FY 2019 Russian-American History

Description

The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in Moscow (PAS Moscow) invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to implement the Russian-American History Showcase (formerly the Fort Ross Quest). The grant recipient will work closely with Public Affairs and Cultural Affairs at Mission Russia to create an activity that motivates teams of Russian teachers and secondary school students to explore the shared history of the United States and Russia. The result of their research (a video, online game or board game, app, performance, comic book etc.) then becomes a useful outreach tool for further engagement with a broader audience. The grantee will support the travel and logistics for winning teams to participate in a study tour to Fort Ross state park and other sites of historical significance in the United States. The Russian-American History Showcase proactively promotes a broader understanding of U.S. history while also promoting tolerance, shared values, teamwork, and English language learning. The grantee will be responsible for managing and implementing all rounds of the 6th Russian-American History Showcase. Each year, the U.S. Embassy invites teams of four made up of one teacher and three secondary school students (grades 8-10) to jointly submit a project that demonstrates shared U.S.-Russian history or innovations. Teams typically have 6 weeks to conduct online or local research on the theme presented by the showcase implementer. In the past, projects have been board games, apps, and videos. The grantee ensures that projects can be submitted from all parts of Russia either online or through in-person demonstrations (such as at make-a-thons or camps). The grantee is responsible for convening a panel of experts to check projects for historical accuracy, research methodology, creativity, and technical ability. The grantee convenes a selection committee that chooses at least one team to travel to the United States in the summer to take part in a unique study tour (approximately two weeks in length)to Fort Ross State Historical Park in California and other cities depending on the budget. In 2019, 4 teams (1 teacher and 3 students per team) traveled on the Fort Ross study tour. The grantee must design the summer 2020 Fort Ross study tour and support all travel and lodging logistics. Participants on the tour learn about American history and capture their experiences through social media posts, and the grantee supports the production and editing of at least one video testimonial for each team. The goals of this funding opportunity is to: 1. Strengthen people to people ties between the United States and Russia by encouraging Russian citizens to explore American history and share their findings with their peers. 2. Strengthen local partnerships between Russian and American teachers and build self-sustaining relationships and institutional linkages between U.S. and Russian individuals and organizations. 3. Showcase American values by generating videos and other content that support America’s history, culture, and civic values and by promoting interest in peaceful Russian-American cooperation. Proposals should include: 1. Details of the organization’s capacity for handling travel and communication logistics within the United States and Russia. 2. Details of the organization’s familiarity with the Russian and American history and culture. 3. Details of the organization’s familiarity working with Russian teachers and students, as well as working with American NGOs and institutions of higher education. Examples of activities within the scope of work include: · Designing a website to announce the showcase, · Maintaining a web-based portal to accept history showcase submissions, · Managing a staff to handle the submission process, · Coordinating with experts on U.S. and Russian history, · Developing a comprehensive review and selection process to determine semi-finalists, · Organize online interviews for the top 12 history showcase teams, · Develop a roughly 2-week Fort Ross study tour to Sonoma Country California and 3 other cities in the United States, · Handle logistics and visa support for teams to travel on the Fort Ross study tour.

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