A PERMACULTURE REFUGEE PROJECT

Teach permaculturists and refugees to transform refugee lives and land in camps, and settlements
and Establish new models for these challenging situations now and for the future.


Homes sandbagged against topical rain Photo BASD with permission



SUMMARY

There is little argument that the number of refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the world, and now estimated to be 50 million, will increase with climate change and world politics. Mass migration is an inevitable part of the pattern of human behaviour and will continue to be so depending on push factors. And at the moment refugees spend an average of 12 years in camps waitng for reassignment and resettlement. This is a long time for host nations and a loss of opportunity: an opportunity to see refugees as bringers of extensive benefits for the host national interests, land restoration, and a boost to the economy.

And yet, with a few exceptions the situation of refugees and IDPs remains morally and physically repugnant. See link http://time.com/4547918/refugee-camps-calais-zaatari-dadaab-nakivale-mae-la/

The problems align and consolidate and some are:

· structural such as overcrowding,

· poor quality and quantity of food,

· enforced idleness accompanied by loss of skills and confidence

to:

· poor health options and outcomes

· criminality in camps

· psychological problems

· youth miss out on education and opportunitiese

The average time spent in a refugee camp is 12 years and only …1% are resettled in a new life. Lives are lost to poverty and uncertainty.

The UNHCR has guidelines however it is barely able to meet the needs of those camps it manages, and certainly not those of IDPs. The World Food Program (WFP) is stretched almost to its limits to supply food and that is being increasingly cut back.

This project argues that for relatively little cost, and that mainly in education, camps can be transformed, and lives lived valuably with sustainable outputs through introducting permaculture design principles into camps, and NGOs, to enable camps to be transformed into productive livelihoods and land. And refugees to own the project and run it in the longer term. It also complies with the new Global Compact being designed by UNHCR

[1]

This project focuses on four sites and five coursesin south Asia, Middle East, and Europe to assess the most effective permaculture syllabus, and to train permaculturists who wish to work in this situation, and also produce refugee trainers.

Each globally recognised Permaculture Design Course(PDC) will be comprised of:

· local people, such as a school or government department to ensure the knowledge will be sustainable;

· some experienced permaculturists who want to work in camps, and,

· two or more people from P4R will be there to observe, and later draw together the commonalities to allow a general syllabus , guidelines and recommendations to be drawn up for the future use of refugees, camp managers, NGOs and teachers.

Permaculture for Refugees (P4R) after 18 months research, preparation, experience, consideration and design for monitoring contacts in camps, is particularly well placed to deliver the program and to assist with the scaling up and these solutions to be accepted and offered globally.

CONTENTS

THE NEED

SUMMARY

PROJECT GOALS

OBJECTIVES

ACTIVITIES

BUDGET

TIMING

OUTPUTS

OUTCOMES

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

STAGE II

CONCLUSIONS

APPENDICES

Details of each project site

Monitoring and evaluative instruments

THE NEED

Globally, there is an urgent need for better models of camps for refugees, and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). Camps and settlements are places of suffering and degradation which ignore the abilities and potential of residents, formerly responsible citizens, to be involved in, and rebuild their lives. [2]See vido in appendices

Refugees are prevented from taking advantage of this time to heal, learn new skills and ideas, and engage in activities to build better futured whether they return home, or stay in a new community.[3]

The goals of this project align completely, with the UNHCR and WFP latest report [4]

This project is stage I in a longer program. Only seed funding is sought at this time.

As the photo shows,in this IDP camp in Kabul, none of life’s basic needs is met here. Photo: R Morrow, 2018

Camp managers are challenged especially in large camps, faced with considerable social and economic problems and a top down approach to management.[5]

Refugee organisations are aware that confined/closed camps with residents unable to use their skills and experience lead to problems presently being experienced in parts of Europe.[6]

Disturbed by the size of the problem, lack of globally committed finances to meet needs, and, projections of future needs e.g. figures of 200 million refugees by the middle of the century have been quoted, refugee organisations are aware of and looking for different approaches. [7]

World Food Project has said it will probably not be able to supply food and vouchers to the extent it does now.



Kitchen garden for nutrition, sanitation, occupation Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development works with Rohinga refugees 2018 (with permission BASD)





Permaculture offers a humane, integrated response to refugees living in degraded conditions in camps, and for NGOS and managers increasingly stressed by lack of good models and practices.



