What is the International Changemaker Grant?
A partnership between the Changemaker Collaborative at the UNH Sustainability Institute and UNH Global, the International Changemaker Grant enables UNH students to bring their knowledge and enthusiasm to help form and strengthen partnerships (SDG 17) and international solidarity to address sustainability challenges in the global south.
Students (working alongside a faculty mentor) partner with regional stakeholders and/or international non-profit organizations to develop a project geared at mitigating a sustainability related problem (using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a blueprint).
Funding is available to existing student organizations as well as independently formed student groups. Project may be supported by the students’ department(s) and/or the UNH Sustainability Institute. The grants provide funding to augment the student groups’ own fundraising activities. The grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 and are dependent on the merit and scope of the proposals. Grants may cover the cost of travel, lodging, meals, and other project necessities. Multiple grants may be awarded each year.
Thanks to the visionary leadership of S. Melvin Rines ’47, whose generous support has been instrumental, the Emeriti Council of the UNH Foundation Board has taken a pioneering step by establishing this fund. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Alnoba Lewis Family Global Service Initiative Fund for their invaluable contribution in making this initiative a reality. This endeavor is aimed at empowering groups of UNH students to partake in impactful international service projects.
Apply for an International Changemaker Grant
Interested, but not sure where to start?
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IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION
May 8, 2024
Applications due for J-term 2025 and Spring 2025
June 14, 2024
Notification of Award for J-term 2025 and Spring 2025
December 18, 2024
Applications due for Summer 2025
January 12, 2025
Notification of Award for Spring 2025 & Summer 2025
May 8, 2025
Applications due for J-term 2026 and Spring 2026
June 14, 2025
Notification of Award for J-term 2026 and Spring 2026
December 18, 2025
Applications due for Summer 2026
UNH Nursing students worked with Global Partners in Hope on a medical mission trip in Togo, West Africa (2018)
Partner
with regional stakeholders and/or international non-profit organizations to develop a project geared at mitigating a sustainability related problem.
Work
alongside a group of students and a faculty mentor.
Get funding
to cover the cost of travel, housing, and other incidentals up to $10,000.
- Each student group should be officially recognized by OR sponsored by a UNH department
- The Sustainability Institute can be the department - contact Faina Bukher, or Fiona Wilson
- Each student group must have at least one faculty/staff advisor
- Faina Bukher or Fiona Wilson at the Sustainability Institute can be the staff advisor
- All students participating in the project must establish eligibility by completing the Study Away Eligibility Form
The Emeriti Council strongly encourages multi-year and/or multi-phase projects that establish a relationship with international communities of need. This recognizes that sustainable development depends upon long-lasting partnerships and allows UNH groups and associated partners to address challenges that may arise following departure from the project community. Additionally, this encourages the integration of virtual project work during pre and post travel, which will positively set the stage for in-person work once travel occurs.
The Emeriti Council will consider the overall quality and merit of the proposal, in addition to the following grant criteria (download the PDF rubric):
- Project Description: An overview of your project, including:
- an overview of your local partner organization and their mission
- context for the location where you will be serving (highlighting how the location is an area of high need)
- the nature of your project and how it aligns with the intent of this program
- the preparation and implementation plan for your project
- Funding & fundraising activities: The International Changemaker Grant is contingent upon student groups developing a budget for the project as well as raising a portion of the funds needed for the project. You'll be asked to describe the supplemental fundraising activities you have done or plan to do.
- Team characteristics include diverse skills and perspectives to bring to the project, including ideally representing various majors and colleges on campus, entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity and a demonstration of clear interest and motivation for choosing to engage with this project. You'll be asked to include brief description of your student group, including its mission (formal or informal), and the nature of your interest and motivation for choosing to engage with this project.
