Write the grant

Task Discussion

• 
  Carlos   April 18, 2012, 1:20 a.m.

   

  Carlos Villanueva, Franco Niro, Adrian Tame

   

  Unfortunately for Mexico, the youth which account for about half the population has seen a large fall in the amount of people that practice performing arts, especially music. Instead, they have fallen into the hands of drug dealers and live a life of crime. It is such a shame that our country and community lacks the knowledge and ability to continue the spread of our wonderful and unique culture. That is why our Grant has two parts. First, we want to hold a concert to spread music in our community. We want to gather local bands from all over Mexico City to play at our school’s Fine Arts Center. This step includes finding the bands, establishing a relationship with them, and finally auditioning them. We want to make this a family event so bands will not be the only source of entertainment. We also plan to include performances from any music program in Mexico City, whether they are from other schools besides our own or private institutions. For this, we need money to rent equipment such as instruments,sound,lights, and people to work them. We also want to promote this event to make it a huge success. In order to facilitate the participation of bands and other institutions, we would need give them an economic incentive to come and participate in our event.

  The second part is to donate whatever money we make from the concert to the “Instituto De Organos Historicos De Oaxaca”. We will make money by charging a small entrance fee and by selling food and refreshments. What “Insituto De Organos Historicos De Oaxaca does is that they restore organs and play them on a regular basis, hosting concerts in which hundreds of people attend. This charity is based on what we are aiming to do; spread music and culture throughout Mexico. What makes this charity attractive for our cause is that it is located outside of Mexico City. Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s largest tourists attractions besides Mexico City.

  In total, our budget comes to about $4,500 USD, taking into consideration all of the expenses. We want to pay the bands and music programs that will make the event possible. Our aim is to have maximum 10 bands that can play half an hour. This would make the event have 2.5 hours of music. Renting Instruments that the bands cannot take with them such as a drum set and a piano plus people who can manage sound and lighting and a DJ to manage the music when there isn’t anybody on stage.. We want to make this event as large as it can be, so we have to set aside some funds to promote the event with fliers and pay people to distribute them. Also, if a band happens to be from another school, we would give them fliers to promote the event in their school. For $500 we can get a design for the flier print about 3,000 fliers, and print banners for the event.  Because we want to donate money to “Insituto De Organos Historicos De Oaxaca”, we have to re-sell food and beverages as well as charging a small fee for assisting the concert.

  
  Economic Incentive for all bands or music programs: $2,000 or $200 per band

  Rental of Equipment with respective workers: $1500 includes instruments

  Promotion for the Event: $500 (design $100, fliers $40 for 1000 fliers, banners $280)

  Food and beverages: $500

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:20 p.m.
  In Reply To:   Carlos   April 18, 2012, 1:20 a.m.

  I like this project very much.

  One suggestion is that you might want to start your proposal with a strong positive statement about the value of music as a way to build community and culture. (You might consider finding a quote from some reputable source or perhaps some research on this.) This is such a powerful idea.

  I like the idea that you are giving back to the community through a donation to “Instituto De Organos Historicos De Oaxaca." As you move ahead, you migth want to include some info on this in the budget, such as how much you plan to charge or how much you project collecting and donating.

  Also, have you contacted “Instituto De Organos Historicos De Oaxaca" about your plans? Somtimes a letter or support from a partner organization like this can help persuade a funder to support a project like this.

  Good job!

• 
  MaderoP   April 17, 2012, 11:15 p.m.

   

  Proposal
  Hi, My name is Diana  Meneses, and along with my partners Daniel De Gennaro, Paola, and Pablo Madero we are planning on donating school utensils to a public school in need here in Mexico, our school (ASF) has already had connections and has already aided this school, but with a minor impact upon that school, we have seen that this school doesn't have the utensils it needs in order for the kids to learn, utensils like pens, pencils, notebooks, blackboards and chalks. As our school has tried implementing technology into this other public school, we believe that the basics are much more important in order for the kids to learn, instead of having the luxuries they can´t afford or use since they don't have any experience. We hope that this is is a good idea and await your answers.

