Projects For Peace

About

Projects for Peace was created in 2007 through the generosity of Kathryn W. Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist who died in 2013 at 106 years of age.  She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Middlebury Program currently involving over 90 American colleges and universities.  Mrs. Davis’ legacy will live on through the continuation of Projects for Peace in order to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world.  The Davis family and friends believe, like Mrs. Davis did, that today’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

Projects for Peace hope to encourage student initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship focusing on conflict prevention, resolution or reconciliation.

Qualifications

Some of the most compelling projects to date have reflected one or more of the following characteristics:

• contributing to conflict prevention
• ameliorating conditions leading to violence/conflict
• looking for and building on shared attributes among differing peoples, races, ethnicities, tribes, clans, etc.
• fostering diplomacy or otherwise contribute to advancing peace processes underway
• promoting economic opportunity and entrepreneurship among those in post-conflict areas
• finding creative ways to bring people on opposite sides of issues together, such as through art, sports, music or other techniques to promote a common humanity
• developing leadership and mediation skills training for those in conflict or post-conflict societies
• starting or leveraging initiatives, organizations (e.g. education, health) or infrastructure projects to build/rebuild community.

In general, projects should be building blocks for a sustainable peace. The overall program is intended to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere, including in the U.S.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students (including seniors who would complete their projects after graduation) at Case Western Reserve University are eligible. Groups of students, as well as individual students, may submit proposals.

Application Procedure

1. CWRU can only nominate one project and one alternate project each year so there is an on-campus preliminary screening.  Applicants must complete the Intent to Apply by Jan 1, 2025. 
2. Applicants are required to meet with one of the campus officials listed below no later than Dec. 15, 2024, in order to discuss their projects' goals and plans and campus application plans.
3. Following submission of the Intent to Apply, 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. IMPORTANT: All written project proposals require a heading that includes the following: name of the participating institution, name of all student participants, title of project, dates of the projects, and country where the project will be performed. Proposals should include pre-approval of all parties and organizations involved in the project.
4. The two-page proposal and one-page budget should be submitted electronically to the campus officials listed below by Jan. 17, 2025. NOTE: Students with questions can contact the campus officials listed below as communication between students writing proposals and the Middlebury office is prohibited.
5. Present your project to the campus selection committee. A date/time will be identified based on the applicant’s class schedule and committee availability.
6. The campus selection committee will submit its nominee and alternate to the Middlebury Scholar. Each funded project must submit a final report to the Middlebury Scholars Program office.

Value of the Award

Middlebury funding per project is limited to $10,000.

Contact

LaTasha Johnson
Undergraduate Studies
lxt229@case.edu
216.368.2928

Cami Ross
Education Abroad
ctj14@case.edu
216.368.2928

Past Winners

2024

Ignas Kamugisha 
Class of 2027
Computer Engineering 

2023

Margaux Johnstone
Class of 2025
Anthropology

Tenzin Palmo
Class of 2024
Psychology

2021

Arthure Olivia Tchilibou Wane
Class of 2024
Biomedical Engineering

2020

Jasmine Haraburda
Class of 2021
Biology

2019

Kareem Agag
Class of 2020
Economics

Aayush Parikh
Class of 2020
Economics
Engineering Physics
 

2018

Hannah Clarke
Class of 2021
French

Geneva Magsino
Class of 2019
International Studies

2017

Cameron Macaskill
Class of 2017
English
International Studies
Political Science
 

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