易胜博官网 International Changemaker Grant

What is the International Changemaker Grant?

student group in Nepal

A partnership between the Changemaker Collaborative at the 易胜博官网 Sustainability Institute and 易胜博官网 Global, the International Changemaker Grant enables 易胜博官网 students to bring their knowledge and enthusiasm to help form and strengthen partnerships () and international solidarity to address sustainability challenges globally.

Students (working alongside a faculty mentor) partner with regional stakeholders and/or international non-profit organizations to co-create sustainable solutions using the  as a blueprint.

Funding is available to existing student organizations as well as independently formed student groups. Projects may be supported by the students鈥 department(s) and/or the 易胜博官网 Sustainability Institute. The grants provide funding to augment the student groups鈥 own fundraising activities. The grants range from $3,000 to $15,000 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.

 Get all the details and application instructions in the FAQ sections below.

Thanks to the visionary leadership of S. Melvin Rines 鈥47, whose generous support has been instrumental, the Emeriti Council of the 易胜博官网 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 易胜博官网 students to partake in impactful international service projects, where they hone their knowledge and skills in sustainable development while creating positive impacts for communities around the globe.

Questions?

Contact Zack Angelini

Parent resources                     Faculty resources

IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION


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


易胜博官网 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 community-based projects that are aligned with the 17 SDGs.

  Work

alongside a group of students and a faculty mentor.

  Get funding

to cover the cost of travel, housing, and other incidentals up to $15,000.

FAQs

  • Each student group should be officially recognized by OR sponsored by a 易胜博官网 department
    • The Sustainability Institute can be the department - contact Zack Angelini
  • Each student group must have at least one faculty or staff advisor 
    • Zack Angelini at the Sustainability Institute can be the staff advisor

The International Changemaker Grant Committee 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 易胜博官网 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 International Changemaker Grant Committee will consider the overall quality and merit of the proposal, in addition to the following grant criteria ():

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Engagement of the community abroad in project needs assessment, planning, and implementation 
  5. Beneficial short-term and long-term impacts for the community where the project is conducted 
  6. Benefits to student learning as well as enhancement of educational quality at 易胜博官网 
  7. Strategy for sharing the project results to the 易胜博官网 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 易胜博官网 participants 
    • A short presentation to the 易胜博官网 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
  8. 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.

 

Student Group

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
COLSA

January 2024

Senegal, West Africa

Repaired broken furniture, provided new farming tools and introduced solar-powered reading lights and fans. 

$10,000

易胜博官网 Model UN

CHHS
COLSA

November
2023

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
2023

Nkungi, Tanzania

Provided English language lessons, and maintained and repaired existing school buildings.

$10,000

Education Exchange

CHHS & Graduate
School

Summer 
2023

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
CEPS
COLSA

Summer 2022

Kathmandu, Nepal

Provided public school education on water sanitation and hygiene in Kathmandu, Nepal

$10,000 

Kenya Connect

CHHS
COLA

Summer 2022

Wamunyu, Kenya

Facilitated sexual and reproductive health workshops for adolescents in Kenya

$10,000 

Students for Global Health

CHHS
COLA
COLSA

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鈥檚 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 

易胜博官网 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
CEPS

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
CEPS

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
TSAS

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
COLSA

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
COLSA

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 

易胜博官网-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 

See the list of NGOs below with potential projects (or any others not on this page) to co-develop a project and proposal. Please email Zack.Angelini@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: Form a student team and identify one student to be the team lead for your project (you will also identify if you are the team lead, or team member, in your online application).
3: Connect with a Faculty  Advisor in your department or at the Sustainability Institute. The Faculty Advisor Role Description can be found in the FAQ section.
4. Together, develop a community-based project aligned with the 17 United Nations as a blueprint.
5. Read all eligibility requirements and grant criteria to make sure you are developing a strong proposal and application.
6. Apply!

Thank you for your interest in the International Changemaker Grant!

The J-term 2026 and Spring 2026 application is open!
Questions or interested in applying in the future? Contact Zack.Angelini@unh.edu


Application instructions: 

Before applying, please be sure to read all the FAQs above, and the notes and instructions below. 

When completing the online application, please read all instructions carefully! Here's what you can expect:

  1. All team members will work together to complete the before beginning the online application process. This document should be downloaded and completed AS A TEAM, as you will have questions to answer about your project and each team member's individual interests, expertise and goals. Make sure to to understand how your Additional Application Materials document will be rated. 
  2. Once complete, save the Additional Application Materials document both as a Word document and a PDF (see file naming instructions below).鈥 Your team leader will be responsible for uploading both within their online application. 
  3. All team members should complete the online application by clicking the 鈥淎pply鈥 button below and inputing their basic information into the online application form (including contact, major, grad year, etc.).  
    1. Be sure to select 鈥淚nternational Changemaker Grant鈥 when asked 鈥淲hat program are you applying for?鈥  
  4. In the next section of the online application, you will be asked if you are a "team member" or "team leader" (this should be determined prior to starting the application process).
    1. If you are the team leader: You will be asked to upload your team鈥檚 Additional Application Materials document as both a Word document and PDF. Name your documents as follows: BriefProjectName_HostOrganization_TermYear_ICG. (As an example, if you were working on an accessible sanitation project with host organization Kenya Connect and you were planning to go in the summer of 2025, your file name would be "Accessible Sanitation_KenyaConnect_Summer2025_ICG".

NOTE: After your whole team submits their online applications, our committee members will review your materials, and we'll reach out by email to notify you.

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 Fiona.Wilson@unh.edu for assistance with coordination and Project Proposal.

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

  1. Communications and outreach projects
  2. S2S Program review and support
  3. Development research 

Friends Forever International

To help youth become the best version of themselves so they can help their community become the best version of itself.
Potential projects

  1. Community garden construction in Northern Ireland
  2. Research and survey of village (1,500 ppl) in Northern Ireland
  3. 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

  1. Assist with Girl/Boy Empowerment Program
  2. Improve facilities, create vocational-tech programs, do health assessments and screenings and various interventions at the Wamunyu Special school
  3. Conduct classroom lessons, Maker Space/STEM activities
  4. Offer Health Workshops
  5. Assist with Sustainable Agriculture ventures

Takataka Plastics

We are innovating solutions to waste challenges to build a circular economy and a healing workplace community for at-risk populations.
Potential projects

  1. Engineering
  2. Community Outreach/Education
  3. Business, Sales, and Marketing
  4. Trauma Counseling
  5. Capacity Development
  6. Impact Tracking

Current 易胜博官网 international travel information

Service projects could include:  
  • 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