- Engagement of the community abroad in project needs assessment, planning, and implementation
- Beneficial short-term and long-term impacts for the community where the project is conducted
- Benefits to student learning as well as enhancement of educational quality at UNH
- Strategy for sharing the project results to the UNH community, including but not limited to
- A final activity report that will cover the outcomes of the project objectives, including itemized budget expenditures
- A ~ 3-minute video
- An blog post highlighting the on-site project work and impact on the local community and UNH participants
- A short presentation to the UNH community, highlighting the impacts of the International Changemaker Grant on your group and the local community
- A presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference is encouraged, but not required
- Faculty Advisor(s) Letter of Support: The letter should describe the advisor's involvement and supervision of the project, including the length the advisor has been working with the students and an assessment of the project's viability.
|
College |
Term |
Location |
Project/Objective |
Award |
|
|
Education Exchange |
CHHS |
January 2024 |
Wamunyu, Kenya |
Provided sexual health education, medical screening, and other requested projects to the local community in partnership with Kenya Connect. |
$10,000 |
|
Students for Self-Sustainability |
PCBE |
January 2024 |
Senegal, West Africa |
Repaired broken furniture, provided new farming tools and introduced solar-powered reading lights and fans. |
$10,000 |
|
UNH Model UN |
CHHS |
November |
Erfurt, Germany |
Partnered with a local organization to develop an outreach project aligned with the values of the United Nations |
$10,000 |
|
Outreach Program in Tanzania |
PCBE |
Summer |
Nkungi, Tanzania |
Provided English language lessons, and maintained and repaired existing school buildings. |
$10,000 |
|
Education Exchange |
CHHS & Graduate |
Summer |
Wamunyu, Kenya |
Provided sexual health education, medical screening, and other requested projects to the local community in partnership with Kenya Connect. |
$10,000 |
|
Students for Global Health |
CHHS |
Summer 2022 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
Provided public school education on water sanitation and hygiene in Kathmandu, Nepal |
$10,000 |
|
Kenya Connect |
CHHS |
Summer 2022 |
Wamunyu, Kenya |
Facilitated sexual and reproductive health workshops for adolescents in Kenya |
$10,000 |
|
Students for Global Health |
CHHS |
January 2020 |
Kathmandu & Dhulikhel, Nepal |
Provided education to empower women to take control of their sexual and reproductive health by increasing access to menstrual supplies by partnering with Sankalpa Women’s Alliance for Peace, Justice, and Democracy in Nepal |
$10,000 |
|
Model UN |
COLA |
November 2019 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Participated in the National UN conference, elementary and secondary school service projects and cultural activities |
$8,000 |
|
Play for Peace |
CHHS |
July 2019 |
La Carpio, Costa Rica |
Offered leadership skills training to communities of conflict, providing models of inclusion, cooperation and fun in a safe place |
$7,500 |
|
UNH Safe Drinking Water |
CEPS |
July 2019 |
Kapalamula, Malawi |
Implementation of a spring box filtration system in the village of Kapalamula to provide safe and clean drinking water |
$8,000 |
|
Project Samana |
COLSA |
June 2019 |
Samana, Dominican Republic |
Students assisted in a spay and neuter clinic of stray and unwanted cats and dogs which helps increase tourism in the area, thereby bringing in more money to these communities. |
$2,960 |
|
Weaving Strands |
COLA |
January 2019 |
India |
Community environmental education and assessments and communications via engagement and social media |
$9,984 |
|
Outdoor Adventure Center |
CHHS |
Summer 2018 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
Implement experiential education standards and practices |
$10,000 |
|
Hope for Togo |
CHHS |
Summer 2018 |
Togo, West Africa |
Community health assessment and clinical services |
$9,300 |
|
Model UN |
COLA |
January 2018 |
Galapagos Island and Quito, Ecuador |
Participate in National Model United Nations (NMUN) Galapagos and integrate conference knowledge into an experiential service project in Ecuador to lead high school students through a Model UN Special Session |
$10,000 |
|
National Society of Black Engineers NSBE |
CEPS |
Summer 2017 |
