Where Did the Money Flow?
Your search for Ecology/Sustainability found 159 result(s)
Assessing/Advising New Seed Network (639)
Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela / $709
Year Funded: 2004
One of the Seed Saver interns, Saviana Parodi, a heritage fruit farmer with a PhD in Molecular Biology, traveled to Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru to meet with groups working on agriculture, food and seed issues. Saviana is also the person who encouraged some Ecuadorians to start their Red de Guardianes de Semillas. We also helped agricultural engineer, Pablo Ermini to adapt the Cuban translation of our "Seed Savers' Handbook" for Argentinian home garden conditions and food culture. This will help their group to find local varieties by researching and recording them and acknowledging local people saving their food plant seeds.
Expanding New Seed Network (638)
Argentina / $1,064
Flow Funder: Seed Savers Foundation (Australia)
Year Funded: 2004
We started with an email connection with an agricultural engineer, Pablo Ermini, who used our "Seed Savers' Handbook" to rebuild stocks of his local varieties. Pablo sees people suffering in Argentina from the effects of globalization. He is active in helping the poor produce food in urban areas. He was chosen for the Flow Fund because he wanted to create a National Seed Network with liaisons with other countries of South America. Pablo is working for social change and is active about locally adapted varieties in local agriculture.
Homeless Garden Project (634)
http://www.homelessgardenproject.org
United States - California / $300
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The Homeless Garden Project provides job training and transitional employment to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The programs offer trainees an opportunity to rebuild and develop basic life skills and a sense of worth as human beings. Their work brings together people from throughout the community in the beauty and security of a certified organic garden. They also teach principles of economic and ecological sustainability through classes and hands-on experience and provide homeless men and women job training and transitional employment.
Farm Fresh Choice (632)
http://www.ecologycenter.org/ffc/
United States - California / $400
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Farm Fresh Choice is the Ecology Center's Food Justice Program that engages low-income residents of Berkeley, California USA in reclaiming their optimal health through youth empowerment, nutrition education and community outreach that reaffirms collective ancestral wisdom and the relationship to nourishing foods. The program makes fresh, organic, regionally grown, and culturally appropriate foods convenient for purchase at after school programs through partnerships with local farmers that reflect our communities of color. Adult mentors and teen leaders facilitate peer-education workshops that raise critical health awareness and teach holistic wellness that builds off of our sacred food cultures.
Alameda Point Collaborative (APC): Growing Youth Project (631)
http://www.apcollaborative.org/growingyouth.htm
United States - California / $400
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
This youth-led food community provides valuable employment and promotes a dialogue around issues related to food, health, and nutrition in the local community. Through these dialogues, action strategies are crafted for addressing food justice issues in the community.
City Slicker Farms (630)
http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/
United States - California / $450
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of City Slicker Farms is to empower West Oakland, California USA's community members to meet the immediate and basic need for healthy organic food for themselves and their families by creating high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens.
Spiral Gardens (629)
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of Spiral Gardens is to create healthy sustainable communities by promoting a strong local food system and encouraging productive use of urban soil. Their core programs are based at the Urban Garden Center in Southwest Berkeley, California USA on two blocks of public land. Programs include a Nursery, Produce Stand, Community Farm, Community Education, and Community Harvest Project. In addition to the community farm, there is a community garden in North Oakland, California USA. They also conduct outreach, education, and plant sales throughout the local community and at local and regional events, including a consistent presence at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market.
Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) (624)
United States - Washington / $1,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to nourishing a strong community by empowering people and growing good food. They "grow" self-confident and community-minded youth through educational and employment opportunities and help low-income families and seniors to help themselves by building raised-bed gardens at their homes.
Growing Power (623)
United States - Wisconsin, United States - Illinois / $2,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This national, non-profit organization and land trust supports people from diverse backgrounds (and the environments in which they live) by providing equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach, and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.
Added Value (622)
United States - New York / $3,500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This non-profit organization promotes the sustainable development of Red Hook, New York USA by nurturing a new generation of young leaders by creating opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their knowledge base, develop new skills, and positively engage with their community through the operation of a socially-responsible urban farming enterprise. Added Value has provided long-term training to more than 150 neighborhood teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19, provided hundreds of local elementary school students with educational programs and worked thousands of volunteers to build a more just and sustainable future for all. Their work has helped revitalize local parks, transformed vacant lands into vibrant Urban Farms, improved access to healthy and affordable food, and grown an economy that supports the needs of community. Currently, Added Value has three main initiatives: Growing a Just Food System, Youth Empowerment, and Farm-Based Learning.
Casa Nat: Ecological Urban Construction (620)
Brazil / $2,000
Flow Funder: Maria Amalia Souza
Year Funded: 2010
CASA NAT, an environmental education project being developed in downtown Porto Alegre, the capital of Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sulthe is being spearheaded by the Brazilian Chapter of Friends of the Earth International, which is one of the oldest environmental non-government agencies in the country. A gift was shared with this educational project for finishing the tiles and floors of their facility.
Instituto Africa Viva (Institute Alive Africa) (608)
Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Burkina Faso / $1,000
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
The Brazilian music therapist Luis Kinugawa and Guinean dancer and singer Fanta Konate are the founders of the Institute Alive Africa, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They are a bridge between Brazil and Africa, facilitating human development and an improved quality of life through art, education and humanitarian work. The "Biomusic work" created by Luis Kinugawa, uses percussion and music therapy for human development. Institute Alive Africa is building facilities in the Republic of Guinea to perform social and humanitarian work, using artistic and cultural elements combining "Biomusic" and Permaculture. We donated $1,000 to their program.
Oakland-Based Urban Gardens (OBUGs) (607)
United States - California / $1,080
Year Funded: 2009
The vision of this collective is that "Children from disadvantaged families will be educated about nutrition, health and science from a young age." A gift was shared to support their after-school Organic Garden Program, where kids receive hands-on training in planting, harvesting and maintaining organic food gardens. They also learn to cook the food they harvest. In the process, the children learn about health, nutrition, cooperation and resiliency.
Common Ground Relief (606)
http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
United States - Louisiana / $1,080
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2009
This New Orleans-based organization provides "short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area." A gift was invested in their Wetland Restoration Project, revitalizing local bayous by replanting indigenous plants.
Bukit Lawang: Sustainable Disaster Recovery (604)
Indonesia / $3,800
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
A gift was shared with this land conservation project, restoring jungle damaged by a palm-oil plantation ($470). We planted an additional 285 trees around the village of Bukit Lawang, and the around local schools. We also planted 67 fruit trees in order to provide children with healthy snacks at break-time. At the elementary school, we initiated a school garden program where the students will have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of organic gardening and permaculture ($1,312). At the middle school, we contributed a playground set, volleyball and kick-ball equipment ($532). A gift was also shared to plant a medicinal plant garden at the school to teach the children about traditional medicine ($305). A gift was also shared to purchase supplies for the artists' cooperative ($367), provide a salary for the two project coordinators ($584), and a micro-grant for the Indra Inn to develop its business ($230).
Bumi Sehat Clinic (602)
Indonesia / $4,000
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
A gift was shared to support this natural birthing/health care clinic located near Meulaboh, Indonesia the epicenter of a large tsunami, for general operating expenses and medicine ($1,065). The clinic provides free medical treatment to survivors of the tsunami. A gift was shared with Mimi Riswantu, a Sumatran translator at the clinic, who has also begun teaching English classes to the local village children ($1,870). A gift was shared to plant a medicinal herb garden on the clinic's property to incorporate more of the traditional, natural healing models into the clinic's skill-set ($401). Once the plants are established, cuttings will be available to villagers to incorporate into their own gardens. 28 fruit trees were also planted around the clinic. The food they produce will be shared amongst the community. A number of flowering plants were also planted to beautify the property, attracting beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds. Scholarships for 2 clinic staff members was also provided so they may attend permaculture trainings ($420). Their knowledge will increase organic food production at the clinic, ensuring healthy, nutritious food security for the clinic. Sarongs were also purchased ($244) as part of a New Mother Care Package.
Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP) (601)
http://www.idepfoundation.org/GFS.html
Indonesia / $9,000
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
Several gifts were shared to train tsunami survivors in permaculture methods, providing them with the necessary knowledge and supplies that enable them to grow organic food in their own home gardens and communal co-op land. An intangible benefit of the program is the re-establishment of social networks and ties that help community members to recover from the loss and trauma experienced from the tsunami. One gift supported Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs), attended by 32 women from three different villages, teaching them technical skills related to permaculture, organic gardening and food security ($2,834). They are also given a general knowledge of nutrition, household waste management and sanitation. Two Component Intensive Trainings (CITs) were also sponsored, attended by 44 women ($1,812). Two of the participating villages, Miruek Lamredep and Krueng Kala, established women's cooperatives in order to assist each-other in implementing the knowledge gained in the Permaculture course. In addition to sponsoring the PDC and CIT courses, community grants were provided to purchase necessary tools, equipment, fences and organic seeds to implement their new knowledge and training ($4,354).
Bukit Lawang: Sustainable Disaster Recovery (600)
Indonesia / $8,200
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Several gifts were shared with the village of Bukit Lawang, Indonesia, focusing on education, micro-grants for small businesses, and planting trees. In order to stimulate the local economy and create opportunity, micro-grants were provided to 30 families to help them revitalize their small businesses ($2,871). To support continual education, we funded one year of school fees for 45 children. To encourage adults to learn new skills in sustainable, organic methods of agriculture, we sent three people from Bukit Lawang to the Green Hand Field School in Aceh, Indonesia ($1,796). For the benefit of the community and land, we planted 530 trees throughout the village and along the riverbanks ($2,848). The trees were selected specifically for the purposes of nourishment, medicine, erosion-prevention, land restoration and shade for the community. In order to ensure the survival of the seedlings, we protected them with bamboo cages and hired a caretaker to look after them for the first 6 months. We invested in a project to restore land from a palm oil plantation back to its natural jungle state. We planted fruit trees on the land to provide food for the people, orangutans, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife to share.