  
  
  What we need:
  ·Pencils
  ·Pens
  ·Notebooks
  ·Chalckboards
  ·Chalks
  FOR 1 WHOLE GENERATION (200 students)

  
  
  Who will this benefit:
     This will be very beneficial to several parties such as the public school, the children at this school too poor to buy the utensils, my school (ASF) since it will be contributing to help this community and promote its charity area. It benefits the public school that will be provided with the utensils and will help the school be more prepared to help the children learn. The children will also be benefited since they will receive a better education since they have more means to learn with these new technologies and utensils that we will be providing. Since the American School Foundation has such a big contact with this school it wiil be benefited as well as charity will promote the school and will make the school look good before parents, other schools, etc. Also the kids that will do the donation will benefit since they will gain new experiences and will get social community services for required areas for the school.
• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:26 p.m.
  In Reply To:   MaderoP   April 17, 2012, 11:15 p.m.

  Nice idea. I taught school in Africa and found that basic school supplies were lacking there as well. You are right that these basic supplies are essential.

  I am wondering if you could do a donation program where people send you supplies. Then you wouldn't even have to raise much money. If you go ahead with this, make sure to send me the info and I'll spread the word here in the US.

  How would you coordinate something like this? Set up a web page? Raise awareness through the media? What else?

• 
  Alvaro Gomez   April 17, 2012, 10:21 p.m.

   

  Our group is formed by: Elias Litchi, Jose Maria Poo, Jeffrey Sorsby and Alvaro Gomez. We have an idea to donate wheelchairs to TELETON as they are in need. 

   

  The government of Mexico invests almost no money on people with disabilities. The investment relies on those who are willing to help these people. With this in mind, it has come to my attention that our group should be a part of this. In other words, our group wants to help these people as they are in need of help. Most of these people with disabilities are in a foundation called TELETON. TELETON does an excellent job of looking out and taking care of these people. However, TELETON cannot provide for all these people. This is where we come in. Wheelchairs are in highest demand as many of these people lack mobility. Since the government is unwilling to help as they are focused on other things like the drug war, it is up to us citizens to help these people.
  There is a foundation called The Wheelchair Foundation where they specialize in donating wheelchairs worldwide to those in need. However, they don't donate them for free, in other words, they supply the wheelchairs with money earned by those wishing to donate. Our group being of 16 or 17 years of age still don’t have the necessary funds to make this type of donation. In order to gain the money, we will ask for a grant from State Farm. If this State Farm is willing to donate us the grant, we will be able to supply the wheelchairs to those in need at TELETON. Keeping in mind we need to find a price in order to ask for the money in the grant. A good wheelchair costs about $100 USD, we want to supply for about 150 people this would give us a price of $15,000 USD. We also need to factor in the shipping as we are in Mexico, lets estimate $5,000 USD for the shipment.We would also like to create an event for the actual donation of the chairs. In order to do this we would need some money to actually create the event. For this we are asking $2,500 US Dollars. This would give us a grand total of $20,000 USD. This is the total we will ask in our grant from State Farm and with the money obtained we will donate to The Wheelchair Foundation in order for them to supply the actual wheelchairs.
  This grant was not created just in order to be a good citizen, it is so much more than that. People with dissabilities, especially those with very little mobilty, feel excluded from society. The ability to move using wheelchairs will hopefully make them fell part of society. “A wheelchair allows those with disabilities to become a part of society and opens up a world where education, employment, and a better quality of life are possible. Donate today and help the Wheelchair Foundation deliver Hope, Mobility and Independence to the thousands of men, women, and children who still desperately need it. “ . We are trying to help these people on both fronts, inclusion and mobility.

   

  Budget:

  $15,000 US Dollars- Enough money to aquire 150 wheelchairs.

  $5,000 US Dollars- Shipment of the wheelchairs to Mexico

  $2,500 US Dollars- Event

  TOTAL- $22,500 US Dollars. 

   

  This is our grant and we hope you give it carefull consideration. 
• 
  Tuyet   April 18, 2012, 9:07 a.m.
  In Reply To:   Alvaro Gomez   April 17, 2012, 10:21 p.m.

