Project Inspire asks, “Have you got 5 minutes to change the world?”

Project Inspire: 5 minutes to change the world is a joint initiative by UN Women Singapore and MasterCard to help young changemakers create a better world of opportunities for women and girls in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

Launched in 2011 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and the 25th anniversary of MasterCard in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Project Inspire presents 18-35 year olds with a 5-minute platform to pitch their inspired idea to the world and win a US$25,000 grant to implement their proposal. The winner(s) of this competition will have to commence the fieldwork by 1 December 2012.

Applications closed on 30th June 2012, and you may check out the top nine finalists here. The Project Inspire 2012 Grand Finals will be held in Singapore on 31 August 2012, when the nine finalists will pitch their inspired idea to an esteemed panel of international judges who will decide the winner of the US$25,000 Women’s Empowerment Grant.

Additionally, the Grand Finals will be streamed “live” via webcast on Project Inspire’s website.