and be encouraged to help foster these skills.

Cleveland, OH – Reflections of Me!

2022-12-13T00:00:00Z

I am the volunteer librarian at the Lakeshore Intergenerational School. When I talked with the children, I learned from them that they did not like to read. This was very troubling to me. I understand the importance of children seeing themselves in books, So I decided to go into the school library to see what was available. I found about 30 books that depicted African American s or African American culture. The school capacity is 280. Reflections of Me will provide books for the school library that promotes positive images of African Americans and book written by African American authors. The project will also host an African American Read In during the month of February. The goal of the project is to expose children to literature that they can see themselves in and that reflect their culture as well as fostering a love of books and a passion for reading.

Cleveland, OH – KIDShakes: Shakespeare for Families!

2022-12-13T00:00:00Z

KIDShakes is a unique and imaginative program being developed to engage young audiences with classic texts and performative storytelling. This distinctive program is brought to life through the collaboration of both Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and Kulture Kids, two Cleveland based nonprofits with nearly 50 years of combined experience specializing in arts programming, education and community engagement. We are looking to bringing this brand-new FREE outdoor program to life in Cuyahoga County. Starting summer, 2023 KIDShakes will offer outdoor, interactive, and educational performances of Shakespeare’s greatest works for FREE to the families of greater Cleveland. KIDShakes performances are specifically geared for families with young children and will serve as the perfect introduction to classic stories, especially those that help celebrate nature. The goal is to invite families outside and into Cleveland’s natural spaces to play and explore through art. Each show will promote artistic expression, creative problem solving, and natural stewardship. With music, dance and interactive storytelling KIDShakes will encourage kids to explore their outdoor settings and solve problems to help the performers advance the story. Thus KIDShakes will provide a uniquely immersive and imaginatively memorable experience for children and adults alike! In partnering with Dunham Tavern and other park venues, our goal is to tailor our FREE shows to these site specific locations, using experts of the surrounding plants, wildlife and landscape to incorporate more local knowledge into each event.

Buffalo, NY (Inactive) – #LiveLoveAndBe Campaign

2022-12-13T00:00:00Z

"Live LAB With Me" is a social impact initiative created to connect the community to arts and wellness practices. It serves as a community outreach tool to help people experiment with creative thinking and healing through art. It stands for Live Love-And-Be. This initiative Live LAB With Me shines a light on the ways in which we can heal by tapping into our creative power. When we create spaces that are powered by the arts, we then create the perfect opportunity to regenerate the mind, body, and spirit. I've been able to see success in sharing and implementing workshops for Buffalo State College, Community Health Center of Buffalo, and Tops Friendly Markets. These sessions highlighted different modalities of art including but not limited to music, movement, drawing, writing, poetry, and story telling. I am determined to continue to bring a wave of awareness in redefining art and how we use it to navigate through life. Live LAB. serves as an acronym of a mantra and movement; an inspiration and guide to seek out what it truly means to "Live, Love, AND Be." That is why I am launching the #LiveLoveAndBe campaign. This campaign will consist of a Live LAB pop up series and a short documentary. Using these three principles: "Live Love and Be", we will define and bring value to these words that ultimately shape our lives. Simply asking What does it mean to live, to love, and to be. I will engage participates through a unique journey of self exploration and expression. We will share how to use art to for self and communal care to regenerate healthy spaces within the mind/body/spirit. By highlighting artists across different disciplines and delving into their creative process, I beckon to join in on cultivating a personal creative art space and practice. This initiative is timely and important because art helps us to explain the unexplainable, explore our identity, and build healthy relationships in both communal and personal settings. There is an artist in all of us, we must tap in, ignite the power, to LIVE LOVE AND BE.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Community Cob Pizza Oven

2022-12-12T00:00:00Z

In 2021, CGC was awarded the contract to take over the operation of the Community Cob Pizza Oven located in a downtown Duncan community park. The oven was previously managed by another non-profit but they were no longer able to take care of it. Subsequently, the oven was vandalized and therefore the City of Duncan had to complete extensive repairs which have now been completed. The amazing oven is now available to use - CGC has started the planning for offering community events but also we want to offer a 'free' pizza night to street-entrenched youth in our community. The park is frequented by homeless youth so we want to bring the food to them as opposed to having youth try to locate meals or go to the food bank which is not really welcoming to youth and is not open in the evenings. CGC already works with Island Health, we provide 15 homeless meals during weekday evenings already.so this would be an extension of this program as well. Duncan has the unsavory distinction of having some of the highest child poverty in BC. We feel offering an alternative way to receive nutritious, healthy, and delicious food will help support those community members who are food and housing insecure.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Beacon Project