  This is a very good idea, but your wording makes it sound as if the Mexican government is neglectful.  Also, you did not talk about Teleton that much.  What, specifically, does Teleton do for people with disabilities? In addition, where on earth did that quote at the end come from?  It sounds as if you want to advertise the Wheelchair Foundation.  If you want to submit the grant, you should also try to make sure that the wording is more formal as well.  Contractions will simply not do.

• 
  Maria   April 16, 2012, 8:37 p.m.

  Our names are Maria Gutierrez, Maria Echeverria, and Paulina Ruiz, and our project consists in helping the Make-A-Wish foundation in Mexico. MAWFI is a non-profit and tax deductible foundation, whose objective is to grant wishes to children with life threatening diseases who are not expected to reach the age of 18. We are truly moved by this cause because despite the terrible position this kids are put in, their simplicity is exemplary. Many times we do not realize how lucky we are simply to be alive, and these types of projects benefit not only those in the organization,but also ourselves through community service. For example, in May, Fernando, a 12-year-old with heart disease, wished for an opportunity to be on the "Chabelo" television show. Since Fernando had to wait until after his heart surgery on the 22nd of May and his recovery to be on the program, Chabelo granted Fernando a private audience. At this meeting, Chabelo presented Fernando with a gold medallion and two front-row tickets to his show in Puerto Vallarta, which aired prior to Fernando's surgery.
  
  
  We will see to it personally that the money we receive will be donated completely to the Make-A-Wish foundation, and that it is used wisely. We will not only organize individual outings but also organize events in which kids get to interact with each other, always with medical supervision. Lets not forget that these families do not have the money or the chance to make their dreams come true and with a little bit of help from us their lives can become better and more enjoyable, even if it’s for a while. We will also promote the cause in our school and even organize trips to the foundation and collect money for the donation. We really believe in the cause because if we were to die in a few months, weeks or days, we would love to do the things we never got a chance to.
  
  
  We plan on organizing a big event within our school in order to raise money for the foundation. We are going to do a raffle in which the prizes and all the organization will be bought with the grant money. Whatever is left for the initial money, and what we then raise will go directly to the Make-A-Wish foundation. We want to tie this with other kids in the United States in Delaware with which we will split the grant money. They will organize the same type of event in Delaware, and donate their money to the Make-A-Wish foundation in the United States.
  
  
  If the grant is awarded to us, we will make sure to make publicity on the comapny or sponsor of the grant. We will display the sponsors name on the raffle tickets and publicity such as the panflets. The sponsors name will also be displayed in propaganda.
  
  List of things needed for the grant proposal (the prices are in Mexican pesos, unless indicated otherwise)
  
  
  People:
  Students, parents and staff of the ASF community.
  Make a Wish Foundation, both in Mexico and in the United States.
  Our group in Mexico and students in Delaware.
  Volunteers for the raffle event.
  
  Resouces:
  Brochures of Make-A-Wish in order to promote the foundation. $500
  Posters to promote the raffle. $1000
  Tickets for the raffle. $800
  Starbucks gift card $100
  Starbucks gift card $300
  Itunes giftcard $25 USD
  Itunes gift card $50 USD
  Ipad (64gB) $9000
  Urn for the raffle. $500
  Baskets with gifts for the raffle. (provided by sponsors)

• 
  Cesar Salas   April 16, 2012, 10:57 a.m.

   

  PROPOSAL:
  Hi, we are Cesar, Christian, and Luis
  
  We would like to propose an idea for a grant. Our grant would be based on the Kony 2012 movement of April 20, since one of us (César) is organizing the movement of Mexico City. We would like to take the grant money and put it to good use, for many of the posters that can be ordered through the invisible children page are in english, we would like to create our own posters, shirts, and many more things in a spanish version, so we can all “cover the night” in the best way possible, and sell our own Kony 2012 kits, in spanish. Apart from this, we are also going to order some Kony 2012 original merchandize to support the organization, and the cause, but mostly the cause, since all the money we make out of selling our own personalized kits will go to an organization of our choice (NOT INVISIBLE CHILDREN) which we think will have a major effect, in a more efficient way and good use with that money.

   

  Thanks for all the help we got from p2pu!
• 
  rodrigo   April 15, 2012, 10:34 p.m.

