Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Linda Murray, Communications & Information Assistant (www.fao.org) Working In both developed and developing countries, FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Focuses on modernizing and improving agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and serves as a neutral forum where nations can meet to negotiate agreements and debate policy.
Jennifer Croson, Art teacher at the Marymount School (jennifer_croson@marymount.k-12.ny.us ) Specializes in water projects with very young students and upper level high school. Their work has been exhibited at the UN, the A.I.R. gallery in NY and in The Hague; provides how-to information for teachers.
International Education and Resource Network (I*EARN) - Lisa Jobson, Associate Director (www.learn.org) Uses the Internet to promote teacher training and interactive, project-based partnerships among schools in 115 countries, including a number of projects on water.
Oxfam America - Nancy Delaney, Outreach Manager (www.oxfam.org) Through collective efforts with partners in more than 100 countries, works to provide rapid response. In emergency situations, provides water and sanitation delivery, and lobbies to change international policy to ensure that the poor have the resources they need. Has promoted a global emergency fund that would keep money in reserve before humanitarian disasters occur.
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Pacific Village Institute - John Eastman, Co-founder (www.pacificvillage.org) Connects global citizens through cultural immersion, community service and collaborative projects in the developing countries of Asia; conducts forums for educators in China, India, the Himalayas and Vietnam to improve Asia-related education in the U.S.; uses water as a theme in study abroad programs.
Peace Corps (World Wise Schools) - Molly Jennings, Public Affairs Officer, NY Regional Office (www.peacecorps.gov/worldwiseschools) Website offers stories, classroom resources and ideas for service projects based on the experiences of Peace Corps volunteers worldwide - includes research material and Peace Corps volunteer simulation on water Issues; publishes WorldView Magazine - Winter 2005 Issue is devoted to water.
Pumped Up for Peace - Faye Feller, Director (www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/pufp/peru/ ) A new project sponsored by the UN Cyberschoolbus to rally teachers and students to design creative fund raising projects aimed at installing filtration systems and water pumps in developing communities - the first will be in Huacaria, Peru.
Pure Water for the World - Carolyn Crowley Meub, Executive Director (www.purewaterfortheworld.org) With grants from the Rotary Foundation, manufactures and installs water filters providing sustainable clean drinking water to families and communities in developing countries, with a major project in Honduras.
Rivers and Estuaries Center - Sr. Brigid Driscoll, Program Manager (www.riversandestuaries.org) A forum for research dedicated to advancing understanding of the cultural, historical, social and artistic aspects of rivers to those who live and govern in the Hudson River watershed; serves as a guide for conservation policy.
Thirsting to Serve - Jim Bodenner, Michigan Rotarian (www.thirstingtoserve.org) In conjunction with Rotary International makes the bio-sand water filter aimed at affordable water purification available in developing countries.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) - Donna Goodman, Consultant - Water, Environment & Sanitation (WES) Section (www.unicef.org) Works in 161 countries and territories in the areas of disease prevention, safe childbirth, nutrition, sanitation and education; provides emergency response to global crises; website has resources for students and teachers, including a “Water Alert” game and a section called “Voices of Youth”.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) - Marcia Brewster, Sr. Officer (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/) The International Decade for Action: Water for Life 2OO5~2O15 (www.un.org/waterforlifedecade) galvanizes efforts to meet the internationally-agreed target of halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015. The Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water has been formed and two booklets for students: “Water for Life Decade” and “Everybody Counts, Every Drop Matters” are available.
United Nations Educational Outreach Section - Department of Public Information (DPI)
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Cyberschoolbus - Bill Yotive (www.cyberschoolbus.un.org) An online resource disseminating information on international issues and the UN through teaching materials and activities designed for use at primary, intermediate and secondary levels, and for teacher training; sponsors Pumped Up for Peace project (see above)
UN Chronicle - Belal Hassan (www.un.org/chronicle) The magazine of the United Nations with articles on global issues on the UN agenda, economic and social development, the arts in a global context, etc.
UN Works - Carmel Mulvany, Belal Hassan (www.un.org/works ) Produces emotionally gripping videos, using celebrity narrators, on global issues from the perspective of children in country; offers a website featuring the stories of men, women and children who have benefited from the UN’s work.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Vivienne Caballero, Programme Officer (www.undp.org) The UN’s global development network, working in 166 countries to increase local capacity to find solutions to development challenges; focus is on democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment, and HIV/AIDS; publishes a magazine, CHOICES, on global issues.
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) - James Sniffen, Information Officer (www.nyo.unep.org) Informs and affects policy on environmental issues in governments, the UN Secretariat, civil society and the media; sponsors events such as World Environment Day and Earth Day; publishes materials for teachers and students at all levels: including “Water World: Children’s Voices” (available in UN bookstore), “Our Planet” and “Tunza” magazines, “GeoActive” CD and a binder of “Vital Water Graphics” - transparencies and CD.
Vestergaard-Frandsen - Allan Mortensen, regional director (www.vestergaard-frandsen.com) or (www.lifestraw.com) A Swiss company, designer of ‘LifeStraw’, an enlarged drinking straw that uses seven types of filters, including mesh, active carbon and iodine to make 185 gallons of water clean enough to drink; it can prevent water-bourne diseases like typhoid and diarrhea to which victims of earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters are particularly susceptible.
Water Aid America - Emily Boyd-Carpenter, American Representative (www.wateraid.org) A UK-based organization dedicated to providing safe domestic water, hygiene and sanitation education to the world’s poorest countries; website has a variety of resources teachers and students including a game, information on the countries in which WaterAid works, and personal stories from children living there.
Water Environment Federation (WEF) - Lorraine V. Loken, Sr. Manager, Public Education (www.wef.org) Sponsors the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the most prestigious international award for a high school water science project - to sensitize future leaders to global water challenges.
Water 1st International - Maria Smith Nilson, Founder & Director (www.water1st.org) Supports local community implemented and managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation and health education and fosters a person-to-person connection by educating people in the US through materials and workshops, about water issues.
Water for People - Robert Adamski, NY Representative (www.waterforpeople.org) An international Denver-based non-profit development organization which provides community hand pumps, school hand-washing stations, gravity-fed water systems, household latrines and health & hygiene education through in-country partnerships.