National Peace Corps Association Announces Second Round Winners of the Global Contest on Africa Rural Connect
WASHINGTON-(Business Wire)-September 24, 2009 - Africa Rural Connect (ARC), a new online community hosted by The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), announced today the second round of winning ideas on how to help solve rural Africa’s greatest challenges and strengthen agricultural development. The first, second and third prize winners were from Ghana, the United States and Senegal respectively. Powered by a unique software called Wegora, the ARC Web site is revitalizing the international development landscape by helping change the way people around the world share their ideas online and build upon the knowledge of others.
The site (www.AfricaRuralConnect.org) is a resource for discussing issues, identifying problems, and building viable solutions to some of Sub-Saharan Africa's most entrenched problems. To support the growth of these discussions into viable plans of action, ARC is running a contest for the most creative, practical solutions that are formed through the site. This contest will run from August through November 2009, with prizes awarded every month in addition to one grand prize of $20,000 to help implement the winning plans.
“We are excited about the caliber of ideas that have been posted on the site so far and we’re really seeing the Wegora technology help foster a whole new way of thinking online about these types of issues,” says Molly Mattessich, manager of Africa Rural Connect and a former Mali Peace Corps Volunteer. “The volume of posts from people and groups around the world has steadily increased and we hope to see that trend continue in the coming months.”
The second round winners of the ARC online contest are as follows:
| 1st Prize: $3,000 project seed money | Name: Self-Support Ghanaian Subsistent Farmers |
| Location: Ghana | URL link: http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/view/511 |
| 2nd Prize: $2,000 project seed money | Name: Acceleration of Innovation Program |
| Location: United States | URL link: http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/view/637 |
| 3rd Prize: $1,000 project seed money | Name: Project Irrigation Initiative |
| Location: Senegal | URL link: http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/view/503 |
Through November, monthly winners are chosen based on the number of endorsements they receive from other participants on the site. Each month, the top three ideas are awarded a cash prize of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively to help implement their idea. All monthly round winners will compete in the final round later this year where one winner will be selected by a panel and awarded $20,000 to implement their plan.
“The contest has spread geographically and transcended borders—we hope to continue receiving ideas particularly from participants on the ground in Africa because we believe they have so much to add to the online discussion,” adds Mattessich. “This is a contest that’s powered by a unique technology platform that fosters collaboration so that every idea counts.”
The NPCA is a non-profit, membership-based alumni organization that serves all returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former staff, as well as Peace Corps family, friends, and supporters.
To bring your best ideas for Africa to the ARC community, please visit: www.AfricaRuralConnect.org.
About The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)
The National Peace Corps Association is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization connecting, informing and engaging returned Peace Corps volunteers, former Peace Corps staff and friends of Peace Corps committed to fostering peace through service, education and advocacy. The NPCA network also includes 140 member groups across the U.S. For more information, visit: http://www.PeaceCorpsConnect.org.
-Join us on Twitter @ideasforafrica, #ideasforafrica.
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