  Grant Proposal
  
  We are Angel, Francisco, and Rodrigo and we are looking to get a grant in the area of literature and community and service.
  
  Through this grant, we plan to improve the quality of a library in a mexican public school. To achieve this goal, several affordable, quality books, will be obtained, and then shipped to the aforementioned library. Libreria Porrua, a mexican bookstore, will be the source from which the books will be bought, as they offer a great variety of modern and classic novels and books at a reasonable price. We have set our minds one main possibility on where to give the books. To donate it to a very needy community library in the Mazahuan Center in San José Toxi, Municipio Atlacomulco, Estado de México.

  
  This project’s main objective is helping the community around the library, by restoring an interest in literature and reading, so there can be cultural development in the area’s society.

  
  To pay for this project, we are seeking for a budget that can pay for the books and their shipping to their final destination. 743 books will be bought, for 48,000 MXN, from Libreria Porrua’s bundle “Sepan Cuantos”, which is their collection of classics for kids and young adults. Then we expect to spend about 2,000 MXN on their shipping. Hence, we would kindly ask for a budget of 50,000 MXN to complete this cultural and literacy development project.

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:30 p.m.
  In Reply To:   rodrigo   April 15, 2012, 10:34 p.m.

  Nice project idea.

  I mentioned this in another comment, but I am wondering if you have talked to the community library you mentioned donating to. Would they be doing some community work there to make sure these books are used?

  Often times in a grant proposal, a letter of support from a parnter organization is helpful. It shows the donor that you have done your homework and that there is support in place to make sure the program is successful.

• 
  solorzjp   April 12, 2012, 3:24 p.m.

   

  Child Obesity is one of the toughest problems facing Mexico’s youth. In our day Mexico;s child obesity rates are sky high and are still raising. The following is our proposal:
  
  We are Juan Pablo Solorzano, Roberto Barroso, Pablo Domette and Alejandro Struck and our project is the following:
  - Create a recreational park for a poor community in Mexico in which people will have the opportunity to exercise and enjoy a healthy lifestyle and environment.
  - Create a pamphlet that indicates how to properly feed a family on a daily basis, and give a copy of the pamphlet to each household mother, providing proper explanation on how to feed her family.
  
  Our project’s goal is to combat a huge and rising problem in Mexico with the help of sports and proper nutrition, child obesity. Mexico has the highest child obesity rates in the world. As mexicans we are aware of the conflict our country faces and we are conscious of the repercussions child obesity can have. Our passion as athletes is to have a strong mind in a healthy body. This is the reason why we want to make a change. A change which will alter the future of a whole community. A change that will affect mexican society. A change that will provide a bright future for mexican children.
  
  What your project needs:
  -People: Nutriologist, gardeners and maintenance workers.
  -Supplies: Trash cans, banks, track field, metal bars for gym, soccer goal, basket, field, nutrition pamphlets, seeds, metal for gym and goal, basket, track field, etc.
  We realize our project’s needs are many and that is why we have begun to ask for information to businesses like Marti, ABC Hospital, Sports City, etc.
  Working with organizations and businesses like these we can get the supplies we need to achieve our project.
  
  Budget:
  
  2 Soccer Goal: 500$  (250$ each)
  Soccer field grass: $300 of grass
  
  Trackfield: cement 200$ and gravel $400
  
  2 BasketBall Basket :$300, $150 each basket
  Basketball cement field: $500 of cement
  
  Metal Bar Playground: $500  
  
  5 Trashcans and 4 benches: $800
  Total money:  $3,500 dollars
  
  Mentors and experts will be key to our project because it is them who have the knowledge and experience to solve many of our obstacles. Mentors can also give us feedback and suggestions on how to improve our project. Both mentors and experts are crucial to see if our ideas are worth investing on. If we do manage to get the grant our ideas will be seen by our mentors before we actually put them into action. Mentors will aid us in finding the resources needed and will also be provided information on how our project goes. Any changes they may think will ameliorate the project will be more than welcome.
  