Johannesburg, South Africa |
Provide support for girls from Soweto in First Avenue Institute (FAI) Girls STEM Winter camp that focuses on STEM based industries |
$4,130 |
|
Hope for Togo |
CHHS |
Summer 2017 |
Agbelouve Togo, West Africa |
Performed a needs based assessment in health care, adequate nutrition, potable water, waste sanitation, and hygiene |
$10,000 |
|
Veterinary Technology Project |
COLSA |
May 2017 |
Samana, Dominican Republic |
Project Samana - to help provide animal safety and welfare information to the pet owners in this area |
$3,250 |
|
Project Oasis |
CEPS |
Summer 2016 |
Uvita, Forjando Alas, Costa Rica |
Aquaponics - soil free vegetable/fish farming assessment and advancement to another community |
$3,500 |
|
Engineers Without Borders EWB |
CEPS |
Summer 2016 |
San Pedro de Casta, Peru |
Potable water system construction, maintenance training, health education training |
$2,500 |
|
Engineers Without Borders EWB |
CEPS |
Summer 2016 |
Cet-Kana, Uganda |
Potable water springbox installation |
$9,000 |
|
Kriol Public History |
COLA |
Summer 2016 |
Crooked Tree and Biscayne, Belize |
Ethnographic, archival, archaeological cultural historical research |
$10,000 |
|
Project Oasis |
CEPS |
January 2016 |
Costa Rica |
Family-sized, sustainable aquaponic systems that combine raising fish and plants without soil |
$10,000 |
|
Students Without Borders SWB |
Multiple |
Summer 2015 |
Uganda |
LiquiNet - Smart Water Pump Project (remote sensing of well operating status) |
$10,000 |
|
UNH-Solar Panels for Schools |
CEPS |
Summer 2015 |
Toh-Kpalime, Ghana |
Solar panel installation and solar energy education at the Liberation Takumi Community School |
$10,000 |
|
Students Without Borders SWB |
Multiple |
January 2015 |
San Pedro de Casta, Peru |
Implementation of slow sand filtration system |
$7,000 |
|
Students Without Borders SWB |
Multiple |
January 2015 |
Lukodi, Uganda |
Train residents on disinfecting and repairing wells |
$10,000 |
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) with Available Projects
Connect with any of the NGOs below with potential projects (or any others not on this page) to co-develop a project and proposal. Please email Faina.Bukher@unh.edu or Fiona.Wilson@unh.edu for assistance with coordination and Project Proposal.
Your next steps:
1: Connect with an NGO (one of these below, or any others).
2: Connect with a Faculty Sponsor in your department or at the Sustainability Institute
3. Together, develop a project geared at mitigating a sustainability related problem (using the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a blueprint)
Education for all Children (EFAC)
EFAC provides an education-to-employment program for Kenyan youth with the brightest minds and the fewest resources. EFAC graduates are equipped to become the next generation of leaders and change makers in Africa.
Potential projects
- Communications and outreach projects
- S2S Program review and support
- Development research
To help youth become the best version of themselves so they can help their community become the best version of itself.
Potential projects
- Community garden construction in Northern Ireland
- Research and survey of village (1,500 ppl) in Northern Ireland
- Build composting toilet stations off-grid in Belize
Kenya Connect
Kenya Connect's mission is to empower and engage students, teachers, and parents in rural Kenya to succeed in the 21st century.
Potential projects
- Assist with Girl/Boy Empowerment Program
- Improve facilities, create vocational-tech programs, do health assessments and screenings and various interventions at the Wamunyu Special school
- Conduct classroom lessons, Maker Space/STEM activities
- Offer Health Workshops
- Assist with Sustainable Agriculture ventures
We are innovating solutions to waste challenges to build a circular economy and a healing workplace community for at-risk populations.
Potential projects
- Engineering
- Community Outreach/Education
- Business, Sales, and Marketing
- Trauma Counseling
- Capacity Development
- Impact Tracking
Current UNH international travel information
- creating prototypes for life-enhancing products
- providing health services
- creating promotional and communication materials for an organization
- conducting research and data analysis projects from existing data sets
- conducting interviews with stakeholders
- helping with strategic or business planning
- designing new curriculum
- delivering workshops to children
