Kids to Kids

Press Releases

KIDS VOTE TO CHOOSE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN 12 COUNTRIES
Online Voting for Members Opens 



WALTHAM, Mass. – December 7, 2010 – World Connect, a nonprofit that empowers local leaders in underserved communities worldwide to solve local challenges, today opened online voting for the next round of Kids to Kids projects. Members of Kids to Kids, a youth-led program, are invited to read and review proposed projects from 12 countries and choose which projects they want to fund. It is an amazing opportunity for kids to have a say in which projects they think will have the greatest impact in the lives’ of kids around the world. The online voting gives kids the power to chose, happens bi-annually and will be open until December 31, 2010. 



The Kids to Kids program funds small but powerful microgrants for arts, sports, education and environmental projects at the community level in twelve countries. For this latest round of grant giving, Kids to Kids received more than 100 applications from Peace Corp Volunteers teaming up with local community leaders in 12 countries. For the first time ever, Kids to Kids will fund projects in Kenya and Senegal in addition to Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mali, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines and Rwanda. 



“This is the most exciting time of the year for Kids to Kids,” said Julia Haney, 
a co-founder of Kids to Kids. “With the online voting, all of our members have an opportunity to learn about the challenges faced by other kids and teens around the world and help us determine where we can have the most impact through new projects.” 



Kids to Kids, founded in 2005 by four middle school aged girls from Massachusetts, funds arts, sports, education and environmental projects aimed at creating opportunities for kids in underserved communities in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. The goal of Kids to Kids is to engage and motivate youth around the world towards happy and healthy futures by empowering them to make positive impacts in the lives of other kids, encouraging a new generation of leaders and global citizens.

Below is a sampling of the amazing and inspirational projects up for consideration in this round:



The Magic School Bus, Dominican Republic – This project will turn a dilapidated school bus near the grounds of an overcrowded school into an additional learning space. With support from Kids to Kids, this abandoned bus will be retrofitted for safety and outfitted with school supplies and books creating a fun alternative place of learning for more than 400 students.

Rango Youth Ambassadors, Rwanda - This project will expand the community outreach of a performing arts group comprised of who kids create songs, dances, skits and messages to share with their peers weekly. The youth ambassadors use their skills and talents to promote valuable messages for their community including HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, peace and reconciliation and child rights.

Helping Hands in Hygiene, Kenya  – This project will help a student club in Kenya to install hand washing stations in one high school and fourteen primary schools to combat the spread of water-borne diseases. The students will not only learn about what they can do to improve in-school hygiene, but lessons that they can take home to improve the hygiene practices of their families.

“Our Kids to Kids members witness the world,” said Sarah Henry, executive director of 
World Connect. “By reviewing projects and voting online, they see firsthand the challenges and possibilities in communities far and wide. Building this awareness and giving youth the opportunity to see that their actions can and do change the world are the keys to the success of Kids to Kids.”

Press Contact: Jacquelyn Caglia  |  jacquelyn(at)worldconnect-us.org  |  (781) 894-8050 x.202