  Links: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-04/world/mexico.obesity_1_obesity-rates-obese-people-junk-food/2?_s=PM:WORLD
  
  http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/foodgroups.html
• 
  Tuyet   April 12, 2012, 9:35 p.m.
  In Reply To:   solorzjp   April 12, 2012, 3:24 p.m.

  Your proposal is pretty well-written so I'll just give a little grammar feedback.  Every little detail counts!

  Child Obesity is one of the toughest problems facing Mexico’s youth. In our day Mexico;s  Mexico's child obesity rates are sky-high and are still raising. The following is our proposal: 
  
  We are <Our names are> Juan Pablo Solorzano, Roberto Barroso, Pablo Domette and Alejandro Struck, and our project is the following:
  - Create a recreational park for a poor community in Mexico in which people will have the opportunity to exercise and enjoy a healthy lifestyle and environment.
  - Create a pamphlet that indicates how to properly feed a family on a daily basis, and give a copy of the pamphlet to each household mother, providing proper explanation on how to feed her family.
  
  Our project’s goal is to combat a huge and rising problem in Mexico with the help of sports and proper nutrition.  This problem is known as child obesity. Mexico has the highest child obesity rates in the world. As Mexicans, we are aware of the conflicts our country faces, and we are conscious of the repercussions child obesity can have. Our passion as athletes is to have a strong mind in a healthy body. This is the reason why we want to make a change. A change which will alter the future of a whole community. A change that will affect Mexican society. A change that will provide a bright future for Mexican children. 
  
  What our project needs:
  -People: Nutriologist, gardeners and maintenance workers.
  -Supplies: Trash cans, banks, track field, metal bars for gym, soccer goal, basket, field, nutrition pamphlets, seeds, metal for gym and goal, basket, track field, etc. 
  We realize our project’s needs are many and that is why we have begun to ask for information to businesses like Marti, ABC Hospital, Sports City, etc.
  By working with organizations and businesses like these we can get the supplies we need to achieve our project. 
  
  Budget:
  
  2 Soccer Goals: $500  ($250 each)
  Soccer field grass: $300 of grass
  
  Track field: cement $200 and gravel $400
  
  2 Basketball Baskets :$300, $150 each basket
  Basketball cement field: $500 of cement
  
  Metal Bar Playground: $500  
  
  5 Trashcans and 4 benches: $800
  Total money:  $3,500 dollars
  
  Mentors and experts will be key to our project because it is them they are the ones who have the knowledge and experience to solve many of our obstacles. Mentors can also give us feedback and suggestions on how to improve our project. Both mentors and experts are crucial to see if our ideas are worth investing on. If we do manage to get the grant, our ideas will be seen by our mentors before we actually put them into action. Mentors will aid us in finding the resources needed and will also be provided information on how our project goes. Any changes they may think will ameliorate the project will be more than welcome. 

  I hope you found this helpful! 

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:33 p.m.
  In Reply To:   solorzjp   April 12, 2012, 3:24 p.m.

  I like this idea. Your propoal is well written, and your connections with related organizations and mentors are very strong. This really adds to your proposal.

  (Minor grammar tip for everyone: Don't forget to capitalize proper nouns even if they are used as an adjective, for example, Mexicans. :)

• 
  David   April 12, 2012, 2:01 p.m.

   

  Statement I
  We plan to create as first objective, a working plan that would enable us to teach the basics of music, which includes reading, writing, singing, harmonics. Also we can provide a basic general knowledge of the historical, cultural and communicative importance of music, focusing on the most popular genres. We can determine this by conducting at the end of each school year a survey of student candidates who are actually going to receive the program. What music would they like to listen to, learn about. As we are focusing on 4th and 5th graders, then these surveys are to be conducted over 3th and 4th graders at the latest part of the fourth quarter of the school year.
  
  Statement II
  The next step once the kids are thought to read, sing and write, then their are ready to listen to music in the sense that they know what they are listening to, its background, and the possible history of the genre we are looking at. We might start thinking about getting them into knowing how understand the context in which the music emerged, such as rap, rock progressive, alternative, classical, how things evolved. The basic principle around it is to let them know what they are listening to, help them understand the music they like, or the music they want to know so that it becomes easier for them to listen anything based on a different viewpoint and appreciation. This, we believe, will allow us to create an environment of respect and that promotes the tolerance and partnership connections and even giving them some choice and maybe more and more kids would like to study music as a career, or just for a hobby, but that would ultimately help them in their life on a daily basis.
  
