|
|
 |
| Funding Available to Expand Youth Civic Awareness Program |
Interested in promoting civic awareness to the youth in your county?
Apply now for funding to implement the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS)
in your county!
The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Civic Affairs Foundation recently received a $15,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation.
Grant funding will be used to expand the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) to four new counties.
Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS)
The Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) was developed by ACCG staff and county officials to address the need for increased civic involvement and awareness among our state's youth.
GCAPS provides civic education by exposing high school students to the role that local government plays and by introducing them to the leaders who make local governments work. Youth are offered the opportunity to gain knowledge about their local governments through hands-on learning experiences and witness firsthand the decision making process. Not only do youth become engaged in their communities and develop into better informed citizens, they also learn valuable leadership skills and have the opportunity to create and implement civic awareness projects.
To date, two pilot counties have implemented GCAPS. Youth ranging in age from 15 to 18 have engaged in government related activities in each of the counties. Pilot programs have "graduated" more than 160 students. Post-program evaluations show that 100% of the students agreed that their experience was rewarding and that they had developed a clearer understanding of the role local and state government play.
Apply Now for Grants Funds Four new GCAPS sites will be chosen in Spring 2012 through a competitive application process. Selection criteria will include: identification of a youth development professional to serve as the GCAPS program manager; demonstrated strong interest in GCAPS program implementation; accessibility to resources to allow the program to continue beyond the grant funding period.
The four new GCAPS programs will receive $3,750 each. This money will provide 100% funding for the first year of programming costs, 50% for the second year and 25% for the third year.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS & APPLICATION (pdf) | |
|
| |
|