QSA Q1. Why use permaculture in the camps? Permaculture is an inclusive design system that involves the integration of a whole host of disciplines in the pursuit of sustainable objectives. Some of these include: water harvesting, soil building, intensive ‘clean’ planting, forestry, animal husbandry, local economies, access to land, passive solar building design, food forests and consideration of present and future needs through the lens of the precautionary and intergenerational principles. Since its emergence in 1972 there has been no comparable network and systems approach as commonsense, and as necessary to buffer degradation. It is eminently suited to refugee settlements and camps where people can claim agency for their lives whilst transforming the land.

QSA Q2. Has the approach for the courses come from within or outside the camps? The first approaches came from World Vision International in Iraq where there was a permaculturist on staff. See re: Report. Applications for this project came from Greece and Bangladesh.



Currently it is being implemented through a variety of NGOs and individual permaculturists in several countries. However the needs are great. See references.



EARLY EVIDENCE FOR CHANGE See appendices




· The first PDC course taught in a camp in Kurdistan, Iraq 2017 offered hope and positive outcomes

· A PDC course with a refugee community in Spain demonstrated the similar positive results

· The Italian permaculture experience with a refugee settlement at Con Moi, near Torino, has given positive outcomes

· Permaculture classes have begun in Kabul for some of the 1.8 million IDPs living on the edge of Kabul by Afghan Peace Volunteers trained in permaculture.

· Soils Lebanon, a permaculture organisation, works through teaching gardening in camps

· The University of Coventry and Oak leaf/Lemon Tree project in camps in Kurdistan.

· Permaculture kitchen garden project in Bangladesh is being well implemented. See photo

· Numerous references attest to increased social and psychological wellbeing created by kitchen garden projects

PROJECT GOALS

Short term

· Establish that permaculture, through teaching sustainable skills in environmental, social and economic fields is an opportunity to empower refugees to become effective in every case, whether enablinging people to return home with skills and ability, or supporting them to stay in their new country and contribute significantly to a better future.

· Offer permaculture training in four different refugee camps - three in Europe and two in SE Asia (where there would be two courses) and to compare and evaluate similariites and differences to determine future best practice, draw up guidelines and recommendations.

· Enable refugee participants and experienced permaculturists to design and implement whole site plans and to train both groups to teach effectively in other camps to scale up the impact for major refugee involvement in the Permaculture for refugees (P4R) project.

Long term

· Transform all refugee and IDP camps, and settlements globally, into ecological villages and towns which contribute to the good of the new country, and refugees, through becoming the predominant model.
OBJECTIVES Permaculture for Refugees (P4R) in three different sites

1. Teach 14-16 day permaculture design course (PDC) in camps which request or support the courses

2. Follow up with a six-day permaculture teacher training course for experienced permaculture teachers

3. Write up the experience and monitor its impact for six months

4. Extend the knowledge and skills to other camps and settlements
ACTIVITIES

· Offer participation to refugees and permaculturists in a 2:1 ratio, including people with disabilities, women and youth in the globally recognised Permaculture Design Course

· Include two people from the Permaculture for refugees P4R organisation

· Include two local permaculture teachers who can carry the project forward

· Teach specific design skills for whole site development not only kitchen gardening

· Deliver a six-day follow-up permaculture teacher training for selected participants who become confident to teach in refugee camp environments

· Monitor design implementation in the camp

· Monitor refugee trainers as they extend knowledge to other refugees in the camps

· Monitor new permaculture teachers in other camps

· P4R Evaluate and disseminate the combined results from three sites



Courses 1 and 2: Bangladesh Association of Sustainable Development (BASD) and local Bangladesh Department of Agriculture staff, then Rohinga refugees in Bangladesh

Course 3: Refugees in Greece on Lesvos Island

Course 4: Women’s PDC in Turkey for longterm refugees

Course 5: Long term refugees Mediterranean PermaSchool in Greece        

Summary of budget

Project Site	Organisation	Name	Budget	TOTAL
Bangladesh Cox’s Bazaar	BASD	PDC for host community		17,729.39
		PDC for Rohinga refugees		19,967.35
Greece- Lesvos		PDC for long term refugges		7,961,00
Greece - Nea Macri, Greece	Mediterranean Permaschool	PDC for school staff and local refugees		13,659.00
Turkey		PDC for women		5.000.00