  Statement III
  We need about $5000 USD in budget to acquire the necessary books that would be available in workshops. Students will voluntarily attend these workshops and we estimate a price of about $16 USD for each book, and a total amount of 20-30. The rest of the budget we can destinated to acquire music instruments, such as: guitars, percussion, wind instruments, pianos. A music studio where you can listen and compose music would be a great additional opportunity for students to get to know the different genres.  
• 
  David   April 17, 2012, 11:36 p.m.
  In Reply To:   David   April 12, 2012, 2:01 p.m.

  Final Grant Proposal:

  Statement I
  We plan to create as first objective, a working plan that would enable us to teach the basics of music, which includes reading, writing, singing, harmonics. Also we can provide a basic general knowledge of the historical, cultural and communicative importance of music, focusing on the most popular genres. We can determine this by conducting at the end of each school year a survey of student candidates who are actually going to receive the program. What music would they like to listen to, learn about. As we are focusing on 4th and 5th graders, then these surveys are to be conducted over 3th and 4th graders at the latest part of the fourth quarter of the school year.
  
  Statement II
  The next step once the kids are thought to read, sing and write, then their are ready to listen to music in the sense that they know what they are listening to, its background, and the possible history of the genre we are looking at. We might start thinking about getting them into knowing how understand the context in which the music emerged, such as rap, rock progressive, alternative, classical, how things evolved. The basic principle around it is to let them know what they are listening to, help them understand the music they like, or the music they want to know so that it becomes easier for them to listen anything based on a different viewpoint and appreciation. This, we believe, will allow us to create an environment of respect and that promotes the tolerance and partnership connections and even giving them some choice and maybe more and more kids would like to study music as a career, or just for a hobby, but that would ultimately help them in their life on a daily basis.
  
  Statement III
  We need about $5000 USD in budget to acquire the necessary books that would be available in workshops. Students will voluntarily attend these workshops and we estimate a price of about $16 USD for each book, and a total amount of 20-30, that is a total price of about $480 USD for books. The rest of the budget we can destinated to acquire music instruments, such as: guitars, percussion, wind instruments, pianos. A music studio where you can listen and compose music would be a great additional opportunity for students to get to know the different genres.
  
  Here is the price details to meet the budget:
  20-30 music books to study, making a total of $480 USD
  Guitars: to a total of 10: $199 USD each (total: $1990 USD)
  Guitar strings: to a total of: 20: $3 (each box) total of: $60 USD
  Keyboards: to a total of 1: $164.75 USD/
  Drums: to a total of 1 along with 2 pairs of drumsticks: a total of: $10 USD (each drumstick)
  Stands: to a total of 10: $50 / each (total of $500 USD)
  Total of expenditure
  $4774.72 USD./  → $4834. 72

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:37 p.m.
  In Reply To:   David   April 17, 2012, 11:36 p.m.

  This is a good improvement over your earlier draft. The detailed budget shows that you have thought through what is required for the project.

  One question I had in reading this was who these students were and where this would be done? Is it planned to be done with specific schools? Or in a community center? Or something else?

• 
  Priscilla   April 12, 2012, 10:18 a.m.

