Malcolm Siegel, WRAP Program Lead for Operations and Education, visited all of the schools supported by WRAP during May 2014. These included the 2 latest additions to the WRAP network: Tuba Zangaria Junior High School and Eynot Yarden High School on Kibbutz Amir. Work with these schools is done in collaboration with the Youth Environmental Education Peace Initiative (YEEPI) of the Arava Institute.

YEEPI staff (Liad Amir, Gonen Sagy), headmaster (Osama al Haib), science teacher (Boteena Rashdi) and students

Science teacher (Boteena Rashdi) and equipment box for the rain harvesting system

At the school in Tuba Zangaria, he met with the YEEPI teachers and coordinators (Liad Amir, Gone Sagy, Sana Omar), the school headmaster (Osama al Haib), a parent (Basher Heib) and the science teacher involved in the program (Boteena Rashdi) as well as a group of students involved in the program. The rainwater system provides water to the school toilets. It is operating successfully, and as part of the environmental education program, the students have planted a school garden. The students are encouraged to feel ownership in the program, and the teachers feel this is the best approach to reduce risks of vandalism and theft in the community. The principal, teachers, and parent that he met were very enthusiastic about the YEEPI program and the contribution that the WRAP rainwater harvesting system has made. The teachers and parents hope that their students can provide a bridge between the Arab and Jewish communities in the region; this is important because currently there is little direct contact between these two groups.

Liad Amir and rain barrel for toilets at Eynot Yarden Science Building

Hydroponics experiment conducted using collected rainwater

At the Eynot Yarden High School, Malcolm met with the school principal, Gadi Lahav, who is also very enthusiastic about the YEEPI program. The system has been installed and is successfully operating. The YEEPI program coordinator, Liad Amir, and intern, Alana Morris, are using the harvested rain water for a variety of purposes including aquaculture and hydroponics. Some of the rain harvesting barrels were put at the science building and used for toilets to allow the most students to see them. Harvested rainwater is used in the greenhouse for a variety of projects that take advantage of the purity of the rainwater. The projects are part of a larger effort to introduce students to different modes of production: sustainable farming using a variety of organic wastes including urine, standard organic farming, and industrial agriculture. Experiments are being conducted to evaluate how water without elements common in groundwater like fluoride affect the growth of algae.

Photos from a June 9th gathering of students at the Farm School in Lod, Israel to learn about agriculture, irrigation, and principles of water conservation.  WRAP partner, Sur Baher Girls School in East Jerusalem, was one of the participants that day.

An article published on May 30, 2014 in the Washington Post, titled “Israel solves water woes with desalination,” quoted Gidon Bromberg, the Israeli director of Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME).  FoEME and WRAP have partnered on water projects in the Middle East since WRAP was founded.

To read the article, visit http://wapo.st/1oSYjCS.

WRAP is pleased to support the important work of Wine to Water, a non-profit organization focused on providing clean water to people in need around the world.  Come join WRAP members and other individuals working on our shared goal of water stewardship at a free rooftop happy hour to honor the efforts of Wine to Water.  The event will take place on Friday, July 25th in Washington, DC.  See the invitation for more details on the event and how to RSVP.  Hope to see you there!

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1jivzj6

A new study, entitled Water and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding was released at the end of March by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the University of Tokyo, McGill University, and Duke University.  The study investigates countries affected by major conflict between 1990 and 2013 and finds that cooperation over water management is critical for peace and development and that early intervention in the water sector can help societies set the foundation for more equitable and sustainable water use and in turn support better economic recovery.

Water and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding  is the fourth book in a six-volume series that addresses natural resource management for post-conflict peacebuilding around the world.  It includes 19 case studies on water management in 28 conflict-affected countries and territories including some in the Middle East.

To read ELI’s press release, visit http://bit.ly/1jeapmD.

The book may be ordered through this link or through www.amazon.com.

WRAP is excited to announce that it has partnered with AmazonSmile.  Now you can support WRAP through your everyday purchases on Amazon.  To do so, simply click “get started” below!

WRAP

March 31, 2014, Washington, DC

WRAP is pleased to announce that Brent Fewell, Partner, Environmental and Natural Resources Practice at Troutman Sanders LLP, will be joining the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) as the newest member to its Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, Mr. Fewell was a Senior Vice President for Environmental Health and Safety at United Water, a subsidiary of Suez Environnement, an international waste and water company.  Prior to his time in private industry, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of policies and regulations affecting the nation’s drinking water and clean water programs.

“Brent’s extensive knowledge and experience with water resources management and development are welcomed assets to WRAP’s leadership,” says Brendan McGinnis, WRAP’s Executive Director.  “He has made a successful career addressing our nation’s most pressing and complex water and waste issues.  He is a true champion of environmental stewardship and conservation.  We are excited to have him join WRAP and apply those interests in a region of the world that is in dire need of practical solutions.”

“Water is one of those fundamental things in life with the capacity to either divide or connect communities and people,” says Brent Fewell.  “I’m very honored to be part of WRAP’s strong and enduring commitment and collaborative efforts to provide life-sustaining water resources to communities in need and connect people for a more sustainable future.”

Mr. Fewell’s background with water issues in government and private industry, both domestically and internationally, will complement the Board’s commitment to improve water quality and availability for underserved populations in the Middle East.

For Mr. Fewell’s biography, click here.  For additional information on WRAP, visit www.wrapdc.org.

Congratulations to Rana Khalaf, Principal, Al Afaq School, for receiving this year’s education prize from the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat.

The Al Afaq School for Special Education, located in East Jerusalem, is the site of WRAP’s second rain harvesting system and environmental education project. WRAP’s rain barrel system paired with the hard work of educators like Rana have catalyzed a host of related projects including a greenhouse, compost site, and outdoor covered classroom, all created with reusable materials.  These efforts have fostered a culture of sustainability at the school and in the surrounding community.

WRAP is grateful to have dedicated partners like Rana and congratulates her on this special accomplishment.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently released the Water and Conflict Toolkit as part of the Agency’s current focus on water and development strategy.  The toolkit explores the relationship between water, conflict, and cooperation, highlighting lessons learned from relevant development and peace-building programs, and discussing options for development programming.  The document presents and raises awareness about the linkages between water resource management and conflict as well as opportunities for peace-building that takes into account these linkages.

To view the toolkit, visit http://1.usa.gov/Mybsjr