Since 1975, Population Education has been supporting educators as they teach about the important concepts around population. As we approach our 50th year, we’re excited to share a new approach to this important work: mini-grants for teachers. 

Money for Teachers

Any middle or high school teacher in the U.S. is eligible to receive a mini-grant to support their students’ success in the World of 8 Billion video competition. The grant applications will open on September 3, 2024, the same day the contest opens for the 2024-2025 school year. The grant application deadline is November 15, 2024, with grants awarded on a rolling basis.

The $100 to $500 grants can be used by teachers to purchase hardware like cameras or a tripod. Grants can be used for software like an animation program or a subscription to editing software. Some teachers might choose to use the funds to bring in a video editing expert to work with their students. It’s up to each teacher to determine the best way for the funds to benefit their students – and we can’t wait to hear the ideas!

Why are the Mini-Grants Needed?

Population Education has held the World of 8 Billion student video contest for 14 years. And during that time, we’ve often heard from teachers that a main struggle for students is video production. They’ve been learning research skills and persuasive writing techniques in class, and often teachers are able to incorporate the global content that goes into the videos into their syllabus. But the technical part of the videos, filming and editing, can be a struggle for students without any prior experience. Additionally, the production aspect of the videos is what can often cost money: video cameras, microphones, editing software, etc. 

PopEd is Committed to Supporting Under-Resourced Schools

Here at PopEd, we want to see all students successfully learn about the complexities of population growth and the many ways it impacts the world around them. We hope that by offering these W8B Teacher Grants, more students will not only be able to participate in the contest, but those participating will feel more confident in sharing their videos and showcasing what they’ve created. Not having access to resources should not be a barrier for partaking in learning opportunities, and while these funds can’t close the education gap, we hope they will make the World of 8 Billion contest more accessible to students everywhere.

How to Apply for the W8B Teacher’s Grant

Click here to apply! The application is an easy-to-fill form and includes the grant rules and guidelines. Applications are open September 3rd, 2024 through November 15, 2024. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis so don’t wait – apply now!