MTV Switch
MTV Switch 2009
Entry deadline has expired. You can check out the video of the winners at http://www.mtv-venture.org/ and also follow us on twitter. @AshokaGenV
The Challenge
Ashoka GenV is excited to team up with MTV Switch to help you make a more positive impact on the environment – by helping you turn your bright ideas into reality.
Come up with a creative idea for how you can make our planet cooler or greener and we will help you launch your own environmental project or “venture.”
Ashoka GenV will give you support and even seed funding of up to US$1,000 to put your ideas into action.
Ideas are reviewed on an on-going basis and projects can be launched anytime. Do not wait until December 31, 2008 (deadline) to submit your idea.
Here’s the step-by-step guide for how to take part in the Dream It. Do It. Challenge:
1) Dream It:
Come up with a creative (fun?) idea for improving our environment. The bigger the impact the better. Be original. Need inspiration? Check out the Environment section to see what youth around the world are doing for our planet.
2) Submit It:
Send us your idea in just 200 words. Tell us: what’s your new idea, how you will create change, and what impact will you make. If you can send us your own photos to show us the “problem” or the “solution” or both. We will feature the best entries in “Your Ideas.”
3) Plan It:
Once we receive your idea, we will send you an action plan and help you plan your project well.
4) Do It:
Submit your action plan and present your project to a panel of mentors to receive feedback and advice.Once approved, you will receive your grant, and you are then ready to launch your environmental venture. Do it!
Prizes and Opportunities
- MTV Documentary
MTV International will choose the best ventures to feature in a new documentary planned for Earth Day 2009.
- MIT Roundtable
Five ventures will be awarded the opportunity to travel to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to participate in a global roundtable on climate change.
Rules & Guidelines
Project ideas are evaluated and grants are awarded on an ongoing basis. Do not wait until December 31, 2008 to submit your ideas.
Eligibility Criteria
1. The challenge is open to all youth between the ages of 12 and 20 in North America and Europe and 12 and 24 everywhere else. (Proof of age will be required before grants can be approved.)
2. Each participant is limited to one grant.
3. Each participant will be required to submit an action plan showing what activities will be carried out and how the grant will be spent.
4. Each participant will need to form a team with at least two other youth to qualify for funding.
5. Participants under age of 18 must have parental or guardian support and approval to receive grants and launch projects.
6. Ideas and action plans should be submitted before December 31, 2008 in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
Assessment Criteria
Grants will be awarded to projects that best meet the following criteria:
1. Innovation – Project includes a new solution or new approach to addressing an environmental issue.
2. Impact – Project has potential to produce significant or measurable impact on the issue it addresses.
3. Sustainability – Project has potential to produce on-going positive change. In other words, it’s not a one time event.
4. Youth-led and youth-driven – Leaders of the project should be between 12 and 20 (North America and Europe) and 12 and 24 (everywhere else).
General Guidelines
1. Deadline – The last date to submit a project idea is December 31, 2008.
2. Grants – Up to 25 grants will be awarded for this challenge.
3. Entries – Submit an idea first. If your idea meets our criteria (see above), we will send you an application (an “action plan”) to apply for a grant. We welcome all ideas, even if they are similar to ideas other youth have submitted.
Disclaimer — Compliance with Legal Restrictions
Ashoka GenV complies fully with all U.S. laws and regulations, including Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations, export control, and anti-money laundering laws. All grants will be awarded subject to compliance with such laws. Ashoka will not make any grant if it finds that to do so would be unlawful. This may prohibit awards in certain countries and/or to certain individuals or entities. All recipients will comply with these laws to the extent they are applicable to such recipients. No recipient will take any action that would cause Ashoka to violate any laws. Additionally, Ashoka will not make any grant to a company involved in the promotion of tobacco use.
Submit Your Idea
MTV Switch and Ashoka GenV welcome all your ideas for how to improve our environment. They can be serious, crazy, fun, or inventive. You might also take an existing solution and give it your own twist. You can also send us your initial thoughts and we can help you develop your ideas into a project.
We will give out seed grants to good project ideas as they come in. So don’t wait till December 31, 2008 to submit your idea.
Please submit a picture of yourself and a picture illustrating the problem you’re trying to solve or the solution you are proposing.
Submit your idea now!!
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