18-10-2011. Source: ENPI Info Centre

Ten schools in Israel, five in Shefa-Amr and five others in Umm al-Fahem have been recognized as “green schools” in the framework of the Green Cities project, implemented under the EU-funded CIUDAD programme, and will be awarded funding for their efforts in the field of environment.

A press release said the schools, which have been trained by the project to apply environmental principles, have initiated the status and drafted much of the proposals themselves, with the assistance of the project partners throughout the process to guarantee the requirements are met.

Each of the schools will be awarded 15,000 NIS, amounting to 150,000 NIS of additional resources for Palestinian schools in general, and their environmental efforts in particular.

Green Cities aims to develop the capacity of local authorities to do three things: help prevent or reduce waste; recycle and reuse; and improve disposal by training local authorities and helping them to apply this knowledge in concrete pilot projects.  It also carries out significant public awareness activities to ensure understanding and compliance with the new systems.

CIUDAD runs from 2009 to 2012 and co-finances 21 local grant projects in the Neighbourhood’s South and East. The projects reflect the overall objective of CIUDAD and in particular the following themes: 1) Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency; 2) Sustainable Economic development and reduction of social disparities and; 3) Good governance and sustainable urban development planning.

Press Release: here

A significant component of the CIUDAD Green Cities project entails turning the schools within the main targeted localities, particularly in Israel where this program is well established already, into “green schools.” This process was not an easy one and a lot has been done to train the schools to apply environmental principles.

This year, however, we can already witness the impact the project is generating: 5 schools in Shefa-Amr and 5 in Umm al-Fahem were recently recognized as “green schools” after having initiated the status and drafting much of the proposals themselves. While the project partners assisted throughout the process and worked with the school management to guarantee the requirements are met, it was the schools, rather than the project’s staff, that pushed this process forward. Consequently, each of the schools will be awarded 15,000 NIS, amounting to 150,000 NIS of additional resources for Palestinian schools in general, and their environmental efforts in particular.

For more information on the Green Cities project please contact Ms. Naama Blatman, Director of Development and Public Outreach – Galilee Society: naama@gal-soc.org

CIUDAD – Green cities project fiche

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