What is Projects for Peace?
Projects for Peace is a national grant program, based out of Middlebury College in Vermont, which provides a $10,000 grant designed to help undergraduate students implement a grassroots project that addresses root causes of conflict and promotes peace. Individual students or groups of students from Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies are invited to submit innovative and engaging proposals for projects.
Projects are completed over the summer. Please note that to be eligible, you (or someone from your group) must be continuing as an enrolled Columbia student through at least the Fall semester following the summer of your proposed project.
It is intentional that no clear definition is given for "projects for peace." Applicants are encouraged to use their creativity to design projects and employ innovative techniques for engaging participants in conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding, breaking down barriers which cause conflict, and finding solutions for resolving conflict and maintaining peace.
For full program information, and to read about past projects, visit the Projects for Peace Website. Students should read through the site and become familiar with the program and application guidelines in advance of submitting a proposal.
Visit the Projects for Peace Website
Proposal and Project Process
Students submit a proposal to Columbia's Projects for Peace committee at the end of the Fall semester for the following summer.
A cross-school committee of administrators, led by a program administrator from Undergraduate Student Life, interviews applicants and reviews proposals in mid-December. Using the work and recommendations of the committee, the program administrator selects a project and alternate to put forward to the Projects for Peace program office for review. The program office makes a determination as to whether it can support Columbia's submission and announces its selections in mid-March.
The project is run in consultation with the Projects for Peace committee and program administrator throughout the Spring semester and summer. The student leader meets with the program administrator in early September to debrief the project. The student leader concludes their work by submitting a final project report to the program administrator, who then submits it to Projects for Peace.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Proposal Deadline
The application deadline was Thursday, December 1st, 2022, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications are now closed.
Proposal Review
Columbia's Projects for Peace committee will conduct interviews with applicants between Monday, December 5th and Friday, December 9th, 2022.
Proposal review will then take place between Monday, December 12th and Friday, December 16th, 2022.
Proposal Winner
Columbia's selected project and alternate project will be announced on Monday, January 10th, 2023.
The Projects for Peace program office will announce its final selections in mid-March, 2023.
Proposal Guidance
Those who would like to learn more about this opportunity may connect with the program administrator, Noah Mullenix, via email to set up an appointment. Send an email to projectsforpeace@columbia.edu with your name/group name and a proposed meeting time to schedule an appointment.
Projects for Peace is a national program based out of a program office at Middlebury College. Please note that direct contact with the Projects for Peace program staff at Middlebury by students is PROHIBITED. Interested students should contact Columbia's Projects for Peace program administrator, Noah Mullenix, with any questions or concerns.