23 August 2013 - Five minutes—that can be all it takes to help change the world. Launched in 2011 to mark the centennial of International Women’s Day, “Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World” gives young changemakers five minutes to pitch their project idea for a shot at winning a US$25,000 grant.

During the inaugural run in 2011, the prize went to a Philippine team, led by now-Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, whose Hapinoy Project sought to give homemakers who own sari-sari stores a leg-up by giving them business training and advice and better access to capital.

This year, another team from the Philippines, composed of Atty. Margarita Gutierrez and Atty. Doranne Lim, is in the running for the grand prize, which will be awarded on August 30 at INSEAD, Singapore, after the 10 finalists deliver their pitches live. My Shelter Foundation’s project “Ilaw ng Tahanan” aims to train women in the Correctional Institution for Women in the Philippines on the production and sale of low-cost solar lamps that double as mobile phone charging stations.

Apart from the grand prize, a People’s Choice award will be given to the team that garners the most number of votes online. In 2012, Project Stitch from the Philippines was voted for this award.

Online voting may be done at http://bit.ly/PI13VOTE until 29 August 2013. The grand finals will be streamed on the official website, http://5minutestochangetheworld.org/
Project Inspire is co-created and co-organized by the Singapore Committee for UN Women and MasterCard, and supported by INSEAD. END