2022-12-10T00:00:00Z

We have partnered with a local psychiatric hospital to house women leaving the ward. We are calling the project The Beacon Project. We have an old unrenovated rooming house that we were previously trying to sell. The building needs maintenance, which we are following up. But, we do not have the funds to zchuzz the rooms and shared areas with lamps, pictures, cushions, etc. Women leaving psychiatric care with histories or risk of homelessness are prone to 'churning' between hospital stays and homelessness services. This churn is another trauma in their lives. The eighteen women who will initially be offered this accommodation will have safe accommodation, clinical and social support, and a guarantee of alternative permanent accommodation when it becomes available. We know that people with trauma histories and other vulnerabilities require safe, affordable accommodation to recover and move on from their difficulties. We hope that this unfunded project will make a life changing difference to this group of women.

St. Paul, MN – Student Podcasts

2022-12-08T00:00:00Z

AwesomeStPaul is proud to announce our December $1,000 grant to the Face to Face Academy Podcast. The weekly podcast features high school students talking about what's important to them. This project helps to build community among high school students, which is one of our chapter's core values. Check out the podcast on their website. In the words of Teacher Jennifer Plum, "The Face to Face Podcast Network is a collection of uncensored and unfiltered student voices processing this unprecedented moment in time. Parents, teachers, government officials, doctors, social workers, sociologists, and historians all wonder and question how the youth of today are coping with all the societal changes of the last few years. How is the pandemic affecting the youth? How is the mental health of young people today? What are young people going to take away from their educational experience? How are they still managing to find joy in being a teenager? Sometimes heartbreaking, often humorous, and always inspiring, the "F2FPN" begins to provide answers with a new episode dropping EVERY TUESDAY. The Face to Face Podcast Network places the microphones in the hands of youth and dares to consider: “What happens when high school students decide the topics, ask the questions, tell their stories, and find their voices?” We started the podcast in Spring 2022 and recently published our 26th episode. It has been an essential community-building tool to get students listening and speaking again in a post-covid environment. Listenership now approaches 1,000 downloads. Students pick their own topics, form their own questions, and invite other guests on the mic. Guests mainly involve other students, but some episodes feature teachers, school social workers, cousins, parents, or former students. All music featured on the episodes is recorded in-house as well in our music class. Students are recorded by a contracted staff member and supported with related curriculum by the Language Arts Department. Each episode published online through "simplecast.com" and is available on all major listening platforms. In our research, there are no high schools in Minnesota producing a school-led weekly podcast"

Oahu, HI – Community seating at Hui Mahi'ai Aina

2022-12-08T00:00:00Z

Hui Mahi'ai Aina is a non-profit organization based in Waimanalo, Hawaii. It was first founded in 2014 as a foodbank and community outreach center. Over the years, the organization has grown from a foodbank outlet to a houseless community program, currently sheltering 60 formerly houseless people on a 14-acre plot of land. In order to provide adequate care to the residents, Hui Mahi’ai Aina provides meals at a highly subsidized cost every morning and evening. Currently, there is a compact kitchen and a gravelly eating area in front with two picnic tables and no sun protection. We intend to improve upon this area, providing shelter from the sun, and a comfortable seating arrangement in order to create a more permanent space. We hope these advances will help the community come together during meal times and provide a space to connect. The first priority of our project would be sourcing a tent so that the eating area will be shaded. In addition, we will be adding planter boxes to provide fresh herbs for the community to use in their meals. This will provide them with an area that will nurture a sense of community and support the overall health of the individuals who live at Hui Mahi'ai Aina.

Baltimore, MD – Vegan Skate Party

2022-12-07T00:00:00Z

My goal is to increase awareness of healthy eating and exercise to the West Baltimore/Sandtown Community, where I have been teaching accessible yoga since 2018. The 21217 zip code is a food desert. Many people do not have access to healthy food/fresh vegetables. There are pop-ups that do weekly food giveaways that include fresh produce. This event will give families an opportunity to learn ways to incorporate these items into their daily lives. During the event people will skate and eat vegan food prepared by a local Baltimore business (The Big Bean Theory). The Owner, Chef Eula McDowell will conduct a vegan food prep demonstration for the guests. There will also be community non-profits that will set up tables in order to share information about healthy eating and exercise.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Insect Room

