The Mission of Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association (HoTPCA) has three components, one of which is to “…support sustainable community-building projects both locally and overseas.”
In an effort to fulfill our mission, HoTPCA has established a Grants Program to support development projects consistent with the Peace Corps spirit and goals.
Grants to currently serving Peace Corps Volunteers must be made through the Peace Corps Partnership Program. Volunteers are encouraged to notify HoTPCA of their proposal. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers may apply directly to support a project in their country of service through an NGO or Friends program. HoTPCA will also consider funding grants to local community organizations that meet our criteria. Preference is given to applicants from the state of Texas. Guidelines and applications are accessible through the links on this page.
The idea of Investing in a Peaceful World resonates with returned volunteers who have seen firsthand the poverty and struggles in undeveloped countries. Monies to fund our Grants Program come from our calendar sales and donations. Please consider supporting our efforts by making a donation today.
Links
Currently Under Consideration:
Environmentally Friendly Kitchen (posted 2013-03-24)
The summary below was provided by the Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.
The project involves completing a primary school kitchen using environmentally sound practices and installation of Sim Tank for tree nursery watering. Currently cooking is done outside on stones, with heat and smoke escaping, and there is no place to store harvested rain water for the tree nursery that can used during the dry season. The nursery has been started but does not has enough water to sustain it during the dry season. The main objective of this project is to use less energy for cooking and support the tree nursery with harvested rain water from kitchen roof. The project has 3 stages. First, construction of Fuel Efficient Stoves. The stoves will be insulated and require far less fuel wood. Smoke will be channeled out of the kitchen. Cooking will take less time and use less resources upon completion of this project. Use of a chimney will reduce indoor smoke pollution. Second, installation of a Rain Water Harvesting System. The roof is large enough to collect rain water to fill a 5,000 liter tank. Third, connecting the storage tank to the adjacent Tree Nursery. The tree nursery will be used to generate income and fuel for the school.The harvested water will be dedicated to the nursery. This project creates a loop of sustainability.
Project Details
Location
TANZANIA
Volunteer Coordinator
Holzer G. of TX
Project Number
13-621-005
Community Contribution
$502.82
(25% of total budget)
Original Request
$1463.99
Funds Still Needed
$1063.99
Dairy and Egg Farm (posted 2013-03-24)
The summary below was provided by the Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.
Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Atsbi, Ethiopia are just about hopeless. They have no family, no means of improving their situation and community support covers only truly basic needs. Furthermore, without an education the OVCs have no way to escape a life of poverty. Yet many cannot afford materials and school appropriate clothing and therefore cannot take full advantage of the free education provided by the Ethiopian government.
The Desta Dairy & Egg Farm project will give a local Primary School a sustainable way to purchase materials for enrolled OVCs. 130 students in the first year of the project and countless more in the following years will be given the gift of hope. Others in the community will also benefit through capacity building, environmental awareness workshops and access to milk and eggs.
Institutions all over the region have promised full support in hopes of bettering the lives of community members. Peace Corps Partnership Program funding for the Desta Project will allow the school to purchase one dairy cow, 100 chickens, seeds for elephant grass, sesbania and alfalfa, basic equipment to care for the livestock, and a three-month supply of feed. The community will cover the rest of the costs. A committee of teachers, government officials, PTA members, school administration staff and student representatives has been formed to oversee the planning and implementation of the project.
Without hope, OVCs have nothing. This project will change lives for years to come by providing homegrown, heartfelt hope for the children of Atsbi.
Project Details
Location
ETHIOPIA
Volunteer Coordinator
Hoerster K. of TX
Project Number
13-663-007
Community Contribution
$2918.03
(59% of total budget)
Original Request
$1989.07
Funds Still Needed
$1309.07