GreenHand Field School (GFS) (599)
http://www.idepfoundation.org/GFS.html
Indonesia / $1,280
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Run by Acehnese tsunami survivors, this school offers hands-on trainings for sustainable community recovery, based on permaculture design. Some of the courses offered include: Soil and forest rehabilitation; Seed saving and nursery development; Home and community gardening; Natural pest management; Rehabilitation of irrigation systems; and Small business development. Several gifts were shared to support the teaching of these courses, as well as: Gardening tools and equipment ($224); Fences to protect gardens ($573); Organic seeds and seedlings ($277); and Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($206).
Krueng Kala Village Cooperative (598)
Indonesia / $1,703
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
This cooperative established several organic home gardens in their village, using techniques for self-propagating organic seeds and organic compost production systems. Several gifts were shared with this cooperative, including: Gardening tools and equipment ($445); Fences to protect their gardens ($673); Organic seeds and seedlings ($277); and Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($308).
Lamsujen Village Cooperative (597)
Indonesia / $2,724
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
In the village of Lamsujen, Indonesia, seven women started a small sewing cooperative. Several gifts were shared with them, including: Ten sewing machines ($1600); Tools, materials and training in product design/quality control so their skills can be developed to meet local market needs ($373); and Cloth for their initial product of bags with environmental messages to be used and reused in the marketplace, reducing the use of plastic bags ($751).
Mireuk Lamreuduep Village Cooperative (596)
Indonesia / $2,293
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Located in the village of Mireuk Lamreudeup, this women-run cooperative established several organic home gardens in their village, using self-propagating organic seeds and organic compost production systems. Several gifts were shared with this cooperative, including: Gardening tools and equipment ($445); Fencing to protect gardens from wild pigs, goats, and other animals ($852); Organic seeds and seedlings ($312); Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($417); and Establishing compost production systems ($267).
Lara Lepionka's Community & Backyard Gardening (593)
http://www.capeannfarmersmarket.org/
United States - Massachusetts / $600
Year Funded: 2010
Lara Lepionka is a community-based artist and Coordinator for the Cape Ann Farmer's Market (CAFM) Backyard Growers in Massachusetts USA. A gift was shared with Lara for her work with low- to moderate-income youth to build and maintain organic vegetable gardens, including training, ongoing support, seeds, seedlings and compost. Through Lara's work, these youth are also selling their organic vegetables at the Farmers' Market, as well as donating an equal amount to the Open Door Food Pantry Mobile Mart, where residents receive free vegetables to prepare and eat.
Tesa Silvestre (585)
United States - Massachusetts / $4,000
Year Funded: 2010
Tesa Silvestre works locally to promote sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, a strong economy and vibrant communities. I have witnessed the transformation of many folks here on Cape Ann, Massachusetts USA, due to the work of Tesa Silvestre. Wonderful growth continues to happen in many lives, due to her vision and support of others.
Natural Balance Magazine (584)
http://www.naturalbalancemagazine.com
United States - Michigan / $500
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this publication, which presents positive alternatives, thoughts and approaches available to better the lives, health and spiritual well-being within the people and environment of Southwestern Michigan. By using of the writings of local professionals, experts and lay people who work in various fields, "Natural Balance" covers various issues that pertain to promoting a sustainable future in our environment - for ourselves, and our children's children. By having a means to share our local resources, products, services, knowledge and wisdom, they strive to build peace, unity and sustainability for all, including the Earth herself.
Shelly Claflin (581)
United States - Michigan / $500
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this avid gardener in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA who used the money to fulfill her dream of owning a small tiller for her garden.
Christopher Bedford, Filmmaker (580)
http://www.chrisbedfordfilms.com
United States - Michigan / $5,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this grass-roots activist and filmmaker to create a film entitled "Growing Health," examining the connection between health and eating a traditional, place-based diet.
Lori Evesque (579)
United States - Michigan / $2,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with Lori Evesque to teach local women how to can, freeze, and dehydrate foods from their gardens.
Fair Food Matters (578)
http://www.fairfoodmatters.org
United States - Michigan / $1,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this non-profit in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA whose mission is to support thriving local communities worldwide that are growing and distributing safe, nutritious, locally produced foods that foster healthy communities, environments, and economies.
Swaraj University (576)
India / $1,800
Flow Funder: Siri Gunnarson
Year Funded: 2010
The vision of Swaraj University resonated deeply with my ideals - a co-creative, supported learning process in areas of sustainable livelihood. 15 or more young learners from diverse areas and backgrounds in India come together for a 3-year learning journey and then return to their communities to put what they have learned to work. Many of the people who want to join the program do not have the means, so I offered a match grant of half their scholarship goal.
Tamera (575)
Portugal / $1,500
Flow Funder: Siri Gunnarson
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
A gift was shared with this cooperative of people in Portugal who work towards a non-violent future. The people of Tamera engage peace work in a holistic way, following the belief that the outer revolution in the world has to go hand-in-hand with an inner revolution. Their projects include: permaculture gardens, water landscapes, a solar village, a children's village, the Peace Research Village of the Middle East, peace pilgrimages, the Monte Cerro Global Campus for a Peace Culture, and collaborative work with other peace centers located in crisis areas. At Tamera, the most important focus is love and sexuality. They believe that there cannot be peace on earth as long as there is war between the genders. This philosophy and peace work moved us and challenged some of our foundational beliefs, inspiring us to learn more and share the story.
Food Alliance (570)
United States - Oregon / $5,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
The Food Alliance are the nation's leading certifier of sustainably-produced food. As the demand for sustainably-produced food explodes, consumers need to know that food meets certain quality standards. Food Alliance sets the standards and then assures compliance, thus giving consumers the confidence that the food products are what they claim to be. My Flow Fund gift helped the Food Alliance to continue developing into the national organization they hope to become.
Educate!: Educating & Empowering Africa's Future Leaders (569)
http://www.experienceeducate.org/
United States - Colorado, Uganda / $5,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of Educate! is to empower the next generation of socially responsible leaders in Uganda, Africa, where 50% of the population is under 18. Uganda's youth are faced with growing problems of poverty, violence, disease, and environmental degradation. Through Educate!, teachers are mentors and the classroom is the community itself where students start initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of their society. Already 20,000+ seedling trees have been planted to begin to restore their devastated environment and to start a nascent environmental movement. Other new initiatives include: a business that turns waste paper into bulletin boards; raising money for a resource/training center for children in the slums; a flower selling and landscaping business; a mobile grocery store; and a jewelry business. This organization has a winning leadership development model for social change and economic development and a highly talented and committed staff.
Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW) (560)
United States - West Virginia / $750
Year Funded: 2010
This grassroots organization was formed in direct response to the fear and frustration of the communities living near or downstream from large mountaintop removal sites. Their three major campaigns - Mountaintop Removal, Sludge Disposal, and Stopping Toxic Waste Storage near schools - have all been successful, in spite of everything working against them.
Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) (559)
United States - Maryland / $7,500
Year Funded: 2010
The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) was formed to restore the Anacostia River, so that it is once again a clean and healthy place to live nearby and visit. Since 1989, AWS has worked to protect and clean the Anacostia River and its watershed communities by cleaning the water, recovering the shores, and honoring the area's heritage. What moves me most about the work of AWS is the emphasis they place on both environmental and economic justice. They are restoring not only the natural elements of the river, but also the communities which live near the river. Over the years, AWS has focused on bringing jobs to the area and developing recreational activities on the river, including giving urban youth their first experiences with boating, hiking and healing the planet. By supporting the work of AWS I know I am not only helping to clean the river, but also creating a space where nature will once again flourish, the community will be healthier, and the crucial issues of environmental racism are addressed directly.
Circle of the Defense of Environment (CEDEN) (557)
Congo The Democratic Republic of The / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Circle of the Defense of Environment (CEDEN) works toward the reorganization of a healthy society that protects the equity and preservation of natural resources for present and future generations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To achieve these goals, CEDEN works with communities to monitor illegal logging, map Indigenous lands, promote logging alternatives, and provide ecological education. Through this grant, CEDEN is promoting the traditional ecological practices of the Batwa people with forest resources to increase their revenues for a portion of their non-wood-based forest products, especially beekeeping. CEDEN is providing equipment for beekeepers, installing beehives, and monitoring production. Additionally, CEDEN is working with the Batwa to document their traditional knowledge around beekeeping activities. This grant will allow, for the first time, the formation of a group of Batwa people to draw on human capital to increase profits and capitalize on beekeeping activities. The revenue from these activities supports the children to attend school and other household expenses.
Association Baaka de la Sangha (556)
Congo The Democratic Republic of The / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Association Baaka de la Sangha empowers Baaka people in the People's Republic of Congo to engage in co-management of their forest areas with both logging companies and wildlife conservation organizations to address the Baaka needs in these new contexts. With a grant from Keepers of the Earth, the Baaka are building a series of small farms at each Baaka education center to support the young attendees by providing a necessary lunchtime meal. Currently only one Baaka has literacy skills and speaks sufficient French to represent his community to outsiders, so these educations centers serve a vital role in the Baaka community as children increase their ability to represent their community among outsiders. As members of a traditional hunter-gatherer society, children at the learning centers are not able to collect food and are often hungry. By building these small farms, the Baaka are actively addressing this situation to provide the children with some food each day. Approximately 50 Baaka men and women will clear plots and grow crops from seedlings and the children will manage the small farms once they are established. An estimated 400 children will benefit from these farms.