2022-12-05T00:00:00Z

We are excited at Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium to connect guests with nature. We recently hired a new staff member with amazing passion and vision. She has offered to help bring new life to an educational exhibit that really needs to be updated and refreshed to connect with our younger visitors. The Insect Room has been very educational but not very FUN and of course we can't keep the children exploring if they aren't having fun while learning. We could hardly contain her whirlwind of ideas and she has already begun working with a local Girl Scout to paint murals in the room. Insects and bugs may not sound exciting but they are intermingled in everything nature and we look forward to informing, entertaining and building memories for our guests, young and old. We vision the room when complete to have lab tables, pinned insects, large display wall with insect habitats, a working beehive and life-size beehive play area.

Westminster, MD – ConectandoUs

2022-12-05T00:00:00Z

ConectandoUs is a 501(c)(3) that provides the Hispanic community a foundation of connection that fosters an inclusive network of resources. We are currently operating with 4 programs, but we also have 2 programs that we hope to launch soon. Not Just Sueños is a program designed for Hispanic individuals to take steps to make their dreams a reality. We help youth with their homework, college applications, and job applications. This program is offered every Monday (Kindergartners-7th graders) and Thursday (8th graders-Seniors in high school) 2pm to 6pm, as well as by appointment for 16-21 year olds. Voces is a program designed for individuals ages 5-18 to learn languages to connect with their communities. We offer Spanish classes to English-speaking youth for them to be able to further connect with their family and community. We offer English classes to Spanish-speaking youth for them to be able to further connect with the community. This program is offered every Tuesday 5pm to 6pm. Cafecito Con Pan is a program designed for Hispanic youth to have a supportive, understanding, and safe space to discuss what is going on in their lives. This program is offered the second Wednesday of every month from 5pm to 7pm. My Familia is a program designed to help connect Hispanic families to local resources. We meet with families by-appointment to help connect them to transportation services, food banks, clothing drives, affordable healthcare, housing assistance, and more. Our Talento is a program designed for Hispanic individuals to be able to learn and develop new skills. We will offer classes throughout the month teaching various skills such as basic trade skills, art and craft skills, financial skills, phone and computer skills, and more. Unidos is a program designed for Hispanic families to have opportunities to visit various places such as outdoor trips and trips that will help Hispanic individuals understand the history and culture of our community.

Washington, DC – Lady Bugs Literacy Love and Language Lounge

2022-12-03T00:00:00Z

This Program is a Community Based Mobile Library, designed to support children and families in low income and underserved communities who struggle with Literacy Skills, Language and Self-Esteem issues and peer to peer relationships. We services school aged children and families in afterschool programs and communities from ages 4-18 as well as Parents/ Adults who may need resources or support on how to support their children in order to help them grow in these areas. Our mission is to bridge the gap between young children Language, Literacy, and Self-love and to build strong peer relationships in these communities by providing them with a non-traditional fun, exciting extra ordinary mobile Library experience with literacy resources, games and kid friendly conversations and activities that with allow them the practice to strengthen these skills in order to shape them to become well rounded self-sufficient, confident highly Literate functional citizens. Our 3 Main Focus Points are Literacy, Self-Love and Language Literacy > Practicing Reading and Writing Skills Language >Expressive Conversations Pronunciation and Vocabulary practices, building social skills Peer+ Self-Love > Esteem, Building bonds and relationships with peers Our Literacy Lounge is a warm, exciting, kid friendly Mobile Library space designed and created on site for children with literacy struggles to feel safe, secure and comfortable with confessing and expressing their needs as it relates to literacy. We strive to meet all children’s whole and individual needs through building safe and secure relationships, positive guidance and encouragement, kid friendly language, and fun filled academic, (Literacy/Math) games, puzzles and activities. Our sessions run from 1hr – up to 1hr1/2 -2hr max Our literacy, language and self-love/esteem sessions are fun filled, kid friendly life changing experience for young children as well as the adults in their everyday lives.