                                                                    $AUD TOTAL                                             $65,316.00      

TIMING

Training will begin when funding is available and will be completed within one year (excluding the impact or natural or social disasters such as tsunami, war, drought. i.e. force majeure).  It is proposed to start in Bangladesh in mid-January 2019 and finish in Turkey in April 2019

OUTCOMES

·       At least 50% of participants able to teach refugees in camps and in the community

·       Site designs exhibited for consultation with the whole community

·       Implementation begins to transform camps and communities

·       Model permaculture kitchen and community gardens for harvesting, learning income skills and experience

·       Residents engaged in a variety of projects from grey water harvesting, to climate buffering, and local currencies

·       Residents motivated and engaged in projects both for income development and income substitution

These project activities and results will attract attention of the those engaged with and responsible for refugees.  This world is increasingly looking for solutions to the present models.

This project will lead to refugees organising and managing camps for food, learning and actitivies towards a future with greater promise than in today’s camps, through transforming them into ecological villages and townships.

OUTPUTS

·       Five permaculture design courses in four different sites for permaculturists and refugees - to develop food, water management, buffer climate extremes, and introduce income generation

·       Display designs for community consultation and subsequent implementation 

·       Begin implementation of the designs

·       Write up the experience and monitor its impact for six months

·       Extend the knowledge and skills to other camps and settlements

·       Mentor new trainers

MANAGEMENT

QSA Q3.  Will Permaculture for refugees be the ultimate leader of this project – if so, please tell me a bit more about them, or if not, please tell me who will be leading the project and why.

QSA Q4 How will the project be managed over several sites and quality of training, monitoring, reporting maintained?  Who is responsible for the project and maintaining the records and how can this be achieved by a person across three sites?   

The project will be managed by Permaculture for Refugees, a group of permaculturists that has been working together for two years and has produced booklets, data bases, some case studies and evaluative documents.  It has already received LUSH funds for a project in Kabul.  LUSH is offering other financial support for extending the project.

All finances are recorded through the BigFix.org, a not-for-profit organisation with transparent and audited accounts and monthly, and annual meetings. It sponsors the Blue Mountains Permaculture which it is accountable to it. The accounts would be open for scrutiny.  https://www.thebigfix.org/about-us

Most expenditure is for human resources and each course has limited funds which would mostly fully expended as the course is taught. 

Refugees will be encouraged to monitor the project results and to become part of the P4R group to share their results.   

RISK ASSESSMENT

QSA Q5 Security of personnel going into the camps to provide training – how will this be addressed and by whom?

Camps are places of utmost security since most fear that terrorists could be operating within them.   There are special phones, trained drivers, and special insurance firms.   Teachers are always with a crowd and never alone.  There are no dangers in the classrooms or on the land.  The fieldwork is simple and low risk i.e. compost making and seedsowing.  P4R also has an honorary international lawyer as their consultant for any challenging situation.

QSA Q6.  What form of debriefing is to be provided to them all at the end of their time in the camps or during if issues arise for them?

P4R has a specialist French psychologist, Nadia Polivka,  on their panel who has worked for 20+ years within the French Government Refugee program and would be responsible for this aspect of the program.

QSA Q7     If QSA is to provide the letter for the visa, then it is responsible for all security aspects as it is asking them to go.  The visa applications are made by the NGOs in each country i.e. BASD in Bangladesh, The Mediterranean Permaschool in Greece and others as listed.  QSA will not be asked to provide a visa letter. 

There are few risks associated with the project in delivering its objectives.   However the main risks may be lack of safety in a few situations.  New teachers may have difficulty or experience a shock reaction in coming to terms with the lives refugees are forced to live.  With this in mind, orientation and debriefing sessions will be included at the onset.  See question 6 above.

Many aspects of the refugees life contains uncertainty.   It is possible that a camp or settlement may close before the course is delivered, or, that it may be closed to the project for other reasons,  in most cases P4R would be able to find other venues.

Projects carried out and similar to these, show that refugees are keen to participate and find activities useful in the short and long term to assist with managing the stress of enforced inactivity and uncertainty, and also the courses build community group cohesion while ameliorating harsh camp environments.  

QSA   Q8.  How do you measure the success of a permaculture training course in a refugee camp?

The success of the PDC training outcomes is measured by the results demonstrated on the ground by those who have undertaken the training by comparison with those who have not.  In each case where there have been permaculture projects, those who received training were able to:

·       Conserve and use grey water

·       Build soils

·       Grow vegetables

·       Engage others

·      Work cooperatively

·       P4R has evaluative tools and tables.

