{"id":20240,"date":"2023-08-22T12:29:17","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T17:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/blog\/uncategorized\/\/"},"modified":"2023-08-22T12:29:17","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T17:29:17","slug":"greenheart-international-awards-two-global-impact-grants-summer-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/blog\/greenheart-international\/greenheart-international-awards-two-global-impact-grants-summer-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenheart International Awards Two Global Impact Grants &#8211; Summer 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At <em>Greenheart, we believe that connecting people and planet through cultural exchange, fair trade, personal development, environmentalism, and volunteerism is what makes the world a better place.&nbsp; Our cultural exchange programs help create global leaders by fostering mutual understanding and civic diplomacy. To further this mission, Greenheart encourages our alumni to give back to their communities through our Global Impact Grant.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A<a href=\"https:\/\/greenheartclub.org\/grant\/global-impact-grants-overview\/#overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Greenheart Global Impact Grant <\/a>is a financial award of up to $2,000 given to exemplary members of the Greenheart community. The grant provides current participants and alumni with the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home. As the Greenheart alumni network grows, more and more of our participants are working towards an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and peaceful world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Congratulations to our Summer 2023 Awardees:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bill Ampah \/\/ Ghana&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matias Mercado \/\/ Philippines<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"433\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-433x433.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-433x433.png 433w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-207x207.png 207w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-151x151.png 151w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-270x270.png 270w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-90x90.png 90w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-177x177.png 177w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-368x368.png 368w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-370x370.png 370w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-460x460.png 460w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-40x40.png 40w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-30x30.png 30w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-1x1.png 1w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design-4-e1691615288314.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bill Ampah<\/strong> participated in Greenheart Exchange&#8217;s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/greenheartexchange.org\/professional-exchange\/work-and-travel\/\" target=\"_blank\">Summer Work Travel<\/a> program in 2018 at Indiana Beach Amusement Park. Today, he is a data entry clerk at the Trust Hospital. In addition, Bill is a software engineer and has experience as a supply chain officer. Alongside these professional roles, he is fueled by a strong passion for fostering community development and championing environmental sustainability.&nbsp;He has participated in various volunteer projects to help make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bill&#8217;s project: &#8220;Improving Community Well-being in Ghana:  A Comprehensive Approach to Promoting Health, Wellness, and Environmental<br>Sustainability through Improved Access to Medical Services and Waste Management Initiatives&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to safe drinking water is critical for preventing deadly waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhea. Bill&#8217;s project will seek to improve the well-being of the community by promoting access to quality medical services and by addressing environmental issues through waste management initiatives. Setting up public restrooms and providing the community with safe and clean water sources, such as wells, boreholes, or water treatment plants, will curb the root causes of the issue. Improving access to medical services in the community by establishing a health clinic or mobile health unit will provide affordable and high-quality medical care. Additionally, the project will  promote healthy lifestyle choices, like proper nutrition, physical activity, and disease prevention, and will strengthen waste management and recycling initiatives to help create a healthier, more vibrant community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"433\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-433x433.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-433x433.jpg 433w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-207x207.jpg 207w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-151x151.jpg 151w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-270x270.jpg 270w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-90x90.jpg 90w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-177x177.jpg 177w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-770x770.jpg 770w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-368x368.jpg 368w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-322x322.jpg 322w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-370x370.jpg 370w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-460x460.jpg 460w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-280x280.jpg 280w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-40x40.jpg 40w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-30x30.jpg 30w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-1x1.jpg 1w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-1250x1250.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/greenheart.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Matias-Photo-e1691619047995.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Matias Mercado<\/strong> is a 12th Grade Humanities and Social Studies student in Brokenshire College Toril in Davao City, Philippines. He is the founder and current president of Project Baka-One, an environmental project focused on mangrove growing. Matias was a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yesprograms.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study<\/a> grant winner with <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/greenheartexchange.org\/study\/high-school\/\" target=\"_blank\">Greenheart Exchange High School Exchange Program<\/a> in academic year 2022-23 and was placed in Fort Drum, New York. During his exchange year, Matias was engaged in theatre (<a href=\"https:\/\/greenheartexchange.org\/blog\/high-school-visit-program\/an-international-exchange-students-lead-role-performance-in-a-musical-earns-scholarship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read this article about marking his lead role debut there<\/a>), in volunteering and student governance, and continued fundraising for his environmental organization in the Philippines during Global Youth Service Day. He aspires to be a diplomat someday, and he is always in pursuit of leaving an ecological legacy every day.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>His Project: Project Baka-One<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coastal communities especially in Southern Mindanao, Philippines are underprepared for the impending repercussions of climate change, coupled with the lack of natural defenses such as mangroves. Project Baka-One addresses these problems by creating a long-term management plan for ecological redevelopment and localized community protection within the targeted communities. These mangroves are valuable because they play a significant role in the socio-economic development of the nearby communities. But they are vulnerable because of various anthropogenic activities. Project Baka-One aims to conserve and protect high-risk coastal areas in Mindanao, Philippines by planting and maintaining mangroves which are natural defenses against climate-related calamities in these coastal areas&#8211;vital also because they serve as both habitat and refuge for marine life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Congratulations!&nbsp; We can\u2019t wait to see how their projects progress.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Got a project in mind?&nbsp; Earn up to $2,000 for an opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><em>Follow Greenheart on Facebook and Instagram to wo watch for the next application period.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greenheartclub.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">If you\u2019d like to learn more about Greenheart\u2019s scholarships and grants programs, visit GreenheartClub.org.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/donate\/\">Click here if you\u2019d like to donate to help Greenheart fund future Global Impact Grants.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Greenheart, we believe that connecting people and planet through cultural exchange, fair trade, personal development, environmentalism, and volunteerism is what makes the world a better place.&nbsp; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37188,"featured_media":20247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218],"tags":[382,381,389],"class_list":["post-20240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-greenheart-international","tag-gig","tag-global-impact-grant","tag-greenheart-global-impact-grant"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/37188"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20240"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20269,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20240\/revisions\/20269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/20247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}