Press Release: NPCA Announces Round 4 Winners of Africa Rural Connect Ideas Competition

Washington, DC — December 16th, 2010 — Plans include women’s microcredit loans and sustainable community charging stations

The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community, announced today the winners of the fourth and final round of the Africa RuralConnect (ARC) 2010 ideas competition. Launched last year, ARC is an online program of NPCAthat taps the creativity and knowledge of former Volunteers and the international community to develop ways to solve rural Africa’s greatest challenges.

“Participants continue to surprise us in finding new ways to help improve conditions in rural Africa through creative, grassroots ideas,” said Molly Mattessich, manager of online initiatives for the National Peace Corps Association who heads the Africa Rural Connect program. “In the final round of this year’s competition we saw people once again using the Wegora platform to collaborate on ideas and improve on them.”

The winners of the fourth round are as follows:

Microcredit for Underprivileged Women Farmers and Small Entrepreneurs (Kenya)

Microcredit facility for provision of loans on easy terms for women farmers trapped in long term chronic poverty, mostly widows with children, to fill the gap of access to microcredit to these women.

Community Solar-Powered Charging Stations – Improving Connectivity (Sierra Leone)

Residents can recharge electrical appliances such as lighting and cell phones with community charging stations that are self-sustainable to improve indoor air quality and reduce waste.

This was the final round of the 2010 ideas competition. Each winner will receive $1,000 to implement their idea and will be eligible for the grand prize of $12,000 to be determined before the end of the year.

“It’s going to be tough deciding who the final winner will be from among the fantastic ideas suggested in this competition,” adds Mattessich. “All the semifinalists this year have truly broken new ground.”

To learn more about Africa Rural Connect, visit: www.africaruralconnect.org

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About the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is the nation’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former Volunteers through their continued service back home. It is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps and its values. To learn more, visit: www.peacecorpsconnect.org

Media contact:
Alison Beckwith
Media Consultant
Phone: 301-699-0148

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