Peace Diaries
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights states that "Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace." Education of students, transferred to families and communities is key to sustainable societal, environmental and economic for all and the path to peace.
In 2002, Knowledge iTrust launched The Peace Diaries program. The vision: To establish a forum where students of every background (race, gender, creed and religion) could gather to learn about each other and address issues on topics of human rights, community, family, culture, democracy, conflict and peace.
Web-based education technology, developed by KIT and OpenVES, brought together learners in classrooms in thirteen countries to collaborate on projects that have produced content for the Web, books and radio. English Language Writing supported by a web-based teacher/student literacy tool has attracted ESL and EFL teachers and their students to the program to not only strengthen their global agency but also to practice and learn English. (Click here for the Peace Diaries Web site.)
- STEPS to Literacy builds upon and leverages the success of the Peace Diaries. KIT partnered with The Center for Multiple Languages and Literacies (CMLL) at Teachers College, Columbia University to develop and assess a program of instruction supported by computer software to improve the literacy of students who are English Language Learners (ELLs).
STEPS to Literacy will focus first on Latino children in middle school. In the United States, public schools are overflowing with children of immigrants, whose languages are not the language of instruction, English. Latino students are an important segment of this population. Because the new school assessments rely heavily on school-based literacy in English, Latino students, especially recently arrived immigrant students with little proficiency in English, pose a challenge to teachers and are at higher risk of failure.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has funded the year-long pilot of this program.
The "Sow Peace on Earth" Campaign combines IT, education and best practices of UN agencies and local communities to address six of the eight goals of the MDG. "Sow Peace on Earth" is a campaign of awareness and action with lessons, or education models, tied in to each step of learning. Tailor-made lesson programs (addressing literacy, math, science, and vocational skills, and the UN tenants of peace, etc.) build students academic skills within the context of practical exercises that are applicable to their daily lives. This knowledge is then shared with their families and communities and becomes education from the bottom up - beginning locally at the school and community center, expanding to the national and international level. These are essential building blocks of sustainable development.
Hi Karen, Shikamoo!
Since I came to Moshi where I am right now I have been searching some fundamental information that can guide us in the water project in Mwereni Primary school. I have already talked to the head teacher of Mwereni Primary School.
Due to the information that I have got from the administrative offices, it is not possible for the project to use water from the river and the alternatives remains is to collect and store rain water and now I am investigating on how many times does it rains in Moshi and the extent we can get from the water collection, getting the cost-benefits projections.
However another alternative is the use of underground water. Due to the information I got from the Water Administrative Offices that there is about 90 percent that there is presence of underground water. The utilization of underground water have been advised by the water experts to be the most appropriate method. For underground water to be utilized requires water survey to know how many metres to be drilled, extent of water we can get, the capacity of pump needed as well as the availability of electricity in the school (electricity lines passes nearby the school)
I am collecting data on both alternatives and I think both of them can be used i.e. when there is rain, the water is collected to the well which will conserve water from both sources. So when there is no rain and the collected water has been utilized is when we can us underground water.
Goodiel
Marahaba Goodiel,
Habari za asubuhi? Shimboni shanu to you and your parents, brothers and sisters. I found a powerpoint on water harvesting in Tanzania. I will mail it to you (as I think the file is too fat to send by email-would take forever to download.)
I love your idea of doing the investigation on the average annual rain fall in Moshi. Here's one link to a Web site that shows rainfall regimes and crop opportunities http://www.fews.net/centers/innerSections.aspx?f=tz&m=1001466&pageID=monthliesDoc Once you have the average rainfall, then I assume you're calculating that against the capacity of our collection device, correct?
The drilling idea sounds interesting too. Do we need to pay for a license for that? You mention electricity for pump? If not electricity, maybe some alternate fuel or method? ...what about solar electricity and pumping? Check out this link, since you're interested in technology and agriculture. Here are step by step instructions for building one a solar water pump. It's interesting.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago91.html Below are some other links with information to give you an idea of how they work, I did some cut and past for you so you don't have to wait for the pages to load in your Web browser.
