Each year EGP opens applications to NGO’s across the world seeking support to achieve a specific project. These projects are small scale, sustainable, and benefit the community at large. The project design must include input from individuals across the community.
Over the summer the Project Researcher and Developer carries out an initial read of the applications to ensure EGP has all of the required information for each proposal. They may reach out to ask for further clarification. This process ensures that potential language and communication barriers do not negatively affect the chances of a project being selected.
All of our applications are then put through a rigorous selection process which narrows down the number of projects based on a series of values and objectives. See our selection grid here.
Once the projects are selected the committee starts recruiting members from the Edinburgh community. These are typically students from the University of Edinburgh but anyone in the area is welcome to join. When members apply they may be invited to interview, and if successful they join a project team. Each team is responsible for raising a target project budget.
Each project team spends the remaining academic year fundraising the project budget. Members may apply for external grants or host events.
In the summer, members fly out and spend 4-10 weeks living and working alongside the local community whilst the project they fundraised becomes a reality. Members are not there to take away local jobs in this capacity, but rather they are present to learn, and provide support where helpful.