Continuing a long tradition of supporting projects fostering education, cultural diversity and equal opportunities in Austria, the Western Union Foundation has launched an innovative “SEED – Growing Ideas” initiative, in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Education and the Teach for Austria Alumni organization.
The project’s aim is to improve education, integration and employability of students from low socio-economic backgrounds in Vienna, particularly children of refugees, migrants, and local families. It focuses on addressing the challenges the Austrian education system is facing to get young people ready for the job market.
The program is part of Western Union’s global commitment to education through its flagship program Education for Better, which contributes company assets toward the advancement of educational opportunity, including shared value products, cause marketing and communications, advocacy and thought leadership, employee donations and volunteerism, and philanthropy from the Western Union Foundation.
The SEED Program will accept proposals that will demonstrate innovative ideas to make a positive impact in the classroom across education, integration and employability. The selected projects will be funded for three to twelve months and will receive financial grants between EUR 1,000 and 7,000. The selection process and program will be administrated by the Teach for Austria Alumni association.
There are three grants cycles planned for 2017. Interested individuals or groups seeking to avail themselves of funding for the first cycle, are required to submit all proposals prior to February 19, 2017 via project website www.seedprogram.at. Successful projects will be selected and announced in March 2017.
