Dear Changemakers Community,
Staples, Inc is proud to partner with Ashoka’s Youth Venture and Changemakers to sponsor the "Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition" – a global search for the most creative and inspiring ways young people are changing our world.
It is our mission at Staples Foundation For Learning to teach, train and inspire people from all walks of life by providing educational and growth opportunities.
How have we achieved our mission? Among other things, by investing in Ashoka’s Youth Venture to support young changemakers worldwide. Over the last three years, we have helped Ashoka launch hundreds of youth-led projects in France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Argentina and Brazil.
This competition is a rare opportunity to shine the light on Ashoka’s global community of young changemakers and what they have accomplished, and to invite more young people to join.
In a globalized world, our challenges are global in scale and require all of us to act. As you will see, young people in every country and from every background are stepping up and taking the lead on issues ranging from climate change to education to poverty.
Together, young people are finding the solutions and creating the change we need to see in the world.
"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
- Robert F. Kennedy
At Staples, we believe hope is the greatest gift we can offer the younger generation. Every entry in this competition will send forth another ripple of hope.
We encourage you to add your voice, share your success and contribute your ideas. The best entries will receive prizes and/or funding to launch or advance your projects. Together, they will change not just perception but reality of youth.
Good Luck!
Staples Foundation for Learning and Ashoka’s Youth Venture
Welcome to the “Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition” sponsored by Staples, Ashoka’s Changemakers and Youth Venture. The competition aims to identify and support innovative ways young people are making life easier for others.
For more information on entering, the online review, and voting please view the competition criteria and timeline below or contact us at staplesyv@changemakers.net
Eligibility Criteria
The competition is open to all young individuals between the ages of 12-24 and all previously awarded Youth Venture teams. We consider all entries – ideas OR projects – that meet the following criteria:
- Idea or project reflects the theme of the competition: “Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition.” The goal of the competition is to identify innovative solutions that young people are using to make life easier for others. Entries are accepted from young people in all countries.
- Ideas show strong potential for significant or meaningful impact. Projects show potential as well as demonstrated impact.
- Entry form is completed and submitted before the deadline.
- Entries are submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
Assessment Criteria
The winners of this Changemakers Collaborative Competition will be those entries that best meet the following criteria:
- Innovation: This is the knock-out test; the idea or project must introduce creative elements or methods to positively impact the community in order for judges to give it a high ranking. For example, the project might use a new approach to tackle a challenge, creative methods to raise awareness of a problem, or innovative strategies to raise funds or engage volunteers.
- Social Impact: It is important that the idea or project has or will have significant impact on the issues it addresses. Some innovations will have proven success at a small level (or are still at the very beginning), while others will have scaled to engage hundreds or thousands of people. Judges will take into consideration how you plan to grow, replicate, and reach big goals.
- Sustainability: For a project to be truly effective it must have a plan for how it will acquire financial and other bases of support for the long-term. In other words it has a good strategy for creating ongoing positive change in the community and engaging partners, as well as a sound plan for transitioning leadership and recruiting team members or volunteers.
Competition Deadlines, Procedures, and Rules
Online competition submissions are accepted until October 15th, 2008 at 6pm, U.S. Eastern Daylight Time. Any time before this deadline, competition participants can revise their entries based on questions and insights that they receive in the Changemakers discussion. Participation in the discussion enhances one's prospects in the competition and gives the community and the judges an opportunity to understand one's project more completely. Posting and discussion are encouraged because the exchange of ideas helps social entrepreneurs develop and improve methods to create positive change in the communities in which we live.
There are four main phases in the competition:
- Entry Stage, August 20th – October 15, 2008:Entries can be submitted until 6 pm Eastern US time on October 15th, 2008, and anyone can participate in an online idea review discussion with the entrants.
- Online Review and Judging, October 16 – October 29, 2008: Online review and discussion continues. Simultaneously, a panel of judges who are well-versed in the topic and a group of Ashoka’s Youth Venture staff select the competition finalists.
- Voting October 30th – November 11, 2008:The Changemakers community votes online to select the Global Grand Prize winner.
- Announcement of Winners – November 12, 2008: All winners and potential winners in all categories are announced or contacted.
Staples Prize - Trip to Boston, USA and/or $5,000 of products
Judges will choose two entries from USA and two entries from France to be finalists for
the Staples Prize. Their youth representatives will be flown to Boston, Massachusetts
to attend a special awards ceremony at Staples Headquarters. One winner will be
selected to receive a suite of products worth US$5,000. Open to youth ages
12 to 24 and existing Venture teams in France and USA. Entrants who are not already existing Venture teams must include at least one team leader who is under 21. All entrants must become Youth Venture teams prior to being awarded prizes. Finalists will be announced
on November 12 and winner will be announced on November 20.
Global Prize - Trip to USA to attend the next Youth Venture Summit
One entrant will receive a free trip to attend the next Youth Venture Summit in 2009 to
present as well as network with other young changemakers. Open to all youth ages 12
to 24 anywhere. Entrants based in the US, Canada, or Europe who are not already existing Venture teams must include at least one team leader who is under 21. Winner will be selected from a group of finalists by the Changemakers
community through voting (Oct 30 - Nov 11) and announced on November 12, 2008.
Some restrictions may apply.
Seed Grants - Up to US$1,000
As many as 25 youth can receive seed grants of up to US$1,000 to implement creative
ideas for change. Open to all youth ages 12 to 24 anywhere. Entrants based in the US, Canada, or Europe who are not already existing Venture teams must include at least one team leader who is under 21. Potential recipients are
contacted by November 12 but a more detailed action plan and budget will be required
before final approval.
Nike Awards - US$1,000
Nike wishes to recognize the best ideas or ventures that combine sports and social
change. Tell us how your passion for sports can make the world a better place. Up to
five ideas or projects will win a US$1,000 grant. Open to youth ages 12 to 24
anywhere. Entrants based in the US, Canada, or Europe who are not already existing Venture teams must include at least one team leader who is under 21. Potential winners will be contacted by November 12 and approved soon
after.
MTV International - Documentary Profile
MTV International is teaming up with Ashoka's Youth Venture to support and recognize
the best environmental projects. MTV and Youth Venture will select four or five best
environmental projects from its joint campaign to feature in a documentary to air on
MTV International channels globally. All environmental entries in this competition will
be eligible for consideration. (Open to youth ages 12 to 24 anywhere. Entrants based in the US, Canada, or Europe who are not already existing Venture teams must include at least one team leader who is under 21.) Chosen projects will be announced in January 2009.
Disclaimer — Compliance with Legal Restrictions
Ashoka 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.
