Rising Voices Call for Proposals for Citizen Media Outreach
We are no longer accepting applications.
A major part of Rising Voices’ mission to support and nurture underrepresented communities so that they can begin to take full advantage of participatory digital media tools has been our microgrants for citizen media outreach projects. Since 2007, these small grants provide an opportunity for individuals, grassroots groups, networks, and other organizations without significant access to larger funding to be able to pass along knowledge by teaching others in their community in the use of these tools, as well as to provide ongoing support.
Rising Voices is pleased to announce the 2012 open call for microgrant proposals, and we are currently accepting project proposals for funding up to $4,000 USD for global projects.
Who is Eligible to Apply
This funding opportunity is open to private individuals, groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We encourage partnerships between individuals and organizations. For example, if an NGO does not have experienced citizen media trainers on staff, it would be extremely important that it seeks collaboration with the local blogging community to find the right trainer(s) with the necessary skills. Individual applicants might also find it highly beneficial to partner with organizations from the communities they plan to serve in order to strengthen the project's impact and to have access to potential project participants.
There is no requirement for an organization to be legally registered, but we do require selected projects to have access to a bank account that is able to receive international bank transfers.
What Kind of Projects May be Funded
Rising Voices seeks project proposals that share our mission of bringing voices from new communities, as well as underrepresented language groups to the online global conversation through the use of participatory citizen media. The project's primary activities should be to provide citizen media training workshops to the target community, as well vital ongoing support and mentoring. Please see our roster of current and alumni grantee projects for examples of previously funded projects.
Examples of potential projects may include:
- Organizing a citizen media “boot camp” with experienced local bloggers to train and mentor participants from underrepresented communities that will result in a local network of support.
- Working with an indigenous community to teach and encourage new generations to begin to use Twitter to connect with others as a way to preserve and promote their native language online.
- Partnering with a local library with a computer to lab to invite community members to discuss local problems and solutions, and train them how to create a group blog to take these conversations to the wider community.
- Organizing a series of digital photography group walks where residents can document life in their community together and create an online Flickr photography exhibit.
- Teaching local residents to record and edit audio recordings on Audacity for a community podcast that can be uploaded online, as well as distributed to local radio stations for a wider reach.
Project ideas are not limited to these, and we encourage you to be creative, yet realistic in your proposals.
Application Process
Interested applicants should complete the online proposal application form (link here), which should also include a detailed budget. It is extremely important that applicants follow the word count guidelines for each of the questions.
If you would like to download the application questions to complete offline in order to upload later, please view or download the text document here (Google Doc format). However, all applications must be submitted online, and we cannot accept any additional attachments. Once you have submitted the application, you will see a confirmation screen like this. While we welcome and encourage projects from all corners of the global, all applications must be completed in English due to the common language of our selection committee.
Rising Voices outreach grants will range from $2,000-4,000 USD. Please be as thoughtful, specific, and realistic as possible when drafting your budgets. Applicants are encouraged to submit budgets for less than the maximum $4,000 USD as smaller grants allow us to fund more projects.
The application deadline is February 3rd, 2012 at 11:59 PM GMT (Please double check the time zone equivalent in your region). The proposals will be reviewed by a committee of Global Voices staff and volunteers, as well as members of previous Rising Voices grantees. We hope to be able to announce the grant recipients by February 28, 2012.
Expectations of Successful Grantees
Successful projects will be prominently featured on the Global Voices networks. Grantees will be required to sign a grant agreement, which will outline accounting, reporting, and other terms and conditions regarding how funds will be distributed. Grantees will also be required to post regular project updates to the Rising Voices website, be in regular communication with Rising Voices staff, as well as actively participate in the Rising Voices community.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments section below or by sending an email to eddie [at] globalvoicesonline [dot] org.
Good luck!
100 comments
Very Nice and brilliant idea. i am going for it really.
I am from India(andhra pradesh state). I am working with Dalit and tribal community(Gypsys and irulas), activities doing childrens education, women empowerment program and skill training to youth . I want to know that could i apply from Andhra Pradesh, India.?
Founder Secretary & Director
“Communicare” organisation
Information Technology Foundation (I.T.F) is a grass-root organization found by a group of young teachers who teach I.C.T as a subject at the Basic Education level in Northern Ghana based on the encounters met in the teaching and learning of the subject especially when it comes to the girl child. Some of the encounters faced with the pupils include broken homes, poor background nature of pupils homes, lack of I.C.T facilities, as well as certain religious practices among other challenges were realized. It is based on these challenges that our organization was established to help improve ICT learning, especially the practical aspect in our rural communities and beyond because it is evident that ICT is the center of attraction in today’s world of work.
It is our hope that when given the needed support, we shall achieve our noble aims and objectives as we seek to among other things empower children of school going age, especially the girl child in the world of ICT by equipping them with the requisite skills and knowledge on how to use ICT tools efficiently and effectively to the benefit of not only our communities but to Ghana and Africa at large. We also seek to expose women to the use of the internet in making meaningful contributions to the decision making process, create the necessary forum for children, especially the girl child to stand among equals through seminars and workshops as well as promote the agenda for economic independence of women through micro finance facilities etc. These and many more are on our vision to break the chain of poverty and ensure that women rights are protected and respected in our communities and beyond through ICT education.
The organization is a non profit making organization of which its members are determined to play a leading role in the development and empowerment of the girl child and women in general through ICT education. We are pleased to say we are duly registered under the companies code, 1963 (act 179) in Ghana with registration number G-38,662.
By:Salifu A.Faaruk.
(Executive Director)
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share vital stories of undeserved people and communities.
I am working with various Community based groups in Kenya across the country, is it possible to for our organization to apply foe the respective groups as a block?
Yes, you may apply as part of a group or with other partners.
WOCSED organisation is vorking with women and youths in rural communities in NIGERIA, to become self reliance and also to come out from their cocoon to enable them enjoy the devidend of democacy.we thank you for given us the opportunity to participate in this programme.
THANK YOU KEEP IT ROLLING FOR THE WAR AFFECTED PEOPLE HERE IN LANGO REGION.
hi,read your respective information and we glad . Human care foundation working in health,education,peace,environment,energy crises (advocacy) . selfmade based NGO. Kindly guide and help (inshape of financial help or others) for the betterment of the society . Your favourable reply awaited. thanks
This is a good initiative. SUFO will definitely apply.