Africa Rural Connect Holds 'Second Chance Ideas Contest' thru Nov 30

Africa Rural Connect, an online program of the National Peace Corps Association that brings together people from around the world to help solve rural Africa's greatest challenges, recently announced a new contest designed to give a "second chance" to past submissions. The Second Chance Ideas Contest, which launched on Sept. 15 and runs through Nov. 30, is one where all submissions must be a "remix" - or improved version - of an idea submitted to Africa Rural Connect over the past three years.

"Since starting Africa Rural Connect in 2009, we've read through hundreds of ideas on how to help rural African farmers, but we've only been able to recognize a select few as winners of past contests," said Erica Burman, director of communications for the National Peace Corps Association. "The Second Chance Ideas Contest is a way for us to go back over those submissions and find the hidden gems we may have overlooked."

Entries will be judged on how well the proposal could help rural African farmers as well as the creativity and improvement of the remix. The best remix will win $2,500, with another $500 going to the person or group who submitted the original idea, while the second best remix will win $1,000, with another $250 going to the person or group behind the original submission.

"One of the goals of Africa Rural Connect is to encourage the kind of collaboration and creativity that is crucial to solving the problems of rural Africa's farmers," added Burman. "This new contest is a great way to encourage that kind of thoughtful interaction and it just makes sense. We all want to give Africa's farmers another chance, so why shouldn't we do the same for our contestants?"

To learn more about the Africa Rural Connect Second Chance Ideas Contest and to enter to win, go to arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/contest.

About the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA): Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Peace Corps Association is the nation's leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization connecting and championing Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community. It provides service and education opportunities that build on the Peace Corps experience, and is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps. To learn more, visit www.peacecorpsconnect.org.