Native Solutions to Conservation Refugees (555)
http://www.conservationrefugees.org/
Ethiopia / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
Native Solutions to Conservation Refugees responds to Indigenous and local communities' wishes when conservation and environmental factors threaten to displace them and is committed to local communities providing solutions to local problems. Native Solutions has a long-established relationship with the Mursi community and has helped facilitate the development of a Mursi Community Conservancy. This additional funding supports the Mursi to travel from their territory to urge local and regional Ethiopian government officials in Awassa and Addis Ababa to sign documents officially establishing the Mursi Community Conservancy and to discuss with other local Indigenous communities, including the Hamar and Ari tribes, the possibility of joining in community conservation on their own territories.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Indigenous Heartland Organization (IHO) (554)
http://www.indigenousheartland.org/
Tanzania, United Republic of / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Indigenous Heartland Organization (IHO) is a Maasai-led organization in Tanzania, which has been active in advocating for Indigenous Peoples' rights, focused on their relationship with natural resources and crucial elements like access and benefit sharing. In the Ngorongoro district of Tanzania, the organization has been engaged in advocacy for the active and effective participation of the pastoral Indigenous Maasai in management of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Throughout its existence as a multiple land use area, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has also been known for its suppressive style of management, which does not provide space for the Indigenous Peoples of Ngorongoro to fully participate in decision-making processes regarding their homeland. IHO thus seeks to empower local Indigenous communities living in or adjacent to protected areas by forging unique partnerships between conservation initiatives and communities. IHO's Ngorongoro Brotherhood Mission seeks Indigenous control over the developments affecting their communities, lands, territories and resources enabling them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions, while promoting development in accordance with the community's aspirations and needs. The Maasai of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area currently face the threat of violent eviction from their land and this grant is a step toward preventing this for the 52,000 Indigenous residents in the area.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Sengwer Cultural Center (SCC) (553)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Flow Funder: Rebecca Adamson
Year Funded: 2010
The Sengwer Cultural Center (SCC) is a Sengwer-led organization which researches, protects, and promotes Sengwer Indigenous Peoples' social, cultural, and economic rights. The SCC is a key player in the conservation of the Cherangany Hills Indigenous Forests and through this grant, the Sengwer community is working toward reducing pressure on the Cherangany Hills Indigenous Forests by curbing deforestation and documenting human rights violations against the Sengwer peoples, evicted from their ancestral homes in the Embobut Forest. In order to achieve these goals, the SCC is holding a training and education workshop on the role of the Sengwer in forest stewardship and will examine traditional indicators, impacts, and adaptation measures relevant to climate change. The Sengwer are continuing to establish tree nurseries to collect Indigenous seeds from the forests and grow seedlings for reforestation and prevent the need for further deforestation for fuel. The forest is a vital asset for the Sengwer community, and through this grant, they are further protecting their livelihoods.
Institute of Culture & Ecology (IFCAE) (552)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Institute of Culture & Ecology works to revive and promote Indigenous knowledge for environmental rehabilitation and conservation and to enhance local communities' resource-based livelihoods and sustainable development through local knowledge. The goal of this project is to promote the role of Indigenous knowledge and sacred sites in protecting natural ecosystems at Kivaa Hill. Kivaa Hill has an important sacred site at the top, with other smaller sacred sites in surrounding areas. However, the primary sacred site is being threatened by over-grazing, and local elders have raised their concern over imminent desecration of the site and eventual loss of natural biodiversity on the hill. The project is restoring respect for the identified sacred sites on and in the area of Kivaa Hill as a strategy for conservation of local biodiversity and responding to adverse climatic changes. This grant is helping the community at Kivaa Hill protect the assets, including local biodiversity and sacred sites, and maintain their cultural relationship with the Hill, which in turn protects their livelihoods and livestock.
Saru Enkiteng (551)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
Saru Enkiteng is establishing itself as an organization working for the promotion, protection, and effective conservation of natural resources through rational and sustainable utilization of the resources on Indigenous lands and territories for present and future generations. While the Maasai community has appointed a board for the organization, it lacks a central office and point of contact for local communities, so Saru Enkiteng is using its very first grant to build their organizational capacity to enable themselves to more effectively serve the Maasai community. First Peoples' grant supports Saru Enkiteng to create an operating infrastructure by establishing a formal office and installing modes of communication such as a telephone and computer.
Koiyaki Guiding School (550)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Koiyaki Guiding School plays a pivotal role in the Maasai community as it provides the only local curriculum for Maasai students to gain marketable skills in the field of tourism that are based on traditional knowledge and local practices. Funds were used to initiate a forum for Indigenous Maasai landowners to co-manage their land and resources through learning exchanges, and by sharing best practices to enhance biodiversity conservation and livelihood sustainability. A two-day workshop at the Koiyaki Guiding School was held to analyze the capacity of community groups, identify conservation planning tools, identify best practices within existing community conservancies, identify ways to integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge into resource planning, and develop an action plan to establish a regional 4 conservancy and scout network among the Maasai. All of these objectives support the goal of creating a Masai Mara Community Conservancies Network that will allow Maasai communities to work together to leverage resources, share best practices, and network across the region to continue to protect their natural and cultural assets.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Micro-enterprise
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ) (549)
United States - Michigan / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice empower individuals, communities, and community organizations in Southeast Michigan to educate, advocate and organize for cleaner, healthier communities and environments. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports DWEJ’s work, including: Support of Build Up Detroit (BUD), which uses sustainability principles, citizen engagement, and green job development to help Detroit take the lead in sustainability; Support of the Green Jobs training program, which focuses on building a green collar workforce to transform the city's 50,000 brownfields into viable and sustainable communities; and Support of Youth on Patrol Against Pollution (YOPAP), which enlists young people in environmental advocacy and civic engagement to help shape long-term commitment to environmental justice.
Puget Sound Sage (547)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Puget Sound Sage brings together labor, faith, and community to make the region's economy work for working people by raising job standards, upholding workers' rights, and growing communities where all families thrive. Puget Sound Sage is a member of the Partnership for Working Families (PWF), a national movement dedicated to building power and reshaping the economy and urban environment for workers and communities. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports Puget Sound Sage's work on three areas affecting low-wage workers: green jobs, transportation equity, and clean and safe ports. Recent accomplishments include: Creation of a green jobs coalition in Seattle, including community development, environmental and labor organizations; Launching of a new Transportation and TOD Equity Project, focusing on access to transit, access to transit construction, operation and maintenance jobs, and equity impacts of transit-oriented development (TOD) on affordable housing and permanent job quality; and Supporting the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports (CCSP), whose goals are to make the Port of Seattle's trucking industry more efficient, to reduce air pollution, and to improve the quality of jobs.
Got Green (546)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Got Green is a grassroots group led by young adults and people of color that promotes the movement for Green Collar Jobs as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports a variety of Got Green's activities, which include: Partnering with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) and Seattle Vocational Institute to develop our region's only union-certified Weatherization and Installer Technician Training program; Connecting low-income workers to training and green collar job opportunities; and Convening focus groups of low-income women (primarily young women of color) to develop an organizing strategy that better engages women in the opportunities provided by the sustainable green economy.
Sound Alliance (545)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
The Sound Alliance is a member of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Northwest Region. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports a variety of the Sound Alliance's activities, which include: Working with state policymakers to draft and pass legislation using the Sustainable Works model to create a Community Energy Efficiency Pilot program to create jobs for disadvantaged constituencies through energy efficiency retrofit projects; Developing a neighborhood-based customer recruitment model capable of organizing hundreds of customers at a time; and Recruiting and training 80 block organizers in two Spokane and Seattle neighborhoods.
Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness (RDNA) (544)
http://www.regenerativedesign.org/
United States - California / $1,450
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
This 9-month program offers a unique, diverse, and complimentary set of skills to students of all ages who are connected to the world of nature, through observation, community building, regenerative design and personal-inquiry. The journey of awareness and connection to the planet are fundamental skills in Permaculture, as are bio-regional living, peace-making, natural history, and cultural mentoring. The program encompasses personal, communal, and global perspectives and stands alone in the kind of holistic training it offers. The gift shared with this program was enough to initiate the establishment of the RDNA Scholarship Fund.
Oakland Food Connection (536)
http://www.foodcommunityculture.org/
United States - California / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared with Jason Harvey, Founder & Director of Oakland Food Connection. After attending university, Jason returned to his roots in East Oakland USA to work for food security, health and social justice. East Oakland has high rates of disease and violence, and Jason helps community members grow healthy food to maintain healthy lifestyles and strong community ties.
Common Fire Foundation (529)
United States - New York, United States - California / $1,200
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared with Common Fire Foundation in support of their work to build multicultural, cross-class, sustainable, educational, land-based communities in New York and California USA.
Sustainable Development Project in the Fifth Ward (525)
United States - Texas / $16,000
Year Funded: 2009
The Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, founded by Ernest MacMillan, directly addresses the high mortality rates of young, black men by providing a safe, after-school environment and exposure to male role models who instill values and standards of conduct. I approached this program with the idea of incorporating environmental issues into their services. The Sustainable Development Project resulted from this conversation and now there are partnerships with many other organizations, collaborating on plans for community gardens, peer-sustainability training and green jobs training. The urban poor are often overlooked as part of the solution to climate change and environmental issues, yet these populations are often the first people to be adversely affected by the damage we are doing to our environment. By empowering poor communities to be part of the solution we create real, sustainable opportunities for community development and stabilization, job creation, and improving the quality of life. This program has already touched more than 800 boys, their families, senior citizens and neighbors.
Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) (511)
United States, Philippines, Armenia / $1,000
This worldwide strategic alliance of local, national and international women's organizations and networks is active in the areas of sustainable development, water & sanitation, poverty, and gender. It consists of 24 women's networks with subsidiaries in approximately 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Western Europe.
Sankat Mochen Foundation (505)
India / $3,000
Sankat Mochen Foundation For Cleaning up the Ganges River
Equipment for Ute Schultz's Goat Dairy (499)
Germany / $1,000
Flow Funder: Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen
Ute Schultz is running a small farm, breeding and milking goats to make cheese. By selling the cheese, Ute makes a modest living and Ute urgently needed a new steel vat for processing the milk. A gift was shared for the purchase of this new steel vat.
Soblan Oral University of Nature (492)
Thailand / $2,500
Year Funded: 2003
After the Solidarity Forest Walk of 2003, the Karen (or Pgakenyaw people) in Soblan Village, explored the possibility of creating their own school to teach and share traditional, educational wisdom (including forest guardian and stewardship) that is native to their land and culture. Through a collaboration with the Buddhist alternative school, Roong Arun, in Bangkok, the Karen have acquired the technical knowledge in how to establish official recognition by the government, and a Flow Fund Gift was used for purchasing equipment and providing teachers salaries.
Pun Pun Center for Self-Reliance (480)
http://www.punpunthailand.org/
Thailand / $2,440
The Pun Pun Center for Self-Reliance is a small, organic farm, seed-saving center, and sustainable-living and learning center. They cultivate their own food, build their own natural homes, and experiment with low-tech technologies. They are striving to bring back the tradition of seed-saving amongst farmers and growers by collecting, propagating, and exchanging indigenous and rare varieties, and therefore bringing back indigenous and rare species of all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs. Each year, Pun Pun holds workshops on earth house building, permaculture and sustainable living for both Thai and international participants. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help with these trainings.
Living Water System Model (479)
United States - Minnesota / $3,500
This community project's intention is to convince the city of Duluth, Minnesota USA to make the first sustainable bio-remediation project to protect Lake Superior from the run-off of the city. Sustainable systems are not yet acceptable by city governments except as tokens to the environmental movement. They are usually less expensive to build and far less expensive to maintain and therefore are viewed as anti-growth. Our gift attracted matching funding for the project.
Keepers of the Waters in Beijing, China (477)
http://www.keepersofthewaters.org/
China / $4,000
Flow Funder: Betsy Damon
Year Funded: 2001
A gift was shared to develop "Keepers of the Waters in Beijing," a major art/science event. This gift also helped with the development of a web site for ecological artists in China.
Lu Hong Yen & Environmental Education Programs (476)
China / $6,000
Flow Funder: Betsy Damon
Sichuan University is the 4th largest University in China and has mandatory Environmental Education for all its undergraduates. Lu Hong Yen is a passionate and devoted environmental educator and activist, and this program links with the Keepers of the Waters organization, as well as other projects throughout China.
Full Spectrum Project (458)
United States - New Mexico / $1,500
We chose this project to share a gift with, because of their dedication to restoring health to the Santa Fe National Forest. Our gift funded a forest ecosystem seed mix, which was planted in sites in need of restoration in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Scottish Environmental Research Project (457)
United States - California, United Kingdom / $1,500
This project was chosen to inspire young and dedicated Scottish Highlanders to research environmental problems and options for a sustainable Scotland. It includes an educational project that enables Scottish-American young adults to study the environmental challenges facing Scotland today.
Scotland Ecosystem Rejuvenation Project (455)
United States, United Kingdom / $4,000
This project focuses on the restoration of Scotland's watersheds - in particular the Tweed River ecosystems. A gift was shared to continue their work to create greater harmony and balance through ancient and new physics.
Celtic Environmental & Cultural Outreach Project (454)
Ireland, United States / $18,000
A gift was shared to restore native woods in Ireland. This gift helped to facilitate research on best forestry practices as well as available government grants. In addition to the forestry project, educational programs were developed for a basic recycling program. A web presence in both Gaelic and English was also completed.
The Scotland Watershed Restoration Project (453)
United Kingdom / $27,000
Information has been mapped and compiled for Scotland's water quality, toxic wastes, soil fertility and contamination, existing plant and animal habitats, native plant communities, wildlife prior to total deforestation, and the impact of pollution on human health. Research was done to determine best lands to acquire for model reforestation projects in Scotland. Seed mix, tree communities for forest ecosystem restoration was completed.
Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) (446)
United States / $500
A gift was shared to support the work of the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO).
Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute (SPDI) (445)
Thailand / $1,500
Translated into English, Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute stands for Peace, People (Participatory Democracy), and Justice. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to support the training of Thai forest monks in environmental activism and education techniques. In part, the gift was used for travel expenses for the forest monks to meet with other monks and share their teaching and collaborate on future actions.
Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) (444)
Thailand, India / $1,000
Year Funded: 1998
A Flow Fund Gift was shared with Pracha Hutanuwatr, director of the Spirit in Education Movement. These funds help Pracha to travel to the World Wilderness Congress in Bangalore, India to present a model of spiritually-based environmental education and action. He is one of the few Asian presenters at this event.
Travel Grant for Native American Activists (443)
Thailand, United States / $500
This grant (along with a grant from the Threshold Foundation) enabled three Native Americans: Victor Masayesva (Hopi), Kiefer Foote (Dakota Sioux), and Chris Tomson (Lakota Sioux) to participate in the three Interfaith Solidarity Walks into the indigenous villages of northern and western Thailand to meet with villagers and to discuss the pros and cons of development and "western-style progress."
Travel Grant for Community Leader (442)
Myanmar / $200
Flow Funder: Anonymous
A gift was shared with a leading Kachin woman for travel through northern Burma to meet with Baptist women's groups about alternative development projects.
Travel Grant Buddhist Activist (441)
Thailand / $1,000
Moo is a colleague and young activist we have known for the past three years: This grant enabled him to travel to Burma and meet with the Christian Kachin leaders we have trained in northern Burma for discussions on the development of an Interfaith Southeast Asian Regional Training Center on Alternative Development.
Travel Grants Thailand (439)
Thailand / $1,000
We made three travel grants to enable 3 full-time activists to attend meetings, trainings and workshops in other parts of the country. 1) Tuentje Deetes (Director ofHADF to attend meeting of leadership of the Forum of the Poor in Bangkok; 2) Sean Kennedy, an American video cameraman to travel to villages in northern Thailand to teach them how to use video to preserve their culture and, 3) Sulak Sivaraksa to join the Yadana gas pipeline protest at its most intense period.
Hill Area Development Foundation (438)
Thailand / $1,500
We used the HADF as a conduit to distribute alternative development microgrants to several villages we were working with. The money will help send village leaders to meet with others in the region to develop a coordinated community forestry response to the government's plan to relocate them from their lands. The grant will also help start education programs to transmit traditional ceremonial knowledge to the young people of the Akha tribe who are being sent away to Thai schools.
The Kalyanamitra Council (437)
Thailand / $5,000
The Kalyanamitra Council consists of more than two dozen Thai non-governmental organizations (NGOs) committed to bringing justice to Thai-Burmese relations. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to support monks, students, villagers and other activists in their direct-action protest (the first of its kind in Thailand) against the Yadana gas pipeline coming through Burma into old growth forest areas of Thailand. PTT (Thailand's petroleum authority) and the Thai Prime Minister both are guilty of lack of disclosure about the environmental impact of this pipeline, and a lawsuit is forming. This is one of the most important environmental legal cases in Southeast Asia, which forces greater transparency in Thai governmental processes.
Totem People's Reindeer Project (432)
Mongolia / $200
This small grant was offered to the Totem People's Reindeer Project to help support their work with the Dukha reindeer people of northern Mongolia, who are struggling to stave off further destruction of their reindeer herd, and of the Dukha culture itself
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Ekta Parishad (431)
India / $1,200
Ekta Parishad (which means "Forum of Unity") is working on advancing women's rights and power within traditional Indian society, as well as working with indigenous people's rights by protecting tribal land rights and tenure in the face of development pressures.
Bio-Regional Mapping Training for Kachin Leaders (430)
Myanmar / $2,336
Flow Funder: Anonymous
Year Funded: 1998
The Kachin people are an indigenous group located primarily in Kachin State, in northern Burma. Since the civil war cease-fire, Chinese, Burmese, Indonesian and Thai business interests have descended on Kachin State to profit from lumbering, milling, and wildlife "harvesting." We spoke with a leader of the Kachin people who told us: "the destruction of the forested areas has also affected the wild animal habitats in the forest, making the animals very scarce. We need to protect the forests, the rivers and the animals from the exploitation of the business people. The people need to be educated. We need community forest reserves to protect the land and the animals and, to do this we need to survey and map those areas." Upon hearing this, we shared a Flow Fund Gift to sponsor a six-day, bio-regional mapping training. A group of Kachin leaders attended with the intention that they will in turn train others, creating a large group of Kachin bio-map-makers with the focus of creating a bio-regional atlas of the Kachin State. The atlas will include maps describing the condition of the forests, the extent of clear cuts, the condition of wildlife habitats, the presence of pollution sources and mines, along with other maps describing basic geographic features (like topography, geology, soils, hydrology, climate, forest types, and habitat). Other maps will include cultural features and history (including settlement patterns, the effects of British colonization, the effects of the civil war, and economic patterns, etc.).
