Forests
and other natural habitats are disappearing around the world at an alarming
rate. Often they are losing to industrial development and economic
development. The treasures these
habitats carry are often underappreciated, underutilized and often not known at
all. These forests are the lungs of this planet and our very survival as beings
may depend on their wellbeing.
Moreover, there are multitudes of plants and wild life whose benefits to
human society and economic potentials are yet to be discovered.
Teachers
and students from eight countries representing most continents have proposed an
international Internet-based collaboration project which will raise awareness
about the medically precious plant life hiding in the forests and other
habitats around the earth. This
project is titled Medicines in Our Back Yard and leaders of the project are
Dave Abeleven from Suriname and Bishnu Bhatta from Nepal.
·
The
participants of this project will utilize
the power of the Internet to collaborate for the purpose of accomplishing a
common objective - increased awareness of natural habitats and their value for
human and economic development.
i.
Students are aware of the purposes and the importance of
medical plants in nature for human and other purposes.
ii.
Students educate the community through several actives why
nature, with the medical plants as an essential part of it, must be preserved.
iii.
Students and the community are able to use the medical
plants for economic development.
iv.
The community increasingly values their natural resources
and promotes nature preservation.
Expected
Products:
i.
The students produce a Web site and a video documenting the
medical uses of plants found in natural habitats around the world.
ii.
Compact disk presenting and explaining the data, which is
collected by students and teachers concerning the medical uses of plants.
·
Internet-based collaboration will build bridges between students and
teachers of different backgrounds and foster greater intercultural
understanding around the world. It will
help them share knowledge and experiences and work together to achieve common
goals across borders.
Students between the ages of 10
years old and 20 years old under the guidance of a teacher (s) from 10
countries around the world, as outlined below.
Teacher / Project Leader Country
Dave
Abeleven -
Suriname (coordinator)
i.
Suriname Netherlands Lyceum Andy
Danoe
ii.
Mr. dr. J.C. de Miranda Lyceum Dave
Abeleven
iii.
Arthur A. Hoogendoorn Atheneum Sandra Haakmat
iv.
Advanced Teacher Training College
Bishnu
Bhatta -
Nepal (vice-coordinator)
i.
Rajhana Secondary School, Ghorahai, Dang, Nepal
ii.
Shree Siddha Ratnanath Secondary School, Narayanpur, Dang,
Nepal
Mimoza
Anastoska-Jankulovska -
Macedonia
i.
Gorgi Naumov Technical School, Bitola, Macedonia
Alenka
Makuc -
Slovenia
i.
Primary School Cirila Kosmaca, Piran, Slovenia
Sabina
Sadl
ii.
III. Gymnazuim Maribor, Maribor,
Slovenia Ana Hartman
Mona Patrao - India
i.
Redstone Farm Home School, Village Bhose, Panchgani, District Satara, Maharashtra State, India
Nanadasiri
Wanninayaka - Sri Lanka
i.
A/ Gamini College, C/o Ramani
Wanninayaka, Left Bank, Mahavilachchiya, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka.
ii.
A/ Central College, C/o Mr. Sunil
Gurusingha, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka.
Ligija
Kolsovska -
Latvia
i.
Kraslava Gymnasium, Kraslava, Latvia.
Group e-mail address: medicinewoman@egroups.com
Name of facilitator:
Manager, Europe and Special Projects
1735 North 1st Street, Suite 312
i.
Internet
ii.
E-mail
iii.
Web-based e-mail groups, chat-rooms and forums
iv.
Web page building software
v.
Digital photography
vi.
Video
vii.