 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

1.      Monitoring the teaching and immediate impacts.   P4R has instruments for monitoring impacts.  The teacher, content, process and student outcomes are evaluated halfway through the course and at the end.

2.      Monitoring the design implementation.  P4R would look for triangulation results i.e.

a.       From the refugees

b.      From the hosting organisation

c.       From local permaculturists who ‘pair’ with new teachers

3.      Monitoring the new trainers.  This is more complicated and they will need to be mentored.  Possibilities are:

a.       P4R

b.      Local permaculture teachers and experienced NGO staff

c.       Invite other teachers to mentor from nearby countries/provinces and from the European Permaculture Teachers network

4.      Monitor new teachers in other camps.   These teachers will need mentored assistance in their own camps first. Evaluative Document designed by P4R – see below and will be used in all training see Appendices

STAGE II

Follow up with a six day permaculture teacher training course for refugee trainers

Evaluation meeting for European trainers, both refugee and non-refugee

Evaluation meeting for SE Asian trainers, both refugee and non-refugee

Publish final permaculture curriculum for camps and settlements

Set up support systems for refugee trainers in camps and settlements

Monitor gardens and teaching in camps

CONCLUSIONS

Most gardening projects in refugee camps show proud refugees standing before their vegetable gardens and this is commendable.  However the land, the climate and the water are not necessarily remediated.   The sites are very often degraded by large numbers of people.   People live in camps without opportunities to increase their incomes or enhance their skills, or learn new ones.  

This project will train 175 people of which three quarters are refugees will be able to design problems that present for sanitation, food and climate change.  Socially they will develop learning groups, and internal economies to meet their needs.   Some will become trainers and all will be monitored by experience permaculturists.  

Experienced permaculturists will participate to learn teaching in camps.  They will form collegiate relationships with camp trainers whom their will support over the next six to 12 months.   Those who will teach will be offered a permaculture teacher training course.

P4R has a data base of permaculturists working globally with refugees and those who wish to, and in addition has monitoring and evaluative instruments for collation of data.  This will all be made available on the website and offered to all organisations and governments working with refugees.

This is stage I of a longer term program.  Stage II will be developed from the results of this project.  Stage II will be essentially a ‘scaling up’ of the project using knowledge gained to enable better learning by, and for, refugees.  Stage II will involve refugees in sharing their knowledge and skills first in their own camps, and then in other camps.  

It is anticipated that this Stage I over different sites will demonstrate common successes and also challenges of introducing permaculture into refugee environments.  It will result in increased motivation, and a healthier living area for all those involved. 

Rowe Morrow

Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute, BMPI.com.au

Permaculture for Refugees (P4R) July 22, 2018

BMLM, NSW Regional Meeting. 

BUDGET and BACKGROUND DETAILS FOR EACH SITE

1.     Bangladesh – two courses

2.     Greece – Lesvos

3.     Mediterranean Permaschool, Greece

4.     Turkey

Site 1 Two PDCs at Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh

Background:

The situation in Bangladesh for Rohaninga refugees exiled by the Myanmar Government army is dire.  Their living conditions are inhumane.  Most are too frightened to return and they are not strongly welcomed by the Bangladesh government who would like them to return home.  The PDC needs to be slanted towards the possibility of returning because this may become mandatory for some.  Small scale activities are necessary where land is at a premium because of the large numbers of refugees in a very small space.

Information supplied by Bangaldesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD), a permaculture organisation which has had success with permaculture initiatives.  See appendices and photos)

A multi-generational family – with all their possessions – live in this room

May 8 email from BASD:  “They have hundreds of problems and needs. Immediate needs are - 1) assistance for prevention of land sliding as rain started, many of the houses are in real risk and in danger, grasses may be planted there, 2) need shade / place need mustto be cooler, no trees within 4/5 km, plantation like Neem and other wood, fruit and medicinal plants needed, 3) need to teach them waste management, it is a big crisis in everywhere, it is easier to engage those people for doing this, just need inspiration and guidance, 4) need to teach / inspire the community people for cultivation of vegetables beside their rooms, on ground / hanging using sack bag / pots etc. it is not easy but very important, it is possible using permaculture techniques. When we talked to them, people showed keen interest of doing these works. Little vegetables are available in the nearby shops or villages, if available then price is very high”.  

Smallscale activities are necessary where land is at a premium because of the large numbers of refugees in a very small space.

