The Microgrant Process and Project Proposal-Writing Workshop was held on November 25, 2023, at the Rideau Community Hub. This workshop was the second of its kind organized by the PCC, aimed at promoting the importance of civic engagement among Canadian youths and supporting their civic engagement initiatives.

The workshop began by emphasizing the significance of identifying and researching the needs and problems within the community that participants aimed to address. Understanding the existing services that already tackle these issues proved to be a valuable starting point in comprehending the community’s needs. The workshop facilitator, Adonis Sucalit, CEO of Cornerstone Leadership & Management Solutions, encouraged the participants to evaluate whether there were organizations, groups, or agencies providing these services and if they were effectively reaching the target population they sought to help. Most importantly, the workshop aimed to help participants identify and address the gaps in the available services. By pinpointing the unmet needs of the community, the workshop participants could develop projects that directly targeted these gaps.

To effectively assess the project ideas the participants had in mind, the facilitator guided the participants in determining the relevance and feasibility of their proposed projects, and the potential benefits it would bring to the community. The facilitator also encouraged them to identify the individuals or organizations that would be involved in managing and implementing their projects.

One key aspect of the workshop was the introduction to the logic model, which is an essential part of a project proposal. The logic model helps articulate the proponents of the project, the target audience, the activities and resources invested, and the desired short-term and intermediate outcomes. Understanding and effectively utilizing a logic model enables project planners to have a clear and comprehensive understanding of their proposed initiatives. 

The facilitator also focused on teaching participants how to translate their project designs into well-structured and compelling project proposals. Templates for a project proposal, a Gantt Chart, and an activity budget were shared to aid participants in this process.

It is worth noting that some of the participants of the Microgrant Process and Project Proposal Workshop have previously attended the 2-day YCEL training workshop on civic engagement from November 10th to 12th, 2023. The output of this training was a civic engagement project idea, which likely served as a valuable foundation for their participation in the workshop.

Overall, the Microgrant Process and Project Proposal Workshop provided participants with valuable insights and practical tools to develop and present effective project proposals. By understanding the needs of their community, assessing their project ideas, and utilizing logic models and proposal templates, participants gained relevant knowledge and necessary skills to make a positive impact in their communities through their civic engagement initiatives.