The Alliance for Sustainable Forests & Communities (427)
Thailand / $3,000
Year Funded: 1999
A Flow Fund Gift was shared for the initiation of the first coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - agencies and individuals - who are working on Thai tribal issues. This Alliance is dedicated to supporting the health of the forests of Thailand and the survival and well-being of forest-based communities. In the midst of ongoing conflicts between the government and local peoples, the Alliance: creates opportunities for dialogue and cooperation regarding government policies and land use by tribal communities, deepens understanding in Thailand and throughout the world of the sustainability of traditional forest communities, and works to eliminate discrimination against indigenous communities in Thailand. The gift was used to set up the Chiang Mai office, establish contact with relevant groups, organization of a "Festival of the Forest," training for tribal peoples displaced by a dam in Ubon Ratchathani, and initiating a process among Karen leaders (the largest indigenous group in Thailand) to write a Declaration of the Rights and Responsibilities of Forest Communities.
Mildred McClain & The Citizens for Environmental Justice (404)
United States - South Carolina / $3,500
The Savannah River Site in South Carolina USA is a complex of nuclear reactors and weapons factories with proven adverse effects on the local African-American community. Mildred McClain founded the Citizens for Environmental Justice to fight environmental racism and teach her black community and others about environmental justice.
Mrs. Vaihere Bordes & Hotu Tiare Maohi (396)
French Polynesia / $1,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Hiti Tau is a network of locally-based community organizations throughout the islands of French-Occupied Polynesia. Through this organization, I found out about Mrs. Vaihere Bordes, an energetic Maohi woman, who has organized a women's cooperative called Hotu Tiare Maohi to produce traditional coconut oil also known as "monoi." This Flow Fund gift helped to find ways to distribute the monoi products and thus increase the financial self-sufficiency of all the Maohi women involved in the project.
Tulip Bulbs Cultivation Project for The Cow Barn (393)
Japan / $3,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
A gift was shared to fund the Tulip Bulbs Cultivation Project, which will help bring cash to the the Cow Barn Project (a barn converted to an activist center that serves as an office, meeting place and overnight hostel for visiting ecologists). Founder Keiko Kikukawa caravans through Japan selling the bulbs and telling the story of her village Rokkasho becoming the biggest nuclear dump site in Japan.
Mendocino County Releaf (375)
United States - California / $2,500
A gift was shared to support a "pocket park" in Ukiah, California USA, dedicated to the Russian River Watershed and the children of the Ukiah Valley. This park will have an actual recycling "running stream" and rock waterfall celebrating the life-giving nature of the Russian River and the diversity of its culture.
Mendocino Land Trust/Big River Estuary Conservation Project (371)
United States - California / $2,000
As woodlands and coastal access in California continue to vanish under economic pressure for more and more development, the Mendocino Land Trust is working to permanently conserve Mendocino County's critical natural resources, working farmlands, forests, and public coastal access. A gift was shared to support the Big River Estuary Conservation Project, which includes 24 miles of the longest, undammed estuary in the state of California and hundreds of miles of contiguous trails. These 18,000 acres of protected wilderness also includes a virgin Redwood forest and the only 50-acre wetlands marsh known to exist within a virgin forest in North America.
Georgian Center for Energy Effectiveness (364)
Georgia / $2,500
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A gift was shared with the Georgian Center for Energy Effectiveness to help with energy conservation and safe energy work in Georgia. This gift helped fund a seminar, produced in part, by the Environmental Program at the Center for Citizen Initiatives. Through this work, Georgia will be accepted into the former Soviet non-governmental energy network and will provide both intensive learning and the opportunity for partnering with American organizations that can lend information and technical expertise.
Georgian Environmental Minister Energy Seminar (363)
Georgia / $500
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
The Environmental Minister of Georgia is both the only woman and the youngest minister in the Georgian cabinet. She came into office through the Green Party and now must reconcile the most liberal and the most conservative environmental factions. She has said that before she can produce an international energy conference, she must get her factions speaking to each other. A gift was shared to bring together these government officials and grassroots activists in a collaborative seminar on energy.
Ecological School Garden in Georgia (362)
Georgia / $200
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A gift was shared with a teacher in a remote village of Georgia which borders on a former enemy territory. This gift provided supplies and tools to start a school garden. She is a dedicated and visionary teacher who is working to decrease the psychological devastation in her village caused by the recent war.
Deep Ecology Training Manuals (360)
Ukraine, Russian Federation / $700
This is the only group I know who is writing training manuals in Russian for young people in deep ecology. They conducted a multi-level three month training for trainers. The money enabled them to carry out their well thought out program after their request for funds were cut beyond capacity to achieve their goals. The manual has been completed and we are now in the process of translating it into English to see if their ideas are applicable here.
Wind Power Videotape Translation to Russian (359)
Russian Federation / $329
In connection with the 10th anniversary of Chernobyl, the environmental organization Green World in three Ukrainian cities, worked with the Center for Citizen Initiatives and Plutonium Free Future to sponsor seminars on Alternatives to Nuclear Energy. Speakers and participants included local officials from regional and local government, utility executives, and engineers, faculty and students. I was a speaker on energy conservation. Translation and transport for the translator were provided from my funds. In order to provide visuals a visiting Russian woman scientist voluntarily translated and narrated the American Wind Power video and gave a personal introduction. All labor was donated for the production. I sponsored the actual printing and duplication for distribution to seven Ukrainian and Russian cities. I just learned that portions were already being used in Ukrainian cities after it's use at the seminars.
Translation of Rokassho Video for Ukrainian television (358)
Ukraine, Japan / $117
This is a Japanese produced video in English of grassroots activists protesting plutonium that was shipped around the world to their plutonium reprocessing plant. I showed it to a group of activists in Kiev who were so enthusiastic about seeing non-violent forms of protest that they wanted to put it on their weekly environmental TV program.
Green Dossier, Deep Ecology Handbook translated into Russian (357)
Russian Federation / $554
The teachers needed material in Russian experiential ecological teaching methods. Green Dossier agreed to translate and publish a handbook from the Despair and Empowerment exercises. They chose the 25 most relevant exercises with the author Joanna Macy and produced a handbook which was welcomed by the teaching community.
Ecological information booklet (356)
Russian Federation / $500
Lama Tientsin, Ahalar Ulan Ude 2000 copies of ecological information booklet for local Buryats This respected monk travels between Ulan Ude, Chernigov, and St. Petersburg. He says that the Buryats are destroying their own nature just from lack of education and misinformation. He has included in his booklet inspirational and factual material for the local Buryat population
Ecological Information Booklets Ahalar, Chernigov, Ukraine (355)
Ukraine / $350
This is a Buddhist oriented non -profit environmental organization about three hours from Kiev. Its leaders were fascinated by the American Deep Ecology material and started using it for trainings. Hours were spent on their own translations. When I conducted a deep ecology seminar for them, they wanted to put the material in terms understandable and relevant for their members.
Clean and Healthy Food Production Project (354)
Russian Federation / $500
Dana -a Nikolaev women's organization Unlimited Possibilities Award to Natasha Pokrass a 'Can-Do' lady. When we did a check-in at the women's circle to see what the life focus was for each participant. Most said "family" but not Natasha. Although she has a family, her goal was to help make positive changes in the health of her community.. "She's not happy unless she's too busy" said a friend at the circle. She has already found a donation of bread baking machines and is sponsoring a seminar to encourage and support others to produce healthy clean (as opposed to irradiated) food.
Unlimited Possibilities Award to Ludmilla Zhirina (353)
Russian Federation / $645
There are some people who you know are working every day to make a difference and will use whatever money you give them thoughtfully with the idea of making an impact. Ludmilla is one of those people. She comes from a small city near the Ukrainian border that was the most heavily radiated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. She was inspired by our alternative energy seminars and the information she heard at the 10th Anniversary of Chernobyl conference. When I offered her the grant of $500 with no strings attached, she immediately produced a simple booklet on energy production in her area to present at a series of seminars which she did for teachers who are working in schools and environmental centers throughout her region. She reports that her booklet is very popular and that there is a demand for expanding the energy seminars. Booklets will be used by the teachers with their students throughout her area and she wants further help in expanding the energy seminars. Previously, I provided her with a $145 grant for supplies and translation for an experiential ecology seminar
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Education, Media, Nuclear, Women
Socio-Ecological Union - Sosnovy Bor, (352)
Russian Federation / $700
This is a small nuclear city outside of St. Petersburg). Oleg Bodrov lives in a closed nuclear city. He is a whistle blower who used to work in a secret nuclear R&D center He educates the public on the nuclear threat and also volunteers leading ecological expeditions for children identifying pollution sources and cleaning their local river. Through the work of the Center for Citizen Initiative's Nuclear Watchdog Project, he became interested in alternative energy and energy conservation and started the first non profit energy center in St. Petersburg in May 1996. He organized an ecological seminar for environmental activists and teachers for which I provided $100. My grant enabled the seminar to take place after another organization co-opted his funds and he had given up He was invited to attend the Deep Ecology summer training in Seattle but he didn't have the airfare. I provided $600 and showed him how he could use $500 from another grant. I sought to increase his US contacts and to enable him to learn the latest ecological thinking. I know that he will make good use of the training because his courage, motivation and spirit are so strong.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Education, Health, Nuclear
Russian Center for Assistance on Environmental Initiatives, Saratov (350)
Russian Federation / $600
Olga Pitsunova is working almost single handedly to educate the public about the nuclear hazards in her region. She says many activists have stopped working due to economic hardships and at this point she has trouble even paying the rent. She uses the phone of a neighbor for her work. This money will provide an office for a year so that she can have a legal address in order to apply for grants and to get on with her activist initiatives.
