We missed noting this event when it was held in March!
March 3-6, 2010 Meeting, Larnaca, Cyprus
Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows
Background
Development in the Eastern Mediterranean region that does not take into account delicate environmental and geopolitical constraints may contribute to further problems that cross national borders. Engineers Without Borders International (EWB-I) in participation with its Eastern Mediterranean in-country member groups and local groups met in Cyprus from March 3-6, 2010 to develop an action plan for collaborative initiatives in sustainable community development that cross borders in that region. The meeting was a follow-up to the 2009 meeting.
Objectives
* Update one another on community development projects discussed/initiated at the 2009 meeting
* Learn from existing initiatives in the region, build on those initiatives, and create new initiatives
* Experience through discussion and hands-on workshops replicable projects and technologies
* Strengthen and build upon the collaboration between network members though joint projects and information sharing
Continuing Projects
* Use the Arial Home built in Bet Sehour as a showcase for sustainable solutions for Palestinian communities (water, energy, etc.)
* Integrate renewable energy in the curriculum at the UNRWA Kalendia vocational school (KTC) in Ramallah. This project involves UNRWA, EWB-Palestine, and CU Boulder.
* Explore Arial Home as possible permanent affordable shelter in Gaza. This project involves EWB-Gaza and EWB-Palestine.
* Solar Energy Project, Agriculture and Schools: involving EWB-Greece, -Macedonia, -Kosovo, and -Cyprus
New Projects
* Develop training of students and faculty in solar water heating technology at Kalendia School. This project involves Brian Howard (Cyprus), EWB-Palestine, EWB-Egypt, UNRWA
* Contribute to the South Jordan River Project in partnership with FOEME.
* Contribute to the Kidron River Valley Project in partnership with the Milken Institute. A multi-disciplinary approach involving small community development in Israel and the West Bank.
* Develop Solar project for Gaza and Sderot involving Tufts University IGL, EWB-Gaza, EWB-Israel, EWB-Jordan
* Contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza on an as-possible and as-needed basis.
New Approaches/Concepts
* Use on-line interaction platform when in-person meetings are not possible due to geo-political constraints.
* Use the ASME Engineering for Change platform to post projects and solutions for the region.
* Offer training workshops and train the trainers sessions to various groups in the region
* Emphasize Peace through Education and Technology projects.
PPT Presentations
* The Engineering for Change Initiative: Working Together, by Noha El-Ghobashy
* Arial Home Construction in Beit Sahour: Amer Rabayah
* Kalandia Vocational Training: Muhannad Beidas
* Solar Energy Project in the Balkans: Oliver Nacevski
* Solar for Gaza and Sderot: Cody Valdes and Hannah Flamm
* The Kidron River Restoration Project: Vered Doctori-Blass and Avner Goren
* The Arava Institute: Mazen Zoabi and Shira Kronich
* Peace E-Learning and Beyond, Fouad El-Harazin
* Alleviating Poverty Through Sustainable Technology, Sanu Kaji Shrestha
* COMET-ME: Elad Orian
* Sustainable Community Development Engineering, Steve Forbes
* EWB-Greece: Ruya Schwabedissen and Michail Chatzis
* EWB-Palestine: Amer Rabaya
* EWB-Israel: Mark Talesnick, Vered Doctori-Bass, Liad Deri
* EWB-Jordan: Hayel Al-Amoush and Manar Talhouni
* EWB-Egypt: Hany Sidhom
* EWB-Lebanon: Nader Hajj Shehadeh
* EWB-Macedonia: Oliver Nacevski
http://www.ewb-international.org/larnaca10.htm