Nature Armenia (Inactive) – Share the Eco-Love

2022-12-01T00:00:00Z

During this holidays most people think about doing good actions for the most vulnerable groups. In our school we have thought about doing an ECO-FRIENDLY good action. Currently, the students of the border villages of Shrvanidzor, Tsav and Nerkin Hand had joined the different sewing groups to create the ultimate sustainable christmas gift box filled with handmade, local products. Shrvanidzor students add their handmade eco-bags, handmade dolls and local dry fruit. Tsav and Nerkin Hand students add their handmade eco-bags and their local herbal mountain tea. Together with more teachers we have decided to spread the Eco-Love during this Christmas by giving these gift boxes as a present to the children in border villages with more difficult situation than ours -such as Surnukh- or to institutions working with vulnerable children. We have made a test phase were some Christmas boxes were taken to Yerevan for selling. The students can prepare 35 boxes in one week. Even if the project is financed in January. We will be able to distribute the presents during January.

State College, PA – Golden Ticket to Literacy ,Centre County edition

2022-12-01T00:00:00Z

Random Acts of Reading (RoAR) is launching an exciting program in Centre County called The Golden Ticket to Literacy, which puts diverse, inclusive books by indie authors into book vending machines (BVM) The very first RoAR BVM will be placed in Centre Hall Elementary at the start of 2023. The concept is simple but effective: Get kids excited about reading and writing. This is how it works: • Kids demonstrate positive behavior/have a birthday/write a story/... and receive a special token. • At the end of the week, all of the kids who received tokens are celebrated and invited to come down to the centrally-located school-branded book vending machine. • One by one, they pop their tokens into the machine, and it lights up as they select one book from the machine (the machines are filled with diverse, inclusive titles by indie authors/publishers from around the world). • The book is theirs to keep to start or add to their home library! • Inside of one book (every semester or marking period) there lies a Golden Ticket that contains a QR code that the teacher/librarian/principal scans. The kids are on a “quest for the golden ticket”! When discovered, it reveals an audio from the author of that book excitedly letting everyone know that they will be coming soon (virtually or in person) for a meet-the-author event for the entire school (or age-appropriate grades). At that event, every child receives a copy of their book. During the duration of the project each grade has an opportunity to enjoy an age-appropriate meet-the-author visit. The thrill of the quest for the golden ticket, which is rewarded by a “prize” for all students, helps create excitement for earning/receiving tokens and fosters school spirit and community. The program provides additional literacy features, including: ~access to a large digital library ~participation in a writing contest/writing workshop ~a library of books submitted by kids This will be the first school to participate nationwide.

Nature Armenia (Inactive) – «Անձրևաջրերը, որպես ոռոգման այլընտրանքային աղբյուր

2022-12-01T00:00:00Z

Ջրահովիտի Վլ․ Աբրահամյանի անվան միջնակարգ դպրոցը գտնվում է Արարատի մարզում:Գյուղը գտնվում է Արարատյան դաշտում, ծովի մակարդակից տեղադրված է 855 մ բարձրության վրա։ Կլիման չոր, խիստ ցամաքային է։ Ձմեռները սկսվում են դեկտեմբերի կեսերին, հունվարյան միջին ջերմաստիճանը տատանվում է -3-ից -5 °C։ Ամառը տևական է՝ մայիսից մինչև հոկտեմբեր, օդի միջին ամսական ջերմությունը հասնում է 24-ից 26 °C, իսկ առավելագույնը՝ 42 °C։ Հաճախ լինում են խորշակներ, որոնք զգալի վնաս են հասցնում գյուղատնտեսությանը։ Մթնոլորտային տարեկան տեղումների քանակը 250-300 մմ է։ Բնական լանդշաֆտները կիսաանապատային են, որոնք ոռոգման ընթացքում վեր են ածվել կուլտուրոռոգելի լանդշաֆտի։ Ագրոկլիմայական տեսակետից համայնքն ընկած է բացարձակ ոռոգման գոտում, սակայն ոռոգման ջրի պակասի պատճառով համայքը գրեթե կիսաանապատային է Նախագծի գաղափարը առաջացավ այն ժամանակ, երբ դպրոցում կառուցապատեցինք ջերմոց և հանդիպեցինք բույսերի ոռոգման խնդրին, դպրոցում առկա չէ ոռոգման ջուր, սակայն գյուղի աշխարհագրական դիրքը այնպիսին է, որ բնակիչները կարողանում են մի քանի մինչև 15 մետր խորությունից արտեզյան ջրեր հանել և ոռոգել տարածքները, իսկ մենք այս պահին խմելու ջրով ենք ոռոգում, իսկ անձրևաջրերը որպես ոռոգման այլընտրանքային աղբյուր օգտագործելով, կկարողանանք մշակել ինչպես մեր ջերմոցում աճող կուլտուրաները, այնպես էլ դպրոցի կանաչապատ տարածքները, նշեմ նաև, որ ջերմոցում բացի մշակային կուլտուրաներից , աճեցնում ենք նաև ծառերի կտրոններ, մեր ջերմոցը փորձագիտական ջերմոց է, սակայն խմելու ջրով ոռոգելով կհանգենք որոշակի խնդիրների․․․․ Ծրագիրը կնպաստի Խմելու ջրի խնայողությանը Ջրային ռեսուրսների ճիշտ կառավարմանը Կանաչ զանգվածի պահպանմանը, Մարդու գործունեության ներգործության նվազեցումը բնության նկատմամբ, Թափոնների ճիշտ կառավարմանը/ ոչ պիտանի տակառների օգտագործում/ Բացօթյա դասեր իրականացնելով կապահովենք էկոկրթությունը Նախագիծը ունի բնապահպանական ուղղվածություն, քանի որ՝ կստեղծվի լրացուցիչ բնական միջավայր։ Կբարելավվի օդի որակը Ստեղծված ջերմոցային պայմաններում կստանանք էկոլոգիապես մաքուր մթերք, որը կտրամադրենք դպրոցի ճաշարանին։