26 July:  Recent brief news: People are locked inside the small rooms without cooking as there is very limited fire wood at home and as there was continuous heavy rain. 

Women, children and others are in the open field for defaecating as there are very few latrines and arrangement. 

Pregnant women are in great problem as there are no Midwives in the camp and the only nearby clinics is closed from 3 pm to 10 am on the following day. 

No social area for the children, women and other were seen. 

No cultivation was seen as they are very much frustrated and living hopeless living.

Regards and peace. 

Boniface  

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 at 5:10 PM, Boniface Gomes<bsgomes52@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Rosemary, 

Good day. I just met one of the high Govt. Official and discussed about the possibility of conducting the PDC and PDC based activities. Govt. is pleased with the discussion and inspired us for the program. So, we can apply for PDC and PDC based activities for the Rohinga and the host community. I will write you more about the needs of host community and Rohinga for your preparing documents.   

PDC No 1  - Draft Budget for Host Community 

Participants:       24 community people, especially women, youths and students      

                               from local host communities.

Days:                    12 teaching days excluding Fridays for religious observances

Time:                    9.30 am to 4.30 pm

Trainers:              Rosemary Morrow (lead trainer), Ruth Harvey, and possibly Sarah  

                              Queblatin from Philippines, Boniface Gomes and Ajit Khan (BASD)

Language:                Bengali

Timing:     From January to March 2019

                                ! AUD=61.27 taka   (August 15, 2018)                        

Materials	Per unit/day	Number	Total Taka
1. Stationery and supply
White board String, Bulldog clips, Pens, Poster paper, banner, writing etc. Printing & Photocopying Projector Books/pens, Rulers, Scissors, Erasers, Bags, Others Stationery	1,000 20,000 8,000 500 -	12 days -	1,000 20,000 8,000 6,000 30,000 1,000
Sub-total			66,000
2. Resource persons
Fees for Translator and vat Fees for local trainers -2 and vat	3,500 6,000	1 per 2 ps.	42,000 72,000
Total			114,000
3. Accommodation, food, transport vat for facilitators & trainees
Accommodation Transport & Meals for 5 Trainers and facilitator Trainees food, family support for 24 trainees for 12 days	2,500 pd,pp 600	5 persons, 12 + 4 days                24 persons, 12 days	2,00,000 172,800
Sub-Total			72,800
4. Trainers Fare and support
Fares – Aus-Return Visas 2* Insurance	2 ps.		124,400  18,660  12,220
Total			155,280
5. Monitoring and Follow-up 2 Volunteers for 6 months   Evaluation and Reporting	2 vols. @ Tk. 30,000 per month	6 months	1,80,000 50,000
Total			230,000
6. Other: Training venue and decoration Training materials cost Travelling cost from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar and related cost (up and down) Liaison, documentation, follow up, composing, Accounts, Audit, photos etc.	2,000	12 days 4 ps	24,000 25,000 40,000 60,000
Total Tk.			149,000
Grand Total Tk.			1,086,280
Grand Total in Aus $			17,729,39

Accommodation – Ukhia, the campsite, is 45 km distant from the Cox’s Bazar, Trainers will live at Cox’s Bazar

Visas – single entry for one month. Need invitations from BASD

PDC No 2 - Draft Budget Rohinga Refugees

Participants:       24 Rohinga Refugees, especially women and youths from the Camps.

Days:                    18 teaching days excluding Fridays for religious observances

Time:                    10.00 am to 3.00 pm

Trainers:              Rosemary Morrow (lead trainer), Ruth Harvey, Boniface Gomes and Ajit Khan from BASD