For locations without power lines, Dankoff Solar Pumps offer a clean and simple alternative to fuel-burning generators and windmills. They require no fuel deliveries, and very little maintenance. A solar pump, produces the most water when it is needed the most -- when the weather is sunny and dry! We specialize in pumps with DC motors since they are more efficient than AC pumps. Our pumps can operate directly off of solar electric (photovoltaic or "PV ") panels, batteries or any DC power source. They are most commonly operated off solar electric panels which is why they are known as solar pumps. Some of our pump models can be ordered to operate off AC power for situations where utility or generator power is available but efficiency is paramount.
http://www.partsonsale.com/solarpumps1.html
Shikamoo mama Karen.
Its my hope that you are doing well but a little bit busy. About the same thing here. I want to give you a kind of a report on where I have reached concerning the project. First of all thanks so much for the materials you sent to me, really they are of much importance. I have already study them and I think solar energy will play a big deal in the project because when we need a lot of water is in the dry season with strong sun shinning in which underground water can be used. With that, the use of drip irrigation will help the project to be efficient and more automatic instead of demanding large number of workers. I have been finding on where the drip irrigation has been practiced in Tanzania and how can we get the simplified, efficient and cheap drip irrigation system in Tanzania or East Africa. Up to now I have investigated that the Ministry of Agriculture have a special program for agricultural development and they promote drip irrigation through their program named PADEP. I phoned them and they said they have no any office in Northern Tanzania so if I want to get their service I have to go to their offices in Dar. Hence what I am doing now is to make investigation on how much water is needed to irrigate those four acres of crops and water for domestic uses per day so as to be able to tell the specification of the irrigation system needed, water pump and other facilities. However this can be done together with the Padep due to the area and crop we want to irrigate.
I also went to drilling offices which are under the supervision of the water department in Kilimanjaro region. However the details I am working for now will help us to understand the amount of water needed. I have also communicated to the Headteacher of the Mwereni P/S and suggested crops to be planted. I expect from you by tomorrow. bye.
Goodiel
Shimboni Goodiel,
I just spoke with Anna who is program manager with an organization called Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR). They are working with primary schools in the Karatu District to install rainwater harvesting systems. Anna has provided me with the contact information for Jean who is in Dar Es Salaam right now and who will soon be back in Karatu. I have included her cell number in this email. Anna says she will contact Jean and ask her to expect your call. Jean or Japhet will take you to Karatu to visit the primary schools and will tell you everything you need to know about how they set up the water systems. In addition to the rainwater harvesting, they also have experience digging wells. Have fun!
Karen
Shikamoo mama Karen,
I have just emailed Jean and just after here I will phone her. I will tell you what how it goes about together with the answers of your questions.
Goodiel
Marahaba Goodiel. Asante. When you are with Jean, ask her who is supplying their equipment (the water tank, the gutters for the roof, etc.) so we can purchase from the same supplier, if possible. Also ask her if they are filtering the water they collect. I heard that we can purchase gutters with charcoal filters that separate impurities from the water. That way the collected rain water can be used for the garden and for drinking if needed. Finally, find out from where she contracted the skilled labor. Perhaps you can use the same men. Finally, ask her if she has any experience with drip irrigation and, if so, how she would set that up. Kwa heri. Karen
Shikamoo mama Karen,
Yesterday I went to Karatu to see what CPAR-Tanzania is doing there. It was really fantastic and they
helped me a lot. The office was so generous to me and they gave me whatever available information I asked. They are dealing with rain water harvesting and have succeeded. They have built large concrete tanks that collects the rain water allover the year. They were so cooperative and I saw one of their well doing project. They also gave me details of the systems together with some people and companies to contact. I am working with the details so I will inform what is going on as I'm working. I have learnt a lot of thing along with this project and I am sure it will work out successful.
Bye. Goodiel
Shikamoo mama Karen,
I hope you are fine. I was out of the University for a while, we had a trip to Mikumi National Park.
The building work is just going on well. I have attached some pictures on the tank building. I think the work will be over in one week to come. I will let you know.
Good day. Goodiel.