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Kupu, a Hawaii conservation and youth education organization, and Kokua Hawai'i Foundation have launched the Hawai'i Youth Sustainability Challenge, a new mini-grant program to support emerging environmental projects from Hawaii's public, private and charter schools.
Students and educators in grades K-12 will have the opportunity to apply for funding to kick-start their own grass-roots initiatives and identify new, sustainable solutions for their schools and communities.
"Every day we are moved and inspired by the innovative minds of our youth and their incredible, innate passion to malama aina," said John Leong, CEO of Kupu. "With this program, we encourage students to turn their vision into a reality and lead their community in becoming more engaged in protecting Hawaii's pristine ecosystems."
HYSC was first announced by the state's first lady, Dawn Amano-Ige, at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress and is dedicated to inspiring youth to be intentionally engaged with the environment through action, advocacy and education.
"As a Hawai'i Legacy Initiative from this year's IUCN Congress, the Hawai'i Youth Sustainability Challenge provides students an opportunity to develop and implement creative and sustainable solutions in their own communities," said Amano-Ige. "If we expect today's youth to resolve tomorrow's global threats, we need to engage and empower them now, with resources and support to tackle local issues."
Applications for the HYSC mini-grant are available on the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation website portal at kokua.fluxx.io. Students are encouraged to propose fresh projects or ideas that emphasize their environmental passions and motivation, interests in conservation education and desire to create sustainable, localized change. They must be presented as a team through one of the three structures:
• Individually Powered Projects -- One student and one teacher adviser.
• Group-Powered Projects -- Multiple students with one student leader and one teacher adviser.
• School Collaboration-Powered Projects -- Two or more schools collaborating on projects with one student leader and one teacher adviser.
HYSC mini-grants will range between $150 to $1,000, based on the project's scope and needs.
The deadline for submission is Jan. 29. Grants are scheduled to be distributed at the end of February through early March and projects are required to be implemented by the end of June.
For more information, visit www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/minigrants.