Baltic Sea Information Center, Sosnovybourg, St.Petersburg (349)
Russian Federation / $850
This closed area where the government is continuing to build nuclear power plants is supported by other Baltic Sea neighbors like Finland that buy their power from this plant. Oleg Bodrov, whose life has been threatened for his dedicated work continues to publish articles in a monthly bulletin to educate the Baltic Sea activists. He needed a duplicating machine since he can no longer gain access to the machine at the plant.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Teen Ecological Center, Kiev (347)
Ukraine / $1,200
I funded a center for Anthill, a group of teenagers active in the environment. The physical legal space and address enables them to apply for additional grants. The space will also be used for networking meetings of NGO's in Kiev.
Three Ukrainian Anti-Nuclear Activists attend conference in Russia (346)
Ukraine, Russian Federation / $225
Three Ukrainian Anti-Nuclear Activists attend conference in Russia The Ukrainian nuclear activists are not well connected to the Russian nuclear activists. I made it possible for three Ukranians to attend an alternative energy conference in Moscow and the result will be a traveling renewable energy conference at the five nuclear power stations in the Ukraine. Communication with the Socio-Ecological Union will enable them to be aware of information, trainings, and joint actions relevant to their work.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural, Nuclear, Peace
Ukrainian Uranium Mining Group (345)
Ukraine / $100
In Kirovograd, Ukraine there are three uranium mines near the population center. The local green group is trying to seal the mine which is not working and to draw public attention to the problems associated with Uranium mining.
Living with Radiation In the Ukraine (344)
Ukraine / $2,000
There is still a figurative cloud of radiation hanging over their cities. Families don't know what genetic damage has been done and whether their children will still develop thyroid cancer. There is a fifteen year peak so the cancer rate is steadily increasing. It has been ten years since Chernobyl. Families are still living in areas with above normal radiation. A group called Salvation has developed radiation testing centers operated by children in the most heavily contaminated areas. I have funded the publication of one pamphlet, perhaps more based on the first production, about living with radiation. They will research foods which help to clean out body toxins, how to grow clean food and how to deal with the psychological effects of living with radiation and will publish and distribute their findings.
Mattole Salmon Group (MSG) (342)
United States - California / $100
A gift was shared with this community-based, salmon enhancement program.
Krasnoyarsk Ecological Movement (340)
Russian Federation / $2,000
Krasnoyarsk Ecological Movement Conference in the spring 1996 on threats posed by RT-2, a nuclear fuel reprocessing site under construction. If completed it would be the largest in the world. The operation would pose an enormous threat to the city of Krasnoyarsk(population one million) and to the environment. Start-up funds to enable Victor Mikheev, a hard hitting journalist who devotes time and energy to public dangers posed by RT-2, to organize this conference for next Spring.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Krasnoyarsk Radio-nucleides Conference publication-English translation. (339)
Russian Federation / $350
Krasnoyarsk Radio-nucleides Conference publication-English translation. Many independent scientists presented unique data at the conference in Sept.1994. It is important to copyright and sell this data in English as well as Russian as a way to help the organization be self funding. A previous publication, although copywritten but not translated, was duplicated and labeled confidential by the US government, available to US citizens without any compensation to the authors.
Ecological Initiative Tomsk, Russia (336)
Russian Federation / $150
Ecological Initiative Tomsk, Russia Tomsk in Siberia is the area of the former gulags. It is also the area of a secret nuclear weapons manufacturing city. Independent scientists have found radioactive pollution in the river, Chernoble syndrome in the children who live across the river from the nuclear plant, and discovered lies on the part of the government concerning dangers of explosions from the plant and leakage from the storage of plutonium. (last May there was an explosion releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere) I have funded a professional dictaphone for a Tomsk journalist who has a weekly radio show on the environment. I got a matching grant from Sacred Earth Network. Tomsk Ecological Initiative wanted informational materials produced from the point of view of activists concerning nuclear waste, versus the government viewpoint.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Beijing Conference fees (335)
Russian Federation, Uzbekistan / $600
Beijing Conference fees I am trying to raise the money for both of the women heading two projects, to represent areas of extreme ecological devastation at the Beijing Women's Conference in September. One participant has already raised her own airfare.
Perzent Karalkalpakistan, Uzbekistan (334)
Uzbekistan / $2,500
Many large international agencies have done research in the Aral Sea area, but few actually have operational programs. Mothers' breast milk is toxic, the drinking water is polluted, and there is the highest rate of infant mortality in the FSU. I first funded a pamphlet written in the Karalkalpak language for teenagers who marry and have children at 16-19 years of age, concerning sanitation, drinking water, and health. After consulting with Oral Atanyazova in Nukus, I've decided to additionally fund a monthly women's bulletin based loosely on the book "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Oral is an independent woman Gynecologist and now Ph.d, of Karalkalpak origin, who is deeply committed to the health of her people and is bursting with good ideas. She is a real hope for change and I am working to get UNICEF involved with her visionary future for the women of her region.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Nuclear, Water, Women
Movement for Nuclear Safety-Chelyabinsk (Urals) (333)
Russian Federation / $2,000
A grass roots environmental organization attempting to address the ecological disaster of government dumping radioactive waste into their river in the 50's One river town is so dangerous that standing on the banks produces lethal doses of radiation in just one hour. Further down river, cows graze and children play. MNS is concerned about ecological problems resulting from the nuclear weapons industry. They are afraid that polluted waters from lakes outside of town will eventually contaminate the city's drinking water and do not trust the government studies. I gave them money to use the already collected data to find out which direction the contamination was moving and whether it was moving toward the city's drinking water The second phase of the project is to produce maps and a publication to publicize the potential disaster. Only by providing written scientific data will the government and policy making community believe their findings. Note of explanation! The Soviets are a very literate population and rely heavily on written data. As a general rule their educated population is willing to absorb dense scientific treatises, which Americans would shun as too detailed. This is an example of funding a project through the eyes of a Russian. The MNS staff has completed the research and are in the process of compiling the maps. These will be used as proof of the seriousness of the potential pollution of the drinking water of Chelyabinsk, a city of 300,000 population, and the opportunity for the government to prevent this disaster. My contact, Natalia, is a dynamic outspoken former city councilwoman who started the nuclear watchdog operation and has a million ideas for important projects. Her organization is respected both by government and by the local populace.
Rosebud Sioux Reservation Gardens for Health Project (330)
United States - South Dakota / $2,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared to purchase much needed equipment and plants for a spring garden program.
Cottage Industry for Village Women (329)
India / $2,000
Training women to weave, make cotton cloth etc. and to start small businesses.
The Buffalo Monument (325)
United States - Utah / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The Buffalo Monument is a large scale, multimedia installation, which is a temple of healing. It is located close to a live buffalo herd. The project includes creative dialogue, architectural design, sculpture, sacred/ritual art, beadwork, sound/music, and holographic technology. Founder Laura May: "The Buffalo Monument was inspired by a vision and has grown out of a desire to speak to the sense of despair I have felt personally and in the collective, over the loss of deep connection with the earth as home. It is designed to inspire and challenge those who visit the site to renew hope, responsibility, and creatively generate actions which can bring healing to our earth/home/environment. The buffalo became a powerful symbol for me, and in continuing to choose the extinction of other species, we ultimately choose our own extinction."
Siberian Womens Circle (320)
Russian Federation / $2,000
Siberian Womens Circle At the time of the World Wheel in Siberia, a women's group was formed out of the inspiration of our time together. These women meet regularly and not only support each other but address the needs of their environment at this very difficult time for Russia.
Castle Valley Collaborative (317)
United States - Utah / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The Castle Valley Collaborative is a Utah Residents Group that is trying to preserve the natural environment: "We are dedicated to the process of listening to the land and each other, exploring what we want our future to be, working together to minimize the pressures of growth, and ensuring the health and majesty of this pocket of peace we call home."
Verona Fonte of the Iris Arts & Education Group (298)
http://www.irisarts.org/index.html
Costa Rica, United States - California, Guatemala / $2,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
A gift was shared with the filmmaker Verona Fonte of the Iris Arts & Education Group, in California for preparatory work, including grant applications to create a training program for students and teachers in Central America the learn the skills to create films for peace and environmental work.
International Conference on Traditional Technologies (291)
India / $750
Gift to facilitate conference
Water Supply- Sanitation (290)
India / $500
Restoration of traditional water tanks.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Water
International Conference on Sustainable Economy, Wardha (288)
India / $750
Grant for conference at the place where Gandhi rooted himself in activities for Indian independence.
Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC) (285)
India / $2,500
Flow Funder: Lee Swenson & Vijaya Nagarajan
This organization specializes in the application of science and technology to rural development, working on eco-friendly devices and technologies for rural application to combat pollution. The three major areas concentrated on by resident scientists are resource utilization, recovery and management. Many of the devices and technology packages created by MCRC are eco-friendly and dovetail with local needs.
Village tree planting (283)
India / $750
Thanjavur village tree planting.
Trees for Food & Future (267)
Burkina Faso / $2,000
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
This project was born to better preserve the water in the villages of Indini and Zinkone, Burkina Faso by digging wells. As well as the creation of these wells, a total of 1,600 native trees were planted and the villagers and school children are required to water and care for the trees. We hope this project will grow each year.