Language:                Bengali and English with translation in Ukhia language

Timing:     Between January and March 2019

                                  ! AUD=61.27 taka   (August 15, 2018

Materials	Per unit/day	Number	Total Taka
1. Stationery and supply
String, Bulldog clips, Pens, Poster paper, banner, writing etc. Printing & Photocopying Projector Books/pens, Rulers, Scissors, Erasers, Bags Other	20,000 8,000 500 -	-	20,000 8,000 6,000 30,000 1000
Sub-total			65,000
2. Resource persons
*Fees for Translator and vat Fees for local trainers -2 and vat	3,500 6,000	1 per 2 ps.	63.000 216,000
Sub-Total			279,000
3. *Accommodation, food, transport, vat for facilitators & trainees
*Accommodation *Transport & *Meals for 5 Trainers and facilitator Trainees food and family support cost for 24 trainees for 18 days	2,500 pd,pp 600	5 persons, 18 days                24 persons, 18 days	225,000 259,200
Sub-Total			484,200
4. Trainers Fare and support
Covered under Host PDC budget	.
5. Follow-up monitoring 2 Volunteers for 6 months   Evaluation and Reporting	2 vols. @ Tk. 30,000 per month	6 months	180,000 50,000
Sub-Total			230,000
6. Other: Training venue and decoration Training materials cost Travelling cost from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar and related cost (return) Liaison, documentation, follow up, composing, Accounts, Audit, photos etc.	2,000	12 days 4 ps	36,000 25,000 40,000 75,000
Sub-total Tk.			176,000
Grand Total Tk.			1,223.4
Grand Total in Aus $			$19,967.35

Accommodation – Ukhia, the camp site, is 45 km distant from the Cox’s Bazar, Trainers will live at Cox’s Bazar

Visas – single entry for one month. Need invitation from BASD

6.  A ‘street’ in a camp with a high population density –little room for planting

               

SITE 2         Draft Budget PDC for Lesvos, Greece,

Spring 2019

Background   

The situation in Lesvos is that many people have been here for a long time. Their living conditions are really bad and most are Syrian and Afghani nationality.  Permaculture promises to bring relief to very difficult living conditions. 

Languages are Arabic, Farsi and there are contracts that could help with translation.  The course will be open to a selection process but no limits on age, gender, illiteracy etc.  

Students:           24

Days:                 24 teaching days excluding Fridays for religious observance

Time:               10.00 am to 3.00 pm

Trainers:            Rosemary Morrow (lead trainer), and one from P4R

                           Bonnie Claire and one other from the Centre

                           4 trainee volunteers will also attend

Languages:        Dari and Farsi

1 AUD = 0.642 Euros– 22 July 2018

Materials	Per unit/day			Total Euros
Teachers
Electricity Projector Whiteboard String Bulldog clips Pens Poster paper Printing & Photocopying	With venue May borrow 1 1 1 2 sets 1 roll	20c per page	300 pages	300.00     80.00       3.00     10.00     10.00     60.00     30.00
Translators	To be decided		x 24 days
Translated materials
Learners	To be decided	x 24 learners
Books/pens Rulers Scissors Erasers	5.00 1.00 2 1			144.00    24.00    10.00    24.00
Gardening Materials, pots Seeds etc.	9.00			216.00
Logistics Accommod’n. Transport -free Meals*	One month Rental 30 per week		8	300.00   240.00
Trainers
Fares – Aus- Return Visas 1* Insurance	1562 Free	X 1 Aus X 2 X 2		1562.00
Follow-up Evaluation Reporting Admin.				200.00
			Grand Total	Euro 2,504 AUD

·       Visas – single entry for one month - free. Need letter from hosting NGO

 SITE 3      Draft Budget PDC for Mediterranean

  Permaschool, Nea Makri, Greece

  March/April 2019

Background   

Many refugees have been in Greece for a long time.  Their living conditions are really bad and most are Syrian and Afghani nationality.  Permaculture promises to bring relief to very difficult living conditions. 

Languages are Arabic, Farsi and there are contacts who could help with translation.  The course will be open to a selection process but no limits on age, gender, illiteracy etc

The organisation is Nea Guinea, Guinea, a non-profit organization, whose mission is developing the self-reliance and resilience of people and communities

Venue:   Permaculture farm in Nea Makri

Website:                             www.neaguinea.org

Facebook page:                Nea

Email:                                   neaguinea@riseup.net

“This year we started a new educational program that called the Mediterranean

Permaschool.  - It is basically a collective educational project with 10 teachers and 40 students that aims at bringing people together and creating a network that will work on adaptingdifferent concepts and techniques on our climate and highlight permaculture design as a possible way forward in this challenging environment we are living. And the project is really flying!”

