Applications Invited for 10th call for the STP Fund: Smile Together Partnership

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About the Organization

Work Together Foundation is committed to addressing social polarization and building a healthy society by creating sustainable jobs under the mission of “unemployment reduction”.

Since its founding in 2003 with the mission of “solving social polarization through quality jobs and creating a happy society,” the Work Together Foundation has focused on fostering and creating jobs for companies and individuals that solve various social problems. We are now living in an era that is changing more rapidly than ever before, where we must prepare for the technological revolution and entry into a hyper-aging society. In addition, the climate crisis is creating new challenges for environmental protection and industrial safety. Since its inception, the Foundation has conducted research projects to ensure effective job-solving policies and business planning. Through these projects, it helped to reflect government policies and improve social problems. Again, we want to fulfill our responsibility to present a new job paradigm that can create opportunities for constant initiatives in a rapidly changing era. The Foundation will consider its role with experts from all walks of life to solve neglected job-related problems such as creating jobs for young people in an age grounded in convergence and creativity, creating jobs for seniors in the times of an aging population, and creating jobs for economically disadvantaged people in the age of income polarization.

About the Grant

Since 2011, the Work Together Foundation has been promoting its Smile Together Partnership (STP), a project that supports the establishment of social enterprises and operational assistance in developing countries. Through the program, it has been working to alleviate poverty faced by children in various developing countries. In addition, STP attempts to support the creation of employment opportunities that respect the local culture while maintaining its sustainability. Through social enterprises, STP strives to provide employment for parents so that their children can receive better care at home. It also supports social enterprises that provide employment and educational opportunities for youths who have to work, allowing them to take their first step in society. Work Together Foundation promotes decent job creation not merely in Korea but also in developing countries through Smile Together Partnership to free children in poverty from restraints of poverty and make them live as members of society. Through the Smile Together Partnership, the Work Together Foundation creates over 6,478 jobs, supports childcare and education programs for over 90,000 children in poverty by supporting 43 social enterprises in 17 developing countries.

Purpose:

• Alleviating children poverty through supporting establishment
• management of social enterprises in developing countries.

Direction:

• Supporting social entrepreneurship in developing countries with cooperation of partner organizations which have understandings and experiences to run social enterprises in the community
• Providing Financial, Non-financial support to social enterprises which have clear business model

Principles:

• A project physically based in a local community and working with residents
• A project nurturing leadership in local people
• A project which created a sustainable business model without harming the local community
• A project supporting impoverished children in developing countries

Outline of the 10^th STP Call for Proposals:

• Title: The 10th Smile Together Partnership
• Period: October 2025 to September 2026 (12 months) (*single-year project support)
• Support Organization: Work Together Foundation
• Qualification: Organizations in and outside country which strive to resolve children poverty problems of developing countries through operating social enterprises or not-for-profit organizations with business profit.
• Means of Selection: Document screening and due diligence and interview (on/ off line)

The details of the implementation:

• Financial support (Average USD20,000 for a fiscal year per organization, after adjustment of the proposal plan and budget)
• Pro bono professional consultancy services from the business industry, promotional support, providing opportunity to attend events to improve financial sustainability through Happily Ever After Project under STP

How to Apply

Proposal (English) application period: May 19, 2025 to June 30, 2025, 24:00 KST.

Target: Organizations which strive to resolve children poverty problems of developing countries through establishing and operating social enterprises.

Channel for Submission: All submissions are to be received via Google Form only (https://forms.gle/BArKaP893CiLVqro6)

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Children and Childcare Education and Education Technology (edtech) Livelihood Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Others