Funding for a Project - Assignment Example

A Written Submission for Funding for a Project, Including Financial Papers Name: Number: Institution: Instructor: Date: ABSTRACT It’s always a routine of most learning institution to expose their children to various fields with regards to what they study in their schools. Taking this into consideration, it therefore calls for budgetary allocations to cover for these expenses depending on destination of choice. There is a real opportunity within the Nation Curriculum framework for ecology education to be integrated in all pupils’ basic knowledge. A sound and well framed practical skill on this subject is of key importance. Following the nature of the environment the Emirati people live in, they never have a chance to appreciate all nature can offer especially in terms of wildlife world. Therefore, children grow based on theoretical aspects only. It was therefore seen better to have a group of ten (10) children taken for an academic trip to Masai Mara in Kenya. The need to expose children to all aspects of nature is crucial in not only their academic life but also as a way of appreciation. “Masai Mara has been the centre of interest by most international visitors due to its diverse nature in terms of wildlife” (Anderson 76). Taking this into consideration we believe that this trip will give the children an insight on their ecology studies. Unlike most destinations, Masai Mara will be less expensive with regards to total expenditure in terms of transportation, food and accommodation comparatively. INTRODUCTION The ecosystem is a crucial area of study in day to day life. The understanding of our environment is a responsibility of every person. Due to this dire need “the educational sector has given a hand to equip children with the required knowledge on this area. This includes both theoretical and practical aspects of the study” (Hale 20). The theoretical knowledge in most cases is easily accessed from written materials like book, magazines, journals and articles. On contrary practical knowledge involves real live happenings which in most cases, depending on the area of residence may or may not be possible to be undertaken. It is for this reason, in places where accessibility to practical tools is not possible calls for academic trips that will bridge this gap. Therefore children are forced to go to places where they can be able to undertake their practical lessons effectively. This is very true with the Emirati children who, depending on the environment they come from, cannot access all this practical aspects within their ecosystem. It’s with this respect that children from this region find it necessary to schedule an academic trip to a destination where they can be able to carry out a practical study on this area. Masai Mara was a preferred choice for this study due to “its diverse nature,” (Miller et al 126). STATEMENT OF PROBLEM While it is recommended that the practical techniques of ecology are passed to develop analysis, the knowhow and understanding of ecological process and for getting the needed skills, there are quite a number of logical problems that hinder this exercise: Absence of readily accessible habitants in the country. Insufficient resources including equipments, finances and materials. OBJECTIVES The project aims at fulfilling the following objectives: To equip the Emirati children with practical knowledge in the area of ecology at large. To be able to understand and appreciate all the aspects of nature by the children. To collect enough information in this field that may not be found in book or any other academic material. BACKGROUND ‘One of the most recent identified need that has been recurrent for the past 20 years has been the need to train the population in environmental education”.(Hale 20). This is evident in the Brundtland Report that stresses the need for public education in environmental matters. UNESCO-UNEP (1990) points out the need for an informed population on environmental matters. Settling on Masai Mara in Kenya was due to beautiful history from the people who have been there before. The nature of the environment as described fits our study and there is no doubt depending on history that all materials needed are readily accessible. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES While on the academic trip the children will carry out several activities relevant to their objectives. This will include: Visiting of the reserved game park where they will be able to have a view of the diversified ecosystem like wild animals, different plant species, different bird species. They will also be able to get informed by the game reserve officer. At this point the children will have an opportunity to ask all the questions that will enable then get an insight of the study. The children will also get an opportunity to link the theoretical knowledge will the practical or real aspects of study. Taking photographs and filming on the relevant features during the visit to the park. This activity is of great importance to the children especially for referencing purposes after the visit. This will also enable the rest of the community to get a glimpse of the children work. Interaction with the locals where they will be able to exchange ideas relevant to their study. This session will greatly benefit the children in that they will be able to dig out the knowledge possessed by the locals with regard to their area of study. Carry out a tree planting exercise as way of sustaining the ecosystem in the game park. The children will appreciate the need to preserve the ecosystem through recommended practices like these. The children will also have a chance to visit the vast farming estates where they will be able to learn great fact about farming. This will add to their potentials. SAMPLE BUDGET Table1: simple budget showing the donor grant as well as school supplements. Budget Analysis Below is a summary of the budget analysis as depicted by Grant proposal, U of North Calolina, 2007 Print Jet travel (Total for both children and chaperones) This estimate is based on the commercial high season rates for jet economy travel by Fry Emirates. Cost per person AED 3750 Total cost for 14 people AED 52500 Project activity cost This cost comprises of game park cost (Activity 1), tree planting exercise (Activity 2) and photographing and filming cost (Activity 3). Photographing and slide filming is crucial for recording interviews. Activity 1 AED 469 per person AED 6566 per group of 14 Activity 2 AED 107 per person AED 1498 per group of 14 Activity 3 AED 5625 per group AED 11250 per group of 7 each Total cost of Activities AED 19314 Equipment cost A laptop computer is very useful for recording observations during the trip and the prices for the equipment are a special offer by one of the leading computer supplier. Cost of camera AED 938 per camera AED 4688 for 5 cameras Cost of laptop AED 2344 per laptop AED 4688 for 2 laptops Total cost of equipment AED 9376 Food costs This comprise of breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cost also vary with age in that a child breakfast cost AED 20 and an adult AED 40 while lunch and dinner AED 50 for a child and AED 80 for an adult. Breakfast: Child: cost per day AED 20 cost for group AED 200 Total cost per week AED 140 Adult: cost per day AED 40 cost for group AED 160 Total cost per week AED 280 Lunch &Supper: Child: cost per day AED 100 cost for group AED 1000 Total cost per week AED 7000 Adult: cost per day AED 160 cost for group AED 640 Total cost per week AED 4480 Total cost for food AED 11900 Accommodation These are the cost of rooms in Masai Resort where the group will be accommodated. Cost per room AED 500 cost of 7 rooms per week AED 24500 Timeline Table1: A table showing the project timeline for payments. Day Amount Payment for 30th June AED 9376 Equipments 1st July AED 52500 Air tickets 2nd July AED 24500 Accommodation booking 3rd July AED 17816 Activity 1&Activity 3 4th July AED 1498 Activity 2 Daily AED 11900 Lunch &Supper CONCLUSION This urgent need to train children practical skills with regards to ecology is in line with academic curriculum goals which requires students to not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also practical exposure. Following this requirement, this trip will be of key importance to the children and the society at large. There is no doubt that out of this academic trip the children will be able to be well informed on aspects regarding ecology and the environment. This will be in line with the nation’s academic curriculum that calls for practical skills on environment. Besides this the society will benefit from the knowledge shared by the students. This project is proving to bring out the idea that it is possible to use the generosity of the well wishers for academic purposes. Since this is possible for them and in other countries. It is possible to anticipate that the children will meet the objectives of this project through their visits. The school therefore identified Shekah Fatima as the likely sponsor to provide it with financial resources in order to assist the children complete their academic trip successfully. Shekah Fatima who owns a private organization has been a sponsor for a number of groups and the choice will never be disappointing. RECOMMENDATION An informed society is a health society. With this perspective in mind then it’s true that there should be no reason of not investing in the academic field. I therefore urge stable organizations to fully support these institutions so as to add positively to the society. REFERENCES Levine,S, “Guide for writing a funding proposal”, (May 2002) Grant proposal, University of North Carolina, (2007) Conchis , the colour of success, teachers college Press, 2006 Hale, Ecology in education, Cambridge University Press, 1996 Anderson, On safari, Focus on Africa Publication, 2004 Miller, Masai Mara, VDM Publishing House Ltd, 2010 Read More