Anti-Parasite Treatments for Livestock (254)
Mongolia / $4,000
Flow Funder: Yoji Kamata
When no anti-parasite treatment is applied to livestock, parasites severely damage animal hides and skins. Since leather-processing companies cannot procure good quality leather, they are currently obliged to import materials from abroad. If anti-parasite treatment is conducted effectively by herders' organizations while linking it to purchase agreements with hide/skin processing companies, herders' hides and skins can fetch higher prices, which will contribute to diversification of herders' income sources. Production of high quality hides and skins contributes to a growth of domestic leather industry in Mongolia. By re-establishing veterinary services in affected areas, the quality of hides and skins of herders' livestock increases, leading to diversification of income sources. The target group for this project is the Ireedui Herders' Group (which includes 33 households) in Bayandalai Soum, in the Umnugovi Province. The implementation will be carried out by the Center for Future Nomadic Society (CFNS) in cooperation with the Veterinary Research Institute of the Mongolian Agricultural University, as well as the local government of Bayandalai Soum and the local veterinary organization. CFNS is a Mongolian non-governmental organization that has experience in various projects to support herders, such as organizing herders, meat marketing, traditional well construction, and more.
Noppanun Anuratana's Green Politics Studies (252)
Thailand / $1,000
Noppanun Anuratana has been working with alternative media for many years, producing programs that raise public awareness about the environment. A Flow Fund Gift was shared with Noppanun, for his continuing Green Politics studies. With this gift, he is doing research, and compiling and translating what he finds into Thai. He also attempting to synthesize postmodern green ideas with Buddhism.
Strategic Planning for Nothern Ethinic Leaders (249)
Thailand / $3,700
Most northern ethnic leaders are from forest-dwelling communities whose lifestyle has been ecological and very close to nature. For two decades these communities have been threatened by relocation by the local government. The leaders have been working hard to negotiate with the authorities as well as raise awareness among their people and solicit support from the Thai public. The leaders need more skills in social analysis and strategic planning. An intensive training has been organized for 30 participants selected from the activists and leaders in North Peasant Ethnic Groups. The proposed training includes environmental conservation, democracy, the role of civil society and strategy in social movement and leadership skills. A Gift was shared to set up an Information Center in order to improve contact with professional academics and produce some development media.
Youth Network for a Sustainable Watershed (247)
Thailand / $2,400
Huai Kha Kang National Park is full of biological diversity with thousands of species of flora and fauna. The people who have settled around the forest and depend on forest products (the Sagagrang Watershed) are concerned about the danger of depletion of forest and are respectful of forest values. They have decided to organize a conservation project entitled "Youth Network for Sustainable Management of the Watershed." The main objectives of this project are to support and develop the youth network, community organizations, and other watershed networks by setting up a learning process that is open for every sector in the community. They will participate in analyzing and planning the process of resource conservation. They also wish to enhance community organization through a "Learning by Doing Strategy." Villagers will also be educated regarding sustainability and traditional methods to conserve their natural resources. The youth have been encouraged to participate in the entire conservation process as they are the new generation who are going to be affected by the natural condition later on.
Community Forestry at Tab Lan National Park (245)
Thailand / $2,400
The villagers in Khonburi and Suengsang, Thailand, have decided to preserve and revive the national resources in Tab Lan National Park by applying local wisdom after the failure of the governmental conservation plan. As the government continues to mis-manage the forest resources without the villagers' participation, local people are asking to be more involved in conservation strategy. A project entitled "Community Forestry at Tab Lan National Park" is set up to increase and conserve the forests found there.
Salvadores de Semillas (244)
Argentina / $1,064
A gift was shared to expand this Argentinian network. With this funding, they were able to: buy sieves to speed up the cleaning of the seeds; buy paper bags for isolation of flowers (for pure seed production); build isolation cages to work with more species and varieties; build a small-scale seed cleaning machine; and improve storage conditions. They were also able to encourage and improve their volunteer work and make a local manual to promote their work and teach new techniques.
Red de Guardianes de Semillas (243)
Ecuador / $1,773
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2003
A gift was shared to expand the existing Seed Savers Network in Ecuador.
Seed Savers' Seed Care Packages (241)
Zambia, Solomon Islands, India / $1,773
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Seed Savers' Network receives a steady stream of requests for advice and information from many worthwhile individuals and organizations that do not have access to literature in general and especially on seed production. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to send out 75 boxes containing the Seed Savers' Handbook, other resource books, moisture-proof seed envelopes, prompts for recording information, and posters on how to save seeds. These seed care packages find their way all over the world.
Seed-Saving Kits & Trainings (239)
http://www.seedsavers.net/our-global-reach
Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu / $1,064
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Solomon Islands Planting Material Network (PMN) is an indigenous non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1995. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help prepare a number of Seed-Saving Kits for small, isolated, local farmer organizations. The Kit contains a teaching manual, instructive posters, seed sieves, jars, buckets to keep the seeds dry and fertile, and moisture-proof seed envelopes. The Kit and the training that PMN regularly provides, helps farmers begin to inventory and multiply their local varieties of vegetables. In places where humidity and temperature are very high, seed does not last long. If farmers are to pass on vegetable seeds to one another, they need to store them until the seeds are needed. PMN has also been advising and training the Melanesian Farmer First Network in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Farmers' Meeting & Spice Farm Visit (238)
Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands / $2,128
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Melanesian Farmer First Network, in the words of its Network Coordinator, Tony Jansen, is: "a network of grassroot organizations focused on improving sustainable agriculture and community health for the rural people of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu." Pacific Islanders are mostly geographically-isolated, so for spice farmers to meet other spice farmers and see each farmers' growing style and utilization of their spices (like cardamon, pepper and vanilla) is extremely helpful. Spices are just becoming known in most Melanesian countries, as they have previously been imported at high prices from Asia via wholesalers in Australia. With the tour of the spice farms, we hope to encourage more production and utilization of fresh spices in Melanesian countries.
Dr. Saviana Parodi (237)
Argentina, Italy / $709
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2005
Dr. Saviana Parodi travels with a seed-saving purpose. She was a Seed Savers Exchange intern in 2001 and is now an Orchardist in Umbria, Italy. Saviana travels each European winter when there is little work to do on her farm, to help out sustainable projects in South America, and this gift helped with her travel expenses.
Seed Savers di Civilta Contadina (231)
Italy / $1,418
The purpose of this grant is to establish a historic orchard in Cesena. Alberto Olivucci describes the project: "This first historical orchard will be created near our headquarters in Cesena on just 1500 square metres. This year we are going to start by planting a few dozen fruit trees with more trees each year. After this centre we intend to continue by creating similar orchards in different sites. This one in Cesena will be the prototype. These are our several objectives: 1. Educational: to be visited by schools and have pomological exhibits. 2. Productive: produce will be sold to a buying group; it is important that the orchard is financially viable and demonstrates that old fruit varieties and biodiversity are marketable and not a question of nostalgia or archaeology but the future of small agricultural enterprises. 3.Tasting days: when the orchards are productive it will be the occasion to run tasting days for Civilta Contadina's associates. 4. Adoption: our associates will be able to adopt a tree for a price giving them the right to the fruits, to tasting them and to receiving propagating material for reproduction".
Agriculture, Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Education
Community Food's Food Footprint Calculator (230)
Australia / $2,128
A gift was shared with Community Foods to develop a "Food Footprint Calculator." This project is an extension of the Community Foods website, which provides access to information on local farmers, farmers' markets, community gardens, seed-saver groups, and other consumers. Community Foods developed a public user interface that allows people to measure their environmental impacts based on the input of their food-buying habits. This project brings together current research and data associated with energy costs, environmental service multipliers, and local impact models to deliver a tool of specific relevance to local food systems. The calculator is localized to two regions: Byron Bay NSW and Alice Springs, Northern Territory Australia.
Maher Center (227)
India / $2,500
Flow Funder: Rachel Bagby
The Maher Center is the first refuge for battered women in the city of Pune, India. This caste-free, interfaith, ecologically-operated center has become instrumental in opening satellite centers of caste-free, transformational communities across India.
Kembatta Women's Self-Help Center (KMG) (226)
Ethiopia / $3,000
Bogaletch Gebre embodies Ghandi's call for us to be the change we want to see in the world. She was the first girl in her village/district to be educated beyond the fourth grade. After studying microbiology, physiology, epidemiology and public health in Israel and the US, she taught health sciences in Ethiopia and the US before returning home to establish KMG. While lead by women, KMG works holistically, via three interrelated programs that help women and their families to help themselves improve community: Reproductive health education, including the elimination of female genital excision (FGE); HIV/AIDS prevention; Vocational training and advancement of women's entrepreneurial skills; and Restoring depleted watersheds and damaged ecosystems.
Advocacy, Children/Teens, Ecology/Sustainability, Economic Development, Women
The People's Grocery (224)
http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/
United States - California / $1,000
This seed grant supports a budding cooperative and collectively-run, youth, grocery store and entrepreneurial training institute in West Oakland, providing affordable organic food, jobs, job training, economic development, urban gardens, and social/environmental justice education to the West Oakland community.
Travel Grants & Scholarships for Sustainable Farmers (223)
United States - Virginia, United States - Tennessee / $500
Travel grants and scholarships were provided to farmers to attend a professional development workshop called "Looking at Genetic Engineering Through the Lens of Sustainability," at the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference in Chattanooga TN, and the Virginia Association of Biological Farmers (VABF) annual conference.
Sistership Grant for Colleen Kelley (221)
http://www.colleen-kelley.com/
United States - New Mexico / $2,000
A Sistership Grant was shared with artist Colleen Kelley to support her continued development as a visual artist, her work in schools, and her efforts to build a community of artists devoted to restorative living.
Sistership Grant for Kristin Rothballer (220)
United States - Texas / $300
This Sistership Grant helped Kristin travel to Texas to support and document Diane Wilson's hunger strike in protest of Dow/Union Carbide's pollution of the gulf and the possibility that they may be released from responsibility for the Bhopal disaster in 1984. At the time of this grant, Kristin was the Youth & Community Outreach Manager for Bioneers/CHI and has been engaged in education, environmental and social justice issues for the past many years. She is passionate about inspiring people to follow their own path of discovery to earth activism.