Video editing applications
The timetable for 2000-2001 school
year will vary according to the school year schedules in the different
hemispheres.
|
PHASE |
ACTIVITIES |
Project time span: October 2000 to December 2001 |
|
Phase 1. |
Forming students and community
project groups. |
|
|
Phase 2 : |
Introduction of participating
countries, classes and students and teachers by use of Medicinewoman e-group
e-mail discussion group and chatroom. |
October 2000 |
|
Phase 3 : |
Collecting data and researching
most commonly used medical plants in the community. Collected data and
photographs will later be shown and shared through Internet and video. |
November 2000 –December 2001 |
|
Phase 4 : |
Videotaping and photograph the
practical use of these medical plants. (Origin, usage-how and why, purpose,
etc ) |
January 2001- February 2001 |
|
Phase 5 : |
Each country prepares a web page
and web-based database in which the data and images they collected are
presented to the other members. The web pages are published on
the Internet or uploaded onto the Medicinewoman www.egoups.com site. All members discuss each other's
pages over the Medicinewoman egroup - email discussion group and chatroom. |
February 2001 - March 2001 |
|
Phase 6 : |
Collecting data and researching
most commonly used medical plants in the community. Collected data and
photographs are shown and shared through Internet and video. Analyzing and organizing the
collected information into a database.
Preparing to present the information to the other members of the
group. |
March 2001-September 2001 |
|
Phase 7 : |
Collecting and comparing the
already explored data. Web page template designed to be
used by all project members. |
April 2001-September 2001 |
|
·
|
Each country has prepared their
web page and web-based database in which the data and images they collected
are presented to the other members. All members will discuss each
other's pages over the Medicinewoman egroup - email discussion group and
chatroom. Pages are updated as new information is collected and this
continues throughout the project. |
|
|
Phase 8 : |
Collecting, sharing and
comparing the video materials. |
April 2001 |
|
·
|
Videotapes
are sent through the mail to project coordinators and other project
participants for their review. |
|
|
·
|
Crucial video excerpts are
selected for use on the Web site, then digitized and placed on the web to be
reviewed by all participants. |
|
|
·
|
Masters of video material are
sent to editors in charge of producing the project video documentary. (Video editors are yet to be determined.) |
|
|
Phase 9 : |
Finalizing individual project
materials |
September 2001 |
|
·
|
Each country finalizes its own
web page, as agreed during the discussion and planning period in Phases 6 and
7. Images and video are incorporated
in each web page. Selection of committees within
the International project group responsible for: a)
Design of website b)
Production of video documentary c)
Design of CD (based on website) |
|
|
Phase 10 : |
Preparing a collective
international project video, website and CD |
|
|
·
|
Collecting the already explored
data and preparing a collective video, website and CD. The above mentioned three committees will
be leading the three different activities. |
October 2001-November 2001 |
|
Phase 10: |
Utilizing prepared project
materials to launch local and international campaign for raising awareness of
the enormous value natural habitats hold for humanity. |
December 2001- Ongoing |
|
·
|
Speaking out on the issue
locally. Presenting video documentary
and other material locally before the public, through public events, media,
etc. Making presentation before local
and national government bodies. Using
other creative means of educating the public on these issues. |
|
|
·
|
Launching
an International E-mail Campaign to inform and educate the international
community about issues of biodiversity and medicinal value of plants thriving
in natural habitats around the world.
Contact numerous international organizations, international media, and
governments. Establish mutual links
with web sites of other relevant organizations. |
July
2001-December 2001 |
To make
sure all of these activities are completed successfully, each school group
should divide the various responsibilities amongst at least the following ten
groups:
i.
Researchers
ii.
Photographers
iii.
Videographers
iv.
Database designers and programmers
v.
Webpage designers and programmers
vi.
International website designers and programmers
vii.
Awareness campaign managers
viii. Media and
public relations managers
ix.
CD designers
x.
Video Editors
Possible
project/classroom activities:
i.
Contact between students and teachers through the use of
Internet and e-mail (e-groups and other
Web-based tools) sharing collected data on medical plants in the different
countries. Getting to know each other through the use of e-mail.
ii.
Digitally photographing the medical plants and cataloguing
them with explanations for their origin, medical use and other important
facts. Exchange the information, ideas,
techniques, skill and activities with other countries.
iii.
Videotaping the use of the medical plants explaining the
origin of these practices, their purposes and other important facts. Survey and study of medical plants:
harvesting, cultivation and usage patterns of medical plants
iv.
Preparing and researching collected data on medical plants
and using it for the purpose of setting up a collective video, CD and website.
Other
Suggested Activities:
·
Media
i.
