International Programs
Supporting justice, dialog, and inclusive leadership through Civil Society partnerships
The McConnell Foundation funds projects in Nepal and Laos in the areas of peacebuilding, access to justice, and conservation. We take a decade-long approach with our grant partners, accompanying them as they refine strategic and responsive solutions.
The Development Story
Humanity United produced this 15-minute interview on The McConnell Foundation’s international programs in 2016. Learn about our development and philosophy with this interview of former CEO and President, Lee Salter, and Chief Operations Officer, Shannon Phillips.
Support for long-term peace and conflict transformation efforts.
Leadership development and social empowerment for rural women.
Developing legal aid mechanisms and strengthening community mediation
Engaging communities in integrated water resource management
Small grants to CSOs supporting biodiversity
Raising awareness of the stories and cultures of our Redding-area refugees of the Secret War in Laos
Life story telling and dialog opportunities to foster learning and strengthen community relationships
Study Abroad!
The McConnell Foundation Study Abroad in Laos Fellowship: 2017.
The McConnell Foundation is sponsoring a delegation from Shasta County to participate in the 2017 Summer Study Abroad in Laos (SAIL) program, a five-week cultural emersion study program hosted by the Lao-American College in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The SAIL program is offered annually by the Center for Lao Studies, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. The McConnell Foundation is offering sponsorship for a select number of youth applicants from Shasta County in order to:
- Increase our local community’s awareness of the diverse cultures of peoples from Laos;
- Provide a mechanism for descendants of refugees from Laos to learn their heritage and the stories of their elders;
- And to help preserve the language and culture of the Lao diaspora and minority ethnic groups of Laos.
Selected Fellows will receive full scholarship for the SAIL program tuition and a stipend for travel expenses.
This Fellowship is targeting heritage students – descendants of refugees from Laos – but anyone with passion and commitment to learn Lao language, history, and culture, is encouraged to apply.
Qualifying applicants must:
- Be of or between the ages of 16 – 22
- Be a resident of Shasta County (those living elsewhere but whose parents live in Shasta County are eligible)
- Submit your application before the deadline of February 27th
Embark in the life changing experience of cultural immersion in Laos!
Visit the Center for Lao Studies SAIL program site for more details on the 5-week cultural immersion program HERE.
John Paul Lederach’s new book chronicles a decade of peacebuilding work with The McConnell Foundation in Nepal.
The author walks through key decision points faced by emergent philanthropy and provides an overview of the insights into a system’s approach to social change using primarily methods of sustained participatory action research. Among the few international theorists and practitioners with access to deep community processes and national political dialogue, Lederach provides insight into the dilemmas and lessons from sustained peacebuilding engagement. The Memoir comes to life with photography, biographical profiles and stories of local colleagues addressing the deep and pressing issues of social conflict.
