Erbil, KURDISTAN – (July 27, 2020), Rwanga Foundation announced the annual 'Youth Volunteers Initiative' project in a press conference.

Voluntary work is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or a group of people provide services for no personal or financial gain but merely for the benefit of the public.
 However, volunteers usually need some support, including financial but not salaries, to cover the cost of necessary tools, materials and equipment to make the project happen.
 Therefore, Rwanga Foundation is launching the project of ‘Youth Volunteers Initiative’, which is to urge the female and male youth to come up with project proposals and participate in a competition to be funded and supported to implement their projects for the best benefit of the public.

Timeline

• 27/07/2020 until 15/09/2020 applying initiatives (51 days)
• 15/09/2020 until 22/09/2020 Evaluation and Selection
• 23/09/2020 until 20/11/2020 implementing the initiatives (59 days)
• The ceremony of presenting the projects and their outcomes will take place in the beginning of December 2020.

 General Criteria

• The project should be voluntary based and for the wellbeing of public benefiting at least 100 people.
• The youth from the governorates of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, Halabja, Kirkuk and Nineveh will be invited to submit their initiatives by filling in a project proposal form.
• Each group of volunteers should consist of minimum five youth members (aged 18-35).
• Groups should not represent any NGO, institution and any other foundation; they should be formed of the individual members from the society.
• Groups which include both males and females are preferred.
• Groups which include members of people with specific needs are highly recommended.
• Twelve initiatives in total will be selected and funded.
• Total cost of each project should not exceed 2,500,000 IQD.
• The project budget should not include salaries or any type of stipends to the volunteers, as it is a vulnerary-based initiative.
• Project proposals should include narrative, financial part (detailed budget breakdown), and photos as well as other documents including maps, designs, approvals, etc., as necessary.
• A special committee will review the applications and select the best twelve initiatives to be funded.
• Benefited groups of volunteers from previous years are not able to apply again  

For more information, please visit the Youth Volunteers Initiative 2020