Production of information video documentary about
biodiversity and medical plants.
ii.
Develop education materials about biodiversity and medical
plants
iii.
Develop Web site of medical plants
iv.
Develop medical plants information system to provide
information to concerning agencies and project partner countries.
·
Economics
i.
Study processing and marketing of medical plants.
ii.
Train and motivate local people on income generation
opportunities with medical plants.
SURINAME
·
I*EARN
Suriname
I*EARN
Suriname is a legal organization working on setting up a foundation, that will
function as NGO (Non-Government Organization). Suriname still has an
educational system with a big gap against the educational systems in the rest
of the world. It is therefore I*EARN Suriname's objective to promote renewal of
the educational system in Suriname by encouraging and helping schools, students
and teachers to implement new educational systems where
collaboration and self-learning plays an important role. By doing this I*EARN
Suriname hopes to close the gap a little bit and broaden the views of students
and teachers on how to learn more effectively and efficiently. The I*EARN
international network and its partner-organizations are an excellent way to
execute the plans in Suriname to reach the goals that are set for the
future. I*EARN Suriname is the Center for schools working in international
IEARN projects and other collaborative projects with other international
educational organizations. As national and international coordinator Suriname -
I*EARN Suriname- will play a very important role in establishing those
activities and objectives, which are set for this project: "Medicines in
Our Backyard"
·
National Institute
for Environmental studies and development in Suriname (NIMOS)
Suriname's
total area consists of 80% of tropical rain forest. Furthermore Suriname has
the largest rain forest preservation reserve in the world called: The Central
Suriname Nature Reserve consisting of 30 % of the total landarea (approx. 1.6
million Acres). Suriname has one of the largest collections of medicinal
purposed plants in the region. NIMOS is a national
research institute that focuses on environmental management and studies in
Suriname. Preserving the nature including all its medicinal plants is,
therefore, one of the main objectives for this institute. NIMOS and I*EARN
Suriname will work closely together to implement the "Medicines in Our
Backyard" project in Suriname. An active database of medicinal plants will
be developed and with the help of several community groups the use of medicinal
plants will be promoted so that people will become aware of the importance of
nature preservation for human, economic and environmental purposes. This
institute will also help managing the database of medicinal plants, which must
be set up with the other partner countries.
·
Forum of
Non Governmental Organizations in Suriname
This is an
institute, which manages the total database of NGOs in Suriname. With the help
of this institute I*EARN Suriname will be able to contact environmental
organizations in Suriname to work on promoting and establishing awareness among
the people in the use of medicinal plants nationally and internationally.
·
Suriname
Netherlands Lyceum
This new
private school on secondary level will start in October 2000. The school will
become the first international focused school in Suriname with a modern
educational system originated from the Netherlands and the USA. The school will
start with a total of not more than 30 students and is situated in the suburban
area of the capital Paramaribo. With the inclusion of the
I*EARN international network in it's curriculum the Suriname Netherlands Lyceum
will get involved in several I*EARN projects including the project
"Medicines in Our Backyard".
·
Mr. dr.
J.C. de Miranda Lyceum
This
secondary school is also located in the capital and is a government run school
with an out-dated education system in Suriname (as most educational systems in
Suriname). It has about 650 students between the ages of 15 and 19 with only
one computer. Collaboration on this project will be difficult for this school
but several students of this school will participate in the
project, not as a class but as a student group.
·
Advanced
Teacher Training College
At this
college students are trained to become teachers. The ages vary from 18 years
and higher. Mostly the biology students will participate in this project
bringing their expertise on plants and the natural habitat. The college
consists of more than 1500 students and is equipped with some 20 modern
computers with Internet connection.
·
Arthur A.
Hoogendoorn Atheneum
This
secondary private school includes about 350 students varying in the age between
12 years and 18 years old. This school is located in the suburban area of the
capital. Although having a local computer network, the facilities for Internet
activities are not optimal. The school's involvement will also be on a basis of
a student group.