Look at this link:

http://neaguinea.org/2018/04/12/opening-of-the-mediterranean-permaschool-at-the-nea-guinea-farm/

and

https://web.facebook.com/pg/Nea-Guinea-304122449642277/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1650178008370041

Jump to

Mediterranean Permaschool Spring 2018

This spring we have designed a new Permaculture course focusing on applications relevant to the Mediterranean climate. This course consists of 10 full day workshops that run on a weekly basis for a 3 months period (March to May 2018) at the Nea Guinea farm and aim at introducing a group of 40 young people to Permaculture design and empower them to make positive changes that will benefit both their communities and the natural ecosystems that surround them. During this course we are studying and experimenting with different Permaculture concepts and practices, aiming at proposing solutions to sustainability issues related to the arrangement of human activity and the management of natural resources on a farm scale. The educational activities consist of both theoretical and practical workshops and are co-facilitated by the Nea Guinea team and 8 more Greek Permaculture teachers, that are traveling to our farm from different places around the country to share their extensive knowledge and enthusiasm with the participants. The course will be concluded with an open Permaculture Day on the farm, where the participants will present their design work. During the day there will be open informative events and workshops, activities for kids, music, dance and awesome organic food form our gardens! This course has been partially funded by a crowd funding campaign and partially by the participants on a free donation basis. This funding scheme has made the course accessible to young local people with limited financial resources – that largely consist our target group.

We have been already teaching Permaculture (PDCs, introductory and specialized courses) and we can share a lot from our experience on working with Permaculture in the Mediterranean climate, especially in water management, soil regeneration, food production systems (Fotini)

And, energy production (Kostas)

Students:           24

Days:                 24 teaching days excluding days for religious observance

Time:                            10.00 am to 3.00 pm?

Trainers:            Rosemary Morrow (lead trainer), and two from P4R

                           Fotini and Kostas  = founders of the ecoschool

Languages:        Dari and Farsi

1 AUD = 0.642 Euros– 22 July 2018

Materials	Per unit/day			Total Euros
Teachers
Venue Electricity Projector	Free With venue May borrow			100
Translators	150 per day?		x 24 days	3600
Translated materials	20 pp/day		X 24 students	480
Learners	To be decided	x 24 learners
Books/pens Rulers Scissors Erasers Whiteboard String Bulldog clips Pens Poster paper Printing & Photocopying	All covered in Cost and in venue 3.00 pp			300.00   72.00
Gardening Materials, pots Seeds etc.	9.00	X 24		216
Logistics Accommod’n. Transport – Refugees Teachers Meals*	Rent bus* or public transport 13.00 ppd*	X 30		390.00

Fares – Aus- Return Visas 1* Insurance	1562.00 Free	X 1 Aus X1		1562.00
Follow-up Evaluation Reporting Admin.	200.00			2000.00
			Grand Total	Euro 8750 AUD 13,629

*     Depends where refugees will come from which option would be most suitable.

·       Visas – single entry for one month - free. Need letter from NGO

·       13 euros per day includes food for teachers. – all organic and local

23 July 2018 email: We are concerned for teaching and designing in challenging environments, like refugee camps or hostels for example, and working with people who live there. There is a great need and interest for this here but little knowledge and experience.

We have tried to gather as much data as we can in order to give you a quick response. We cannot be really precise in the finances because we we didn’t have the time to talk to people we know that work in the camps yet. When we do so, we will know which camps people could come from, and their nationality, and then we will calculate the transport and translation fees more precisely.

We have been already teaching Permaculture (PDCs, introductory and specialized courses) and we can share a lot from our experience on working with Permaculture in the Mediterranean climate, especially in water management, soil regeneration, food production systems (Fotini)

And, energy production (Kostas)

SUE Ennis took out many Photos here as the document was too big to easily send

Women’s PDC in Cesme Turkey – to be run at Imece Koyu

Background 

The situation in Turkey is much different from Greece in the way of permanence. Many of the refugees here are planning on living in Turkey for the foreseeable future. Permaculture can bring occupations and allow people to meet many of their own needs while transforming their camps.

In regards to translation- because so many of the refugees here speak Turkish finding translators could be easier. Also Ali has Arabic, Farsi eand contracts that could help with translation.

This is a village for women only though. The course would be directed at women which might actually make it simpler in regards to separating the genders.

Students:           24

Days:                 24 teaching days excluding Fridays for religious observance

Time:               10.00 am to 3.00 pm

Trainers:            Rosemary Morrow (lead trainer), and one from P4R

                           Bonnie Claire and one other from the centre

                           4 trainee volunteers will also attend

Languages:        Arabic and Farsi

1 AUD = 3.53 Turkish Lira– 22 July 2018

Materials	Per unit/day			Total Lira
Teachers
Electricity Projector Whiteboard String Bulldog clips Pens Poster paper Printing & