Seed Grants

Environmental Satellite Cooperation Circle Announces

2012 Environmental Seed Grant Awards

 In the spirit of "Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Environment," the theme of the United Nations International Day of Peace (IDP), which took place on September 21^st, theEnvironmental Satellite Cooperation Circle announced the recipients of the 2012 Environmental Seed Grants on this year's IDP.

The Environmental Seed Grants, now in their second year, are made possible through a gift from a California philanthropist committed to environmental protection and innovation. The grants support awareness raising, education and training programs, individual projects and longer term programs carried out by CCs in their local communities.

Twelve grants were awarded this year for projects in India, Uganda, Malawi, Palestine, Morocco and the United States. A total of 20 CCs are involved with a number of them working collaboratively on several of the projects.

The grant recipients in India include:

• The Rural Development Society CC for a project that will enhance sustainable livelihoods for tribal people in the Bankura District of West Bengal.
• The Habel Foundation CC for an innovative eco-awareness education program, together with the planting of trees and medicinal plants in Kerala.
•  The Samaj Joro Abhiyan CC for a program of awareness raising and environmental action by primary school youth in Jharkhand through plantings along a highly-polluted river.

Ugandan grant recipients include:

• The Pamoja CC to promote environmental education through environment clubs in schools in the Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts.
• The Peace Kawomera CC for a reforestation program to mitigate the local impacts of climate change and preserve livelihoods of peace in Eastern Uganda.

Grants to three Malawi CCs include:

• The Chirimba CC to support the establishment of tree seedling nurseries and seedling distribution for ecological restoration and to counteract climate change.
• The Blantyre CC for the removal of sanitary waste and rubbish along roads and river banks and planting of trees and lemon grass along mountain rivers and streams in Bangwe Township.
• The Community Care Support Trust CC for the establishment of a tree seedling nursery for reforestation of the Likhubula River bank, together with promoting backyard gardening in a low-income township of Blantyre District.

Grant recipients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region include:

• The Salam Shabab CC to create green space, plant olive trees, and create a youth movement linking peacebuilding and the environment in the city of Tiflet, Morocco.
• The Volunteering for Peace CC, which will work with six other Palestinian CCs in creating a multilingual (Arabic and English) Environment Awareness Encyclopedia website plus a competition for the best photos, cartoons, and environmental awareness program designs, which will be distributed throughout the MENA region.

Finally, the recipients of two grants in the United States (both from the Multi-Region) include:

• The Global Healing CC to develop educational materials and training programs for community groups on climate change and ocean acidification in South Florida.
• The Trail of Dreams CC for a project in the rural community of Cottonwood, Alabama, to educate local groups about the hazards of burning trash, especially plastics and other hazardous materials, as well as bringing faith-based groups together for a shared practical experience of building an earthen outdoor pizza oven.

These grants are for periods of up to one year, and progress and final reports will be posted on the URI Web site in the coming months.

The Environmental Satellite CC warmly congratulates these grant recipients and expresses deep appreciation for all Cooperation Circles working to “develop cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.”