  The need for Mexican student community is the lack of technology to achieve greater efficiency of higher learning in middle level education.
  According to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) of households have a computer, only 48.6% have internet connection and the main cause is due to lack of funds. It also indicates that four out of ten students have to go to a public place to access internet. In Mexico alone, over 60 percent of tested students attend schools where there is a shortage of computers for teaching, and while in countries such as Finland, Norway and the Netherlands the students have almost universal access to computers and Internet at home , less than half of Mexican students are in this situation. Undoubtedly access to computers and the internet has increased in Mexico over the last decade, however, our country ranks 57 of 65 nations according to the percentage of students who claimed to have access to a computer at home, according to the PISA 2009 (Program for International Student Assessment, OECD).
  This project really interests me a lot because I have lived and suffered what is not having the necessary tools to study and get a better education, and I know there are many young people in my country who suffer what I suffered one day and thatAlthough I was very interested in my studies and be a student of excellence, unfortunately, could not access a necessary and useful tool as a laptop that not only would serve me in high school but even in college. According to INEGI, 22.1% of computers purchased during the last decade were acquired through donations, raffles, or gifts. It's actually a percentage considerably good, but I believe we can maintain or even increase it, and why not? Many people, including politicians and citizens claim to be dissatisfied with education in Mexico, but nobody does anything about it, that's why I think that if I can do something to help those students who deserve and productively use a computer, would an honor to be part of it.
  The purpose of all this, is to benefit students who demonstrate a good academic excellence goes hand in hand with the tools necessary to develop the full potential of the Mexican students.
  The impact of this project lies not only in the academic improvement that young people have from using the computer as an adjunct study and above all perhaps is that, many people realize that in fact if can do something to help improve education in Mexico.
  Currently we are using blogs and social media to maintain contact with all the people we are trying to advise and support our project. But if the project is successful, no problem we will contact a medium such as newspaper and radio to communicate what has been done and with the hope that the project continues.
  I believe that this project would do to my friends, family, community and even myself very aware and grateful to be part of those who can have access to tools to develop our academic skills, social and moral. And my conviction is that if, before he was touched by this situation in my country, now that people and myself can see that no solution and can help many other people will too and have faith in a better future for students Mexicans.
  Taking videos, pictures or recordings of the lucky guys who got the opportunity to have one of the laptops we were giving away.

  We would appreciate any mentor or experieced people who could advice us about how to procede with this proyect.

  -Priscilla, Mariana, Fernanda and Mariana S.

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:42 p.m.
  In Reply To:   Priscilla   April 12, 2012, 10:18 a.m.

  Excellent use of background information and research information.

  How would you accomplish your goal of increasing access to technology? Putting computers in people's houses or in schools or community centers or something else? How big of a program are you thinking about? What would be required to do it? Do you have any partners in mind?

  I was involved in a program in Africa where we got donated second-hand computers from the U.S. and put them in a school. The lab was used after school to teach teachers and other community members. It was a good program. The biggest challenge was transporting the computers. (We had many donations, but transportaion was expensive.)

  I'd be happy to help out with this project as you move forward.

• 
  Priscilla   April 26, 2012, 8:30 p.m.
  In Reply To:   karen   April 18, 2012, 2:42 p.m.

  Well, we think it would be more appropiate to donate the computers and leave them to the regulations of the school. We are not thinking in such a big project, maybe 5 to 7 laptops max that could be used as a computer lab for the students and we're  also thinking following the program by returning to the school several times and "assist" the students until they learn the appropiate use of the laptops. If we do this, i think we would do it ourselves.

  Thank you, your experience will be very useful to us :) God bless

• 
  Alejandro   April 12, 2012, 12:39 a.m.

  Statement I
  Our project consists of giving a children’s institution access to technology by purchasing computers and installing them ourselves on location. This children’s institution is called Hogar Dulce Hogar and it is a home for children who are either found on the streets or sent there due to mistreatment from the parents. In this home they will be educated, fed and given healthcare both physiologically and psychologically. By placing computers in this institution the children will be able to access the cyberspace and learn through it. After having accomplished the installation of the computers we plan to enhance the awareness of our project by publishing our accomplishment in the newspapers and have local presentations demonstrating the benefits that have been given to the institution and the children. We are currently working with a group of students in Delaware, who have been mentors to us through our project. Furthermore, they currently have tax exempt status for grants and are willing to help by providing lessons to the instructors to educate the children at this institution. The goal of our project is to give children who are less fortunate more opportunities and a better education so they can develop this skill that will be a necessity in the near future.
  Statement II
  This project will benefit all the children who are presently in the institution and all those who will be integrated into it in the near future. Basically as long as the computers still work, and they will most likely work for quite a while, more and more children will be benefited by this donation. In order to prolong the life of the computers if anything goes wrong with them, we will make an attempt to repair them, and if nothing can be done we  will call in a professional. As presented in a research done in Mexico, “Mexican Education: An Analysis. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad Project” the current status of Mexican education is relatively poor and continues to decline through the years. Through the success of this educational project, it will provide a very positive impact in our community because we are helping the needy children of our country. And if this is successful, with the plans we have to raise the awareness of the project, hopefully someone else will be interested and do this with another institution of needy children, helping the community even more and increasing the education levels in the country.
  Statement III
  The only material we need for this project are the computers, which will come entirely from the funding. We have found computers for as low as $300 and we might even be able to get a lower price if we request a wholesale. Our plan is to not buy more than 10 computers so that if we have any leftover money we will be able to spend it in better computers rather than more. This is because although they need more computers 10 seems to be more than enough to get a few groups of children started and have them rotate and share, also giving them better computers will allow everything to be somewhat faster.