The Food for Work Programme (FfWP) (217)
South Africa / $5,260
The Food for Work Programme (FfWP), a community exchange system (CES) developed by Russell & Laura Bishop, facilitates people working in their communities and be paid in food vouchers. These vouchers are redeemable for nourishing basic foodstuffs at food depots. Participants are encouraged to view the vouchers as money and to use them as the basis for a local money system.
Sustainable Ireland (216)
Ireland / $3,156
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
This web presence promotes a new "cultural wisdom," which recognizes that social, economic and environmental health and justice are inextricably linked. A gift was shared to continue production of the Sustainable Ireland site, which shares information and news on events, publications, courses and job announcements for organizations all over Ireland.
Nadia Johanisova, Czech Author (215)
United Kingdom, Czech Republic / $4,208
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Year Funded: 2005
A gift was shared with Nadia Johanisova, a Czech writer, so she could publish "Living in the Cracks: A Look at Social Enterprises in Britain and the Czech Republic." According to the author her book is "about bottom-up initiatives such as box schemes, community-supported agriculture, land and community trusts, credit unions, local transport schemes, ethical banks, community businesses, co-operative shops, etc. in Britain and the Czech Republic. I tried to find out things about how to keep the local shop viable, how to get affordable housing for the locals, how to keep the public transport going and how to keep farms paying their way. Interviewing the people in my book was a voyage of discovery for me and hopefully will be for the reader as well."
Kerry Earth Education Project (KEEP) (212)
Ireland / $3,156
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Several gifts were shared to support several projects, including: Creating an Educational Farm Map, which includes a medicinal herb walk and native tree walk; Creating farm trail improvements and wheelchair access; Creation of display and information signs for the project; and Production of educational materials and resources to "convey to teachers what is available to them and how to incorporate them into their teaching."
Seed Saving in the Czech Republic (211)
Czech Republic / $1,440
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Year Funded: 2003
A gift was shared to spread the world about Seed Saving in the Czech Republic. This includes publication and distribution of pamphlets, and running meetings with growers across the countryside. At these meetings, seeds and seedlings are exchanged, and growing expertise is shared with all. This gift also helped purchase a digital camera to enable better documentation of the plants grown, as well as the printing of posters touting "old varieties are beautiful."
Red de Semillas (Seed Savers) (210)
http://www.seedsavers.net/our-global-reach
Mexico / $5,000
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
Red Semillas (The Seed Network) is a newly formed network of organic seed shareholders in the municipality of Huatusco, in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico. The current network members live in six different communities: Tepecingo, Tlachopa, Ixotla, Rancho Limon, Coxolo and Las Canadas. The Network was created to produce vegetable seed varieties suited to this particular bio-climatic region, as the available seeds on the market are often unsuitable for the wet, cold tropical climate of the region. Commercial seeds are also expensive to buy, so this network suits the needs of small organic producers. Reproducing appropriate vegetable varieties is an important step for the long-term welfare of the network members, as well as keeping the production organic. The hope is that these seed shareholders will become independent of the global seed market, and their self-sufficiency will increase through seed production and seed exchange. The initial aim of the seed network is to reproduce 50 different vegetable varieties. The varieties of the same species are shared between the producers to avoid cross-pollination, and the seeds are exchanged freely between members. The primary goal is to produce for home-consumption and exchange and the left over seeds will be sold to other producers. The seeds are produced in small home gardens in the six communities mentioned above, by families that grow food for home-consumption. The network is the first of its kind in this region, and will also be the first to produce organic seeds suited to this climate. Its members include men and women, as well as one teenager. A Flow Fund Gift helped purchase essential equipment to produce, select, weigh, store and package seeds.
La Escuelita (The Small School) (209)
Mexico / $5,000
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
La Escuelita (The Small School) is located in Las Canadas, a cloud forest reserve in the mountains of Huatusco, in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico. The Small School was started to ensure cultural knowledge gained in Las Canadas is passed on to the coming generations, which the present school system does not offer. Generally, rural schools in Mexico teach children very little about their local environment and cultural context. In fact, schools in this area are simply preparing children to leave their communities and forget their culture. In the Small School, the opposite happens. The children here are taught about their own culture and environment, as well as values that encourage and help them to stay and work towards sustainable development and a better life in their own communities. This school is free of charge and teaches children aged 4 to 11 years old, many of whom come from poorer families. The Small School has a community teaching garden and they offer environmental workshops for children cannot attend the school for various reasons. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help create a bigger teaching garden, including vegetables, corn, beans and fruit trees, where the children can experiment and learn about the natural process and cycle of life, and how to grow their own food organically. Equally important, the garden helps children learn about healthy food habits based on a local diet. The garden produce is used in cooking classes, so the children learn to prepare their own food, which adds a great deal to their existing and rather limited diet, which is based mainly on corn and beans. Environmental workshops are offered to children from other schools as well, where they learn about organic farming, the local ecosystem, conservation of natural resources, and the contamination of garbage. Our Flow Fund Gift purchased materials, tools, and fruit trees for the school garden, as well as providing a small salary for the teacher in charge of the garden and the cooking classes. Our gift also paid for the ingredients needed for the cooking classes that could not be produced in the school garden, as well as educational materials, transport, food and facilitation.
Master's Program for Young, Indigenous Farmers (208)
Mexico / $2,703
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
This Master's Program is directed towards young, indigenous people from poor farming backgrounds, teaching them the skills required to stay in their own communities, rather than migrating to the cities. The students learn to plan and put into motion alternative sustainable development appropriate for their region and culture. At present, it is a five-year program focused on local development, including: sustainable agriculture and development; micro-business and finance; ecology; human rights; and health. Each student spends one week out of every five at the school. During the remaining four, the students do community work related to their study. The tuition is completely free of charge, and they also receive a small monthly stipend which allows them to stay in the program, since they have no other source of income during their studies. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to pay for this stipend, without which many of the students would have to leave.
Canasta de Semillas Workshop (207)
Mexico / $1,622
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
Canasta de Semillas is now organizing its first course on the production of organic vegetable seeds. The three-day workshop is directed towards small producers from all over Mexico, and will be free of charge. The workshop participants enter a moral agreement to disseminate the knowledge they learn to other seed producers in their area. The course will be led by an expert in seed production and saving, as well as an expert in bio-intensive production, which is an organic production model that produces a large amount of food in a small area without outside inputs. A Flow Fund Gift helped 20 seed producers take part in the workshop, as well as covering the course fee, food, lodging and transport.
Community Center for Alternative Technologies (206)
Mexico / $1,200
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
This community center for alternative technologies is a learning and demonstration center for communities, organizations and citizens from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is a space to see and learn about sustainable gardening, recycling water, solar power, and eco-building. It was built out of adobe, which helps to revive the traditional building technique of the region, and it includes a library, meeting room, office and cafe. The hope is that the cafe can provide sufficient income for the center to become independent of outside funding in the future. A Flow Fund Gift helped purchase solar panels, install a water tank to store rainwater, and the purchase of watering equipment for the garden.
Lucerne Seeds (162)
Kazakhstan / $500
Flow Funder: Nilzia Rakhisheva
A gift was shared for three families to buy Lucerne seeds to plant on 10 acres of land.
Irrigation Project (159)
Kazakhstan / $700
Flow Funder: Nilzia Rakhisheva
A gift was shared to purchase an electric pump to enable effective irrigation of higher land to prevent salinization and degradation of agricultural lands. With this pump, four families can plant melon crops to sell.
Nikolaj Rerihc Creative Art Exhibition (150)
Kazakhstan / $1,300
Flow Funder: Natalya Levkina
A gift was shared with the residents of a polluted town to put on an Creative Art Exhibition focusing on environmentalism.
Clean Home/Clean Earth (149)
Kazakhstan / $400
Flow Funder: Natalya Levkina
A gift was shared to produce seminars, round tables and training programs to involve people in environmental protection activity with the population of an polluted and industrial town.
Youth initiative (145)
Kazakhstan / $1,915
Flow Funder: Natalya Levkina
A gift was shared to help remodel a local movie theater. The theater shows movies about ecological issues to inspire an interest in microbiology and ecology.
Disease Prevention Institute (140)
Kazakhstan / $900
Flow Funder: Natalya Levkina
A gift was shared to help establish this institute promoting social improvements, alternative medicine (like yoga, massage, aromatherapy, etc.), and deep ecology. Our gift was used to purchase equipment for conducting scientific conferences, trainings, seminars, actions.
Creation of a Park on Youth Avenue (79)
Kazakhstan / $1,100
Flow Funder: Aigul Dyusenova
A gift was shared to purchase seeds and plants as well as appropriate transportation to create Youth Avenue in the main park of the capital city of Kazakhstan, Astana.
Children/Teens, Ecology/Sustainability, Economic Development
Computer Classes for Children (74)
Kazakhstan / $1,061
Flow Funder: Aigul Dyusenova
A Flow Fund Gift was shared with the Martyk Center of Youth to create computer classes for children who had no previous opportunity to study with computers. These kids went on to publish a bulletin explaining the basics of ecology and how kids can help create a better environment.
Servidores da Luz (66)
Brazil / $525
Flow Funder: Sonia Cafe
This organization educates and raises people's consciousness about peace and ecology. A gift was shared to help with the purchase and transportation of 2,000 small trees for the reforestation of an area requiring environmental protection. This gift also helped purchase a mowing machine, so that the native trees could also be planted.
Travel Scholarship for an Indian Youth (18)
http://www.bioneers.org/conference
India, United States - California / $
A gift was shared to support travel and accommodations for an Indian youth to attend the annual Bioneers' Conference.