TakingITGlobal

30 Sprout http://sprout.tigweb.org The Sprout E-Course is a 9-week online program that teaches youth how to plan, develop and launch their socially innovative projects. The Sprout e-course equips and trains youth from around the world with essential skills such as team building, project management, critical thinking, communications and problem solving to help them develop and implement effective social innovation projects driving positive change in their communities. In 2013, TakingITGlobal offered 3 Sprout E-Course Cycles with participants from around the world. 54 participants were awarded scholarships to participate in the course, providing them with learning modules and coaching to launch their ideas. In partnership with Microsoft's YouthSpark program, we offered Sprout cycles this year exclusively for members of the Innovate for Good community. Members were encouraged to post their ideas to the Innovate for Good platform, and were eligible for mentorship and seed grants upon graduation. In early 2014, an E-Course cycle will be offered as part of the Equinox Fellowship, a partnership with the Waterloo Global Science Initiative. You have an idea and you know you want to work on it, but you don't know who to talk to or where to start. So it was a very good platform from the period of brainstorming and addressing of issues, trying to form SMART Goals, and even making the marketing campaign and pitch. It was a very good experience for me because right now I can get an idea and dissect it and put it into proper formation. — Chuka Patrick Ekweogwu from Dubai, EAU The course was really interesting because I had the chance to understand how to do basic but very essential knowledge that is required to build a business and become an entrepreneur. The course was very necessary for me to change my life and think carefully about my business and take my business more seriously. — Quốc Anh Nguyễn Mạnh from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I really appreciate the feedback that you give me its really motivating to know that at least I am heading somewhere. Its really hard starting anything here in my country and especially in my community where innovation is unheard of since most of us are contented with the status quo. — Frankline Nyaga from Thika, Kenya. SPROUT SELF Sprout Self is a self-directed learning experience for young changemakers who want to create their own futures and balance personal social values with career ambition. Participants are the driver of their learning and use their self-management skills to budget time, energy and effort toward completing the Sprout Self experience. This program is based on a highly individualized approach with the principles of Leading Self, Leading Others and Leading Community guiding young people to build 26 essential skills and competencies in themselves, enabling them to produce a positive impact in the world. All learning takes place in a customized, asynchronous platform developed by TakingITGlobal, accessible 24/7 for participants to review content and download activities.

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