  We would be greatly indebted if any of the mentors could review our current work and give us some feedback on how we could further improve our draft of the grant

  Miqueas and Alejandro

• 
  Tuyet   April 12, 2012, 9:50 p.m.
  In Reply To:   Alejandro   April 12, 2012, 12:39 a.m.

  Your idea is a really good one.  It just needs a little more support--that's all.  I also included a few grammatical tidbits in here.  I really hope that everything works out for you.  These children really deserve everything that you are working to give them.  

  Statement I
  Our project consists of giving a children’s institution access to technology by purchasing computers and installing them ourselves on location. This children’s institution is called Hogar Dulce Hogar, and it is a home for children who are either found on the streets or sent there due to mistreatment from the parents parental maltreatment. In this home they will be educated, fed, and given healthcare both physiologically and psychologically treatment. By placing computers in this institution, the children will be able to access the cyberspace and learn through it. After having accomplished the installation of the computers, we plan to enhance the awareness of our project by publishing our accomplishment in the newspapers and have local presentations demonstrating the benefits that have been given to the institution and the children. We are currently working with a group of students in Delaware, who have been mentors to us through our project. Furthermore, they currently have tax-exempt status for grants and are willing to help by providing lessons to the instructors to educate the children at this institution. The goal of our project is to give children who are less fortunate more opportunities and a better education so they can develop this skill that will be a necessity in the near future.
  Statement II
  This project will benefit all the children who are presently in the institution and all those who will be integrated into it in the near future. Basically as long as the computers still work, and they will most likely work for quite a while, more and more children will be benefited by this donation. In order to prolong the life of the computers if anything goes wrong with them, we will make an attempt to repair them, and if nothing can be done we  will call in a professional. As presented in a research done in Mexico, “Mexican Education: An Analysis. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad Project” the current status of Mexican education is relatively poor and continues to decline through the years. Through the success of this educational project, it will provide a very positive impact in our community because we are helping the needy children of our country. And if this is successful, with the plans we have to raise the awareness of the project, hopefully someone else will be interested and do this with another institution of needy children, helping the community even more and increasing the education levels in the country. <How specifically would having computers help increase the education levels in your country?  Is it because they will be exposed to a worldwide network of information?  Or is it because they will learn how to use computers and be able to compete in this new technological age?  Or is there some other reason why you think computers would be good for these children?  You need to explain your reasoning as thoroughly as possible.>
  Statement III
  The only material we need for this project are the computers, which will come entirely from the funding. We have found computers for as low as $300 and we might even be able to get a lower price if we request a wholesale. Our plan is to not buy more than 10 computers so that if we have any leftover money we will be able to spend it in better computers rather than more. This is because although they need more computers 10 seems to be more than enough to get a few groups of children started and have them rotate and share, also giving them better computers will allow everything to be somewhat faster.

• 
  karen   April 18, 2012, 2:48 p.m.
  In Reply To:   Alejandro   April 12, 2012, 12:39 a.m.

  I like that your proposal is very specific. It is clear what you want to do and how much it will cost. Also, the scope seems very manageable.

  I am guessing that you have already talked with Hogar Dulce Hogar and that they support this idea. When you find some potential funders and are ready to move ahead, a letter of support from Hogar Dulce Hogar would be helpful.

  One budget question I had is about Internet access. Who will pay for that (especially since it is a recurring cost)?