How to Apply | MyImpact Challenge Video
Curious about MyImpact Challenge but not sure where to start? This video walks you through the key application components - a written essay to connect your project to our founding principles and virtues, a project report, and a video or series of photos highlighting your projects impact on the community - and shares some tips and trips for a successful application.
0:00 Have you heard about MyImpact Challenge? It’s our civic engagement contest. If you’re a student between 13 and 19, you can win up to $10,000 in prizes for creating a project that helps your community. It can be a service, government, or entrepreneurial project. That’s up to you.
0:20 In this video, we’ll show you how to apply and give you some tips and tricks to help you get started. Any. MyImpact Challenge project starts with your community. Think about your community and consider what role you play. Then ask yourself how you can contribute. Is there an issue, challenge or need that you can address?
0:41 Once you have an idea, make a plan to make it happen. The best MyImpact Challenge projects are designed with input from the community. Ask people in your community for ideas and advice. You might need to tweak your plan after hearing their feedback. You can work on your own or work with a team of up to five members. You can also ask a teacher, parent, or expert for help.
1:05 Take photos or video to capture how your project helped shape your community. When your project is done, we want to hear all about it. To apply, you’ll need one. An essay about the values behind your project two a report explaining what you did, and three pictures or videos showing your project’s impact.
1:29 In your essay, you will need to describe the founding principles and civic virtues behind your project and connect them to your contribution to your community. This is an essential part of the application. If you need help understanding founding principles and civic virtues, we have resources to help you.
1:49 For now, it’s important to know that the founding principles and civic virtues provide us with a framework for understanding how we can best work together in our communities. We call them founding principles because they’re built into the ideas of the American founding. These core ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution help guide us today.
2:12 Civic virtues go hand in hand with founding principles. They are habits that help us ensure we are acting in the best interest of the community. They also help guide us because the more we practice civic virtue, the more we uphold individual freedom and the common good. Examples include humility, integrity,
2:32 moderation, respect and responsibility. Write a 1200 word essay that connects your project to at least one founding principle and one civic virtue. Again, you can learn more about the founding principles and civic virtues on the Bill of Rights Institute’s website. You will also have 2000 words to describe your project.
2:56 This is your chance to tell the judges what you’ve done and why it matters to you. The judges will be looking for the inspiration behind your project. We also want to hear more about how you developed and executed your project plan, and how your project helped your community. Finally, tell us a little bit about how doing something that matters to you changed the way you see yourself.
3:17 And of course, share pictures or videos to show us what your project is. Visuals are necessary and will help your application stand out. Want more details? Visit our website to learn how to apply and see what the judges are looking for. You are the best voice for your community. We can’t wait to see your impact.
