“Apt is a tool that fits all hands.” (Emphasizes the wisdom of avoiding overly targeted interventions.) Or perhaps, “Apt is the ladder that anyone can stand on.”
“A seed well planted sprouts a forest.” (Emphasizes that money is an investment, not a short-term benefit.)
“Within the owl’s tree is what only the owl can see.” (Emphasizes that recipients have special knowledge about what’s good for them.)
A rough formula for generating these might be this:
Figure out the specific message/insight you want to convey. (The contest instructions leave this pretty wide open. I think saying a little more about what the organization would like to emphasize could help steer people in the right direction.)
Come up with a metaphor to express that message.
Tinker with it until it has a nice, poetic sound.
Another thing it would be helpful to know is what context you have in mind for this proverb. Are you guys looking for something you can use as a rebuttal when someone says “give a man a fish...”, or are you looking for something you can use as a slogan in its own right? (Or both? Or something else?)
Here are some attempts:
“Apt is a tool that fits all hands.” (Emphasizes the wisdom of avoiding overly targeted interventions.) Or perhaps, “Apt is the ladder that anyone can stand on.”
“A seed well planted sprouts a forest.” (Emphasizes that money is an investment, not a short-term benefit.)
“Within the owl’s tree is what only the owl can see.” (Emphasizes that recipients have special knowledge about what’s good for them.)
A rough formula for generating these might be this:
Figure out the specific message/insight you want to convey. (The contest instructions leave this pretty wide open. I think saying a little more about what the organization would like to emphasize could help steer people in the right direction.)
Come up with a metaphor to express that message.
Tinker with it until it has a nice, poetic sound.
Another thing it would be helpful to know is what context you have in mind for this proverb. Are you guys looking for something you can use as a rebuttal when someone says “give a man a fish...”, or are you looking for something you can use as a slogan in its own right? (Or both? Or something else?)