Building a sense of community
Applications are being accepted for people who have a project that will help build a sense of community, right on the street they live. Neighbourhood Small Grants is based on a simple but powerful idea – that everyone is a valuable member of the community and that we all have something to share.
The grants are issued by the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen and provide up to $500 for residents to strengthen their community by bringing people together, sharing skills and knowledge, celebrating diversity, and increasing people’s sense of belonging.
Block parties and parties with a purpose, such as a neighbourhood beautification, welcoming newcomers, or intergenerational connections, are only some of the themes to build from.
Local residents can come up with all kinds of creative ideas to bring people together.
Last year’s projects ranged from meet-and-greets and habitat restoration, to cultural sharing through drumming. In addition, this year the program seeks to prioritize projects that connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members, and projects led by young people ages 18 to 24.
True to the grassroots spirit of the program, each Neighbourhood Small Grant will be awarded by South Okanagan-Similkameen residents themselves. Local volunteers will review the ideas submitted and decide which ones to fund.
ì Neighbourhood Small Grants is the only program in the region that gives grants to people rather than an organized group. Over the past two years, nearly fifty NSG projects were awarded throughout the RDOS, î said Kim English, program co-ordinator at the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen.
ì Sometimes all people need is a little bit of seed money and talking with their neighbours to make something incredible happen. î
Applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants are open until Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
For more information on the Neighbourhood Small Grants program and to apply online, visit www.cfso.net or email kimenglish@cfso.net