Newsletter August 2009
In favour of the Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet project Culture of Care and Water for Life.
Some months move quickly since previous Newsletter in February. The planning for the Life-Link & UNESCO project 2009-2011 is ongoing even though the start has been postponed by some months.
One of the positive reasons is that our project has reached a higher dimension of quality and observance, and that the planned Train the Teacher Trainers meeting might take place in Paris mid December!
We have received registrations from several national UNESCO commissions, with a total number of students amounting to 46 000 !
Some events that support our planning process are summarized as follows:
Bonn DESD world conference April 2009
Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet pilot project 2007-2008 was invited as one of 25 “Good Practice” programs worldwide to exhibit at the Bonn D-ESD mid-term world conference.
- This means that our program and project fulfils set up ESD criteria as outlined by the UNESCO ESD expert committee.
- The interest for our booth at the conference was high, we registered more than 64 detailed information discussions with ministry and/or educational institutes from 42 countries.
Project ESD coordination now UNESCO Beirut in collaboration with ASPnet coordination Amman, Life-Link visit to Beirut.
UNESCO office Amman has the responsibility for Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet coordinator contacts and promotion in the Arab Countries. We welcome the new Director Mrs Anna Paolina!
The project will also be supported by UNESCO regional office in Beirut, Lebanon. This office has a special responsibility for the ESD program in Arab countries, under supervision of Program Specialist Mr Sulieman A. Sulieman. Life-Link chairperson Dr Levander visited the UNESCO Beirut office and also the Lebanon UNESCO National commission for constructive coordinating discussions in July 2009.
Closer collaboration Life-Link and UNESCO ASPnet Unit Paris Hq
UNESCO Hq ASPnet Unit, director Ms Sigrid Niedermayer, will now include the Life-Link & UNESCO project into a planned Arab region ASPnet coordinators meeting in Paris 14-16 December 2009.
Interested and active project partners from other countries can join this meeting, Nota Bene at own expenditures for travel and hotel.
UN Water
Life-Link is now officially recognized by the United Nations Decade Water for Life 2005-2015.
Funding ongoing – shared financial responsibility
Our vision for a world-wide youth – educators – schools campaign 2009 – 2011 on the actions: Culture of Care, Water for Life, RRR Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is realistic and feasible!
We have in our hands *A pilot studied and assessed program, *Inspired schools, *UNESCO partners and others that recommend a continuation, *Strong moral support for “action” from the Bonn ESD Declaration 2009, *Regional support from a Guiding Framework of ESD in the Arab Region.
Important fund-raising is ongoing – any good ideas and proposals on shared financial support are welcome!
I personally look forward to constructive collaboration with you within this historical project for youth and schools – Planet Earth requests youth action, involvement of schools, supported by grownups!
Drafted agenda for 2009 – 2011 (that might be extended into 2014-15)
The Life-Link & UNESCO ASPnet project is recommended to be extended for 3-4 years (Petra 2008 Statement). We find it natural to draft this campaign 2009 – 2011 at schools world-wide, in harmony with the UN / UNESCO declared decades on Education for Sustainable Development and Water for Life.
- 2009 for program presentation and revision of Teachers Guidelines on actions: Culture of Care, Water for Life, RRR Reuse – Reduce – Recycle. Several schools have already been appointed. Teacher trainers training will start in Paris in December (more information follows below).
- 2010 for the three actions starting at classes in appointed grades, youth preferably age 14 – 16 (13-17?).
- 2011 More school can join. A concluding conference! (In the Arab region – where??)
- 2012 Possibilities to moving into a next phase with additional international school-networks !?
- 2013 – 2014 ongoing three actions annually. The actions should be sustained by inclusion into national and schools curriculum!
- 2015 Concluding conference with high recognition. The D-ESD will be concluded in Japan!
Seminar in Paris 14 – 16 December
A UNESCO ASPnet National Coordinators Regional Seminar for the Arab States, is decided by UNESCO Hq ASPnet Unit to take place in Paris France14-16 December. Invitations to the Arab UNESCO National Commissions have recently been sent out from Paris.
During this seminar the Life-Link & UNESCO project (including the actions Culture of Care & Water for Life & RRR) will of course be included in the agenda.
For Arab countries: We will soon come back on the topic on how to include a decided Training for specific appointed national Teacher Trainers into this meeting – one from each Arab country.
For other countries: Life-Link project coordinators and promoters from other countries and active in the pilot project 2007-2008 can join this important seminar, Nota Bene at own expenditures for your travel and hotel expenditures. Please inform Life-Link as soon as you know if you consider to join the UNESCO Hq Paris meeting! Preferably inform us before September or latest September so that all practicalities with Letters of Invitation and Visa will be taken care of!
We foresee that this seminar has a potential to develop into a historical event! Schools world-wide join coordinated efforts and a campaign with actions that will benefit Humanity and Planet Earth’s Sustainability!
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