The Killam Community Action Initiative (KCAI) is a pilot project that offers Killam Fellowship grantees and alumni a unique opportunity to take action, to get involved, and to help make the world a better place, starting in their own communities. The mandate of the Foundation for Education Exchange between Canada and the United States of America is to foster mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the United States. The KCAI offers Killam Fellows and alumni, who are natural leaders in their respective fields, the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in their communities. The KCAI is designed to support a number of community action initiatives through direct financial support, on a competitive basis, for creative projects which involve the volunteer efforts of current Killam grantees and Killam alumni, in Canada and the United States, that promote the values of understanding and awareness that are central to the Foundation’s mandate. This new program will allow Killam Fellows and alumni to engage with the broader community, and find new and innovative ways to get involved in environmental and social justice issues.
The program will provide small grants (between $3000 and $5000) to Killam Fellows who seek to engage in environmental and/or community action in their home or host community. The Killam Community Action Initiative builds on Fulbright Canada’s Leadership Programs, by soliciting proposals from current and recent grant recipients to undertake community-based or environmental projects. Similar to the Leadership Programs, KCAI proposals consist of a project description, including how the project engages the community and the intended outcomes, and a budget, including details of any matching funds. Proposals are evaluated by an in-house committee. Examples for potential projects may include: a Killam Fellow may seek to develop a composting program at their host institution together with the on-campus environmental club, or a Killam alumni working in agriculture or forestry might volunteer to plant trees in a local community devastated by forest fires. The KCAI could provide funding for travel, equipment, space rental, or refreshments required for the proposed activity. This dynamic new program serves as an outlet for the energy and the enthusiasm of our Killam Fellows, it promotes the Killam Fellowships Program, and it promotes the values that the Foundation embraces.
Current grantees and alumni with an idea for a creative outreach event, a special activity, or a unique program in their community (in Canada or the United States), may apply for a grant award to undertake a KCAI project. Applicants must apply in teams of up to three Killam Fellows or alumni, including a project manager. All participants must currently be living in Canada or the United States. Killam Fellows with a project idea, but without alumni partners in his/her region, should contact Jesse Schell, Alumni Coordinator at Fulbright Canada ( jschell@fulbright.ca ).
It is our expectation that applicants will include at least one community partner in their proposed project. In addition to bringing together alumni and current grantees, the KCAI is designed to bring together universities, NGOs, and other community groups to plan and implement the project. Fellows will also be asked to demonstrate how they will document and promote their project (i.e. through social media, blogging, multimedia, etc.).
We encourage all current grantees and alumni to submit a Killam Community Action Initiative Application . Applicants should carefully refer to the terms and conditions before submitting a proposal.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
a. the potential for positive impact on the community, particularly among youth;
b. the degree of alumni, community, and partner engagement
c. creativity in achieving program mandate;
d. cost effectiveness; and,
e. project visibility and promotion.
EXAMPLES of possible project proposals include:
- a community building project (similar to a Habitat for Humanity project)
- a pollinator or rain-water garden;
- training workshops on topics such as leadership, teamwork building, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or the value of international exchange for youth audiences; and/or,
- a bike riding campaign for your campus.
For Fellows who would like to participate in a project in his/her region, but would prefer to be involved in a project led by another alumna/alumnus, please sign up as a "volunteer KCAI team member" by completing the Killam Community Action Initiative Team Member Form. The Fellow who proposes the project will be the project manager and will be responsible for managing the funds and the efforts of the other alumni and partners, and those Fellows who have volunteered to be part of their program.
The 2011-2012 KCAI Competition is now OPEN.
Applications must be submitted online to KCAI@fulbright.ca and must be received by Monday November 14th, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Fulbright Canada at KCAI@fulbright.ca .