Suriname
project Specifics:
Considering
the fact that a great deal of the participating schools does not have efficient
computer and internet facilities one of the first steps will be to set up a
national secretary to coordinate the project activities nationally and
internationally. Therefore at least one computer will be needed to implement
the project activities and to give the students working
on this project the opportunity to work on the computer and stay in contact
with other partner countries in this project. Furthermore a database will be
set up in which the most essential information on medicinal plants will be
collected (national and international). This will be done with the help of
NIMOS and other local NGO 's.
Contact person:
Andy Danoe - Project coordinator
(computer teacher and I*EARN Suriname Project Coordinator)
Dave Abeleven - International
coordinator (I*EARN Suriname Country Coordinator)
NEPAL
Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW)
Through school-based education
programs and community-based environment programs SPW works to empower young people, to help them get
involved in the decisions that shape their future. Volunteers from the
developed world work alongside equal numbers of local volunteers using
innovative, interesting and thought-provoking ways to raise awareness on such important issues as the
environment, health and nutrition, sanitation and the use of natural resources
- and then help to ensure that action is taken. Following comprehensive
training
- between 4 and 7 weeks, along with top-up workshops - volunteers work in rural
areas from 5 to 9 months. Since 1985
several thousand young volunteers - the majority from Britain, but also from
mainland Europe, Australia and North America - have participated in SPW
programs
SPW has been working in Nepal since 1991. It is now SPW's largest country operation, with the office in Kathmandu looking after the interests of over 150 Nepali and western volunteers each year on five programs - two educational and three environmental. Thirteen full-time professionals, both local and overseas, staff the program. All volunteers are involved in establishing Green Clubs (groups of school children actively involved in their own personal development and that of their communities) and initiating small-scale sustainable projects. These are particularly relevant in a country, which ranges from sub-tropical jungle barely above sea level to high mountains, combined with transportation difficulties. SPW volunteers in Nepal work with our partner NGOs in each district, enabling activities to be targeted where they are most effective and can be sustained after volunteers have left.
·
Human
Welfare and Environmental Protection center (HWEPC)
HWEPC is a leading NGO (Non Governmental Organization) working in
the Mid Western part of Nepal, which is also affiliated with IUCN (World
conservation Union) as an institutional member. HWEPC is basically involved promoting economic condition of the
rural people, empowering the rural people, natural Resources management,
literacy, micro-credit programs from women, environmental awareness, heath and
sanitation, irrigation projects, as well as drinking water for rural people.
HWEPC already established Green Clubs in 11 schools (group of motivated
students, who creates learning opportunity them selves) of the districts.
HWECP will
be playing coordinating and focal point of the project school. The partner NGO
will monitor project closely, provide instant IT support, arrange required
training for student groups, provide land for model nursery and arrange market
for products. Their long-term goal is to establish a nursery for medicinal
plants and train the students to manage the nursery.
·
Rajhana Secondary School,
Ghorahai, Dang:
This school is located in district
headquarter Ghorahai, Dang and accessible for lots of school students and
teacher of feeder schools and leader schools of many surrounding village. The
school has class 1 to 10 (6 years old to 18 years old students). More than 700
students are enrolled in this academic year and have shown greater interest to
the project.
Contact person:
Basanta Sharma, science teacher of
school and he has good knowledge of medicinal plants.
This school is located 8 KM west
from District head quarter School really interested to run medicinal project in
their school. They also have 1 to 10 grades with 1000 students.
Contact person: Gokarna
Khanal, science teacher.
Nepal
Project Specifics:
Considering the fact that both of
these schools are not equipped with computer technology, the first step will be
to provide two workstations and Internet connection for each school.
HWEPC is planing to implement the
projects coordinating with other local NGO and are very optimistic that these
ideas will be replicated in other schools as well. In the long term, they plan to establish model nursery for
medicinal plants.
v.BUDGET
Funds will
be disbursed to individual schools participating in this project. In cases where a non-profit organization is
leading the effort, the fund will be disbursed to these organizations for
management of the project activities of the schools in their respective
countries. By May 2001, each school
and/or organization receiving funds or equipment from Schools Online for the
purposes of this project will submit a detailed project and budget report
documenting how the received funds have been spent. All donated equipment will be the sole property of the schools
named in this project proposal and will remain in the schools for their use
after the completion of the project.