New York City, NY – Bronx Bound Books

2022-11-30T00:00:00Z

We're pleased to announce that our November grant has been awarded to Bronx Bound Books, a mobile bookstore serving the Bronx. Grantee Latanya DeVaughn writes: _Bronx Bound Books is a bookstore on wheels. We value book ownership. The Bronx has only two brick and mortar bookstores for the entire borough. Instead of complaining about it I decided to convert a bus into a bookstore. Bronx Bound Books is the bookstore that comes to you. We travels to schools, shelters, churches, farmers markets and every where in between. We make book buying affordable and accessible to everyone corner of The Bronx and beyond._ Earlier this year, Bronx Bound Books acquired a second bus to be able to bring their bookstore to even more communities. Would you like to help out? You can [do your holiday shopping through their Bookshop page](https://bookshop.org/shop/bronx_bound_books). Or perhaps you'd like to rent the bus for your own Book Fair. [Follow Bronx Bound Books on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bronxboundbooks/) and help spread the word.

Georgetown, MA – Pickle ball courts

2022-11-30T00:00:00Z

I am a fifth grade teacher here in town and an avid Pickleball lover and would love to find a way to fund and create a couple of Pickleball courts for students to use during recess. I think it could even blossom into an after school club for Penn Brook students and obviously would also be available to Georgetown residents when school is not in session.

Glasgow – Pollokshaws mini murals

2022-11-30T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is simply to extend my previous murals within Pollokshaws area. My work at the Shawbridge arcade is now set to be demolished for mid level housing and the local community have expressed loudly that they want art to remain in the immediate area. The project would be to approach businesses with an offer to create murals on their shutters/walls free of charge to keep the area vibrant and inviting to all. Previous conversations with business owners and locals in the area have produced a sentiment of wanting the artwork but being unable to find a budget for such artwork given the hardships of the last few years for small business owners. With the cost being covered by the grant, the community would no longer have any hesitations and several businesses and locals would now have access to an alternative space to house the artwork that they have come to love within their community.

Aviano (Inactive) – Bella Aviano Local Photography Book

2022-11-30T00:00:00Z

We are a local group of Aviano citizens that want to compile photographs into a beautiful photography book highlighting the town of Aviano, including the shared multicultural heritage of the place.

Sydney – Dharawal Language Book and Gift Pack

2022-11-30T00:00:00Z

Ngumby jodi! Our project is the Dharawal Language Book & Gift Pack. With the help of our chairman, a Yuin man with community links to Dharawal Country, we have written a Dharawal picture dictionary that children can colour in. The pictures depict actual Dharawal rock art and illustrate the words being defined. These books are gifted to every First Nations kindergarten student in the Sutherland Shire (one per family) at special school ceremonies where families are invited to attend. The books are packaged in cotton bags with the Aboriginal, the Torres Strait Islander, and the Australian flags, a First Nations language map, a pack of coloured pencils and a notebook, and a copy of Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe. This simple gift of language and culture builds self-esteem and community connection. Students feel a sense of pride when they are gifted with the pack at the special ceremony and that pride grows when they are invited to share the contents of the book with their classrooms and their families. It's a small step toward cultural mental health, but a valuable one none-the-less. The ceremonies, sponsored by the schools, are also valuable as they build community between First Nations families, many of whom had not connected with others in their school system previously.