Ten Young Hopefuls to Battle It Out for US$25,000 Grant at Project Inspire 2013; Voting ends tomorrow!

Ten Young Hopefuls to Battle It Out for US$25,000 Grant at Project Inspire 2013; Public Voting is at www.facebook.com/ProjInspire

Ten innovative grassroots projects will compete for a US$25,000 Women’s Empowerment Grant as Project Inspire 2013 reaches its final selection stages today. These finalists were deemed as having the most sustainable idea with the greatest possible social impact.

The Singapore Committee for UN Women (UN Women Singapore) and MasterCard today revealed the finalists of the social media-driven campaign to encourage young people to create sustainable, long-term business projects that benefit marginalized women and children in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa. This year’s competition has attracted more than 570 submissions from 62 countries worldwide.

The finalists include ideas ranging from helping disabled women run a bee-keeping business in Uganda, a solar lamp project for female inmates in the Philippines, and a Tanzanian livestock-based initiative. All ten finalists will be flown to Singapore for the Grand Finals to decide who wins this year’s competition. The winning team will be given the opportunity to bring their idea to life using the US$25,000 cash prize.

The public is also invited to show their support for their favorite project by casting their vote on the Project Inspire Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ProjInspire); the project entry that receives the most online votes will win the People’s Choice Award. The winning project for the Women’s Empowerment Grant will be determined by an esteemed judging panel during the ‘live’ pitch event on 30 August 2013 at INSEAD Singapore. 

Ø Cast your vote now on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProjInspire

Ø Public voting concludes on 29 August 2013 

Project Inspire is jointly organized by UN Women Singapore and MasterCard, and supported by INSEAD.