Frequently Asked Questions

The DROP Summit: November 15th, 2008. Applications due November 5th, 2008

 
If someone completes the application, are they applying to attend just the summit or to be a delegate intern for the duration of the program? (In other words, can you attend the summit without being a delegate intern?)
If someone completes the application, they are applying to attend the summit, which is a kick off to their internship. Basically, we're asking people at the summit to sign onto a campaign or project and be committed to working on it with their team for however long it takes (we suggest a 3-12 month term--or longer if they so wish!) You can receive internship credit through your school and YN if you so choose.  The ‘internship’ title is optional, but we want people to take their roles seriously within their groups. Committment and accountability is important.

What are the upper and lower age restrictions?  
We are looking to engage upper level high school students and college-aged young people.  We are looking young leaders in many types of fields, experiences, and backgrounds: with one goal- to change the direction of our water crisis.

Can students apply to the Summit without a specific project proposal, or must they be part of a team?
Students can apply to the summit without a specific project proposal. Part of our intention is to have students looking for campaigns to join at the event! Currently, we have picked 4 different projects that students can join once the attend the summit, or we're also allowing delegates to submit project proposal ideas so that delegates have a breath of ideas to chose from.  We will decide upon 5-10 projects to highlight at the event, and the delegates will have a chance to join one of them, and work as a team (if they haven't submitted an idea- which is great, we want to enhance the projects that are started). If you already have a team of students you'd be interested in working with, you can all submit applications, with your project idea on the application, and if you are selected, your team can also present at the event and recruit some new students to join from other areas in NYC.

If a team does have a project in mind, we ask them to look at what type of water issue is most interesting to them- conservation, sanitation, access, infrastructure, etc. and submit a brief paragraph idea of what they are thinking about. otherwise, the teams can chose a project at the event (so no stress here, only for folks that have started a project on their campus or something to that affect, and want to bolster support)  We encourage poeple to look at all issues of water and submit ideas (if they have them) about solutions - and this can be in a business or non-profit style format.

What type of project should applicants have in mind?
If you already have a project started, and want to engage more people, we ask that you submit the information about your project. 

What are the guidelines for these DROP projects?
The basic guidelines for the DROP Projects post November 15^th will be:

1. Work on your project within your team for 3-12 months
2. Communicate and give updates to the DROP/YN Staff every other week
3. POst your project and provide updates to the YouthNoise Project Platform
4. Engage and stay active on the DROP Delegate Google Group 

At the event, we'll encourage project teams to form their own personal guidelines as well within their team. 

What are other incentives for being a DROP Delegate?
Part of becoming a delegate will also put you on our DROP Delegate listserv which will include mentors from different non-profits, professors, and other professionals working in the field. This listserv will be a place to ask questions about enhancing projects and we'll also send alerts about grants and funding opportunities specifically geared toward your campaigns around water.  In addition, the fundraising event will bring . These funds will go into a YN DROP Fund (which we'll also have available for people to donate into throughout the year) and be tax deductible because we are a 501c3.  We will then be able to re-grant it to your project teams.  Other incentives include making real IMPACTS on the water crisis, as well as engaging more young people from across the country in this urgent need.  Our goals are to make your ideas and projects reblicable for other students. 

Final incentive: The amazing satisfaction of working with a great team, a great cause, and being engaged in something you care about!