1. Profile of Participants

• Participants must be between 15 to 35 years old, passionate about serving the community and interested in volunteering.
  
• Participants must implement and execute the project in groups of 4.
  
• Participants must take ownership of and organise the project to benefit a social cause, that is, to raise funds, raise public awareness and/or recruit a pool of regular volunteers for a chosen Singapore-registered Non-profit Organisation (“NPO”) with Institute of Public Character (IPC) status.

2. Project Criteria for Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes programme
2.1. Scope:

• Youth groups interested in participating in the Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes programme are to come up with innovative project proposals in using seed money of S$1,600.00 per group to benefit a Singapore-registered NPO of their choice with IPC status.
  
• Proposed projects are to be initiated and implemented by participating groups and be of benefit to deserving people in the community.
  
• Projects discriminating against race, language or religion; or having a potentially offensive message or content will automatically be disqualified.
  
• Each youth group can submit only one application and proposal.
  
• On top of a grant of at least S$1,600.00, each qualifying youth group will be assigned a mentor from Citibank or YMCA of Singapore. It is the onus of each qualifying youth group to maximise the returns of their provided resources.
  
• All qualifying youth groups are required to attend the Official Launch to be held on 31 May 2008.
  
• The projects by the qualifying youth groups must be implemented and completed within a 16-week timeframe from 1 June to 21 Sept 2008.

2.2. Organisational Affiliation for Individual Projects:

• Participants are to carry out their Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes project in association with a Singapore-registered NPO with IPC status. Click here for the list of particpating NPOs.
  
• Participants are to choose a Singapore-registered NPO with IPC status representing a social cause they want to support, seek their counsel and approval for their proposed project, and state their chosen NPO on the application form.

2.3. Guidelines for Participating Voluntary Welfare Organisations

• NPOs may participate in more than one Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes project if more than one project proposal identifying the NPO as the beneficiary qualifies for the grant.
  
• The selected NPOs shall provide support to the participating youth groups by:
  
• appointing a coordinator to guide them in matters relating to its services and beneficiaries of the NPO;
  
• administering the seed-funding.
  
• Participating NPOs must endorse the Final Project Report done by participating youth groups who will then submit it to YMCA of Singapore upon completion of the project.

3. Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes Seed Funding Mechanisms

• Seed funding will be disbursed to the selected NPOs and the qualifying group.
  
• Youth participants must submit a project budget detailing all estimated income and expenses.
  
• The coordinator from the selected NPO must work together with the participants to:
  
  • administer the seed funding to the participants, in order to meet expenditure incurred in the course of their project implementation
    
  • help the participants in documenting any expenditure and income for the duration of the project, so as to be accountable to Citibank and YMCA of Singapore for all financial matters
    
• Funds raised by the participants will be channeled directly to the NPOs and recorded as from “Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes”.
  
• Participants should ensure that expenditure incurred should not exceed the initial grant amount and the amount raised through the programme. Any excess expenditure will be borne by them.

4. Guidelines for Mentors

• Mentors are to monitor the participants’ progress and have the responsibility of reminding them to adhere as closely as possible to the submitted project proposal and budget.
  
• Mentors are to ensure that the name(s) of YMCA of Singapore, Citibank, Citigroup Foundation and the VWOs are appropriately incorporated and/or used in any relevant publicity materials etc.
  
• Mentors are not to make any final decisions in relation to the participants’ projects. They are, however, required to provide sound judgment and advice when consulted by the participants they have been assigned to. The Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes project is the sole responsibility of the participants.
  
• Mentors are to provide feedback to the group they have been assigned to, YMCA of Singapore and/or NPO when necessary.
  
• Mentors may be called upon to provide objective feedback and/or verification for the Final Report, but are not to write any part of it.

5. Guidelines for Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes Participants
These are the guidelines or conditions to be met by the youth groups who qualify to receive the grant:

• Implementation of the project must adhere as closely to the proposal submitted.
  
• Participants must adhere to the stated procedural regulations, guidelines, terms and conditions of Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes, as well as those of the NPOs being served.
  
• Participants must ensure the safety of all involved during the implementation of their project. The Organisers will not be held responsible for any illegal acts, accidents or deaths that occur during the course of this programme.
  
• Participants must report and submit a fortnightly Progress Report to their assigned mentors on a regular basis. An update is to be submitted to YMCA of Singapore and the NPOs every three weeks.
  
• Participants must incorporate a block of logos and the words “A Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes project organised by Citibank and the YMCA of Singapore, sponsored by the Citigroup Foundation and an event of President's Challenge” in any relevant publicity materials such as posters, flyers and backdrop for the event. Click here for the block of logos.
  
• At the end of their project, participants must submit a Final Project Report endorsed by the NPOs they are supporting by mail/fax to:

Mr. Ho Wei Xin
YMCA of Singapore
One Orchard Road, Singapore 238824
Tel: 6586 2353 Fax: 6336 8003
Email: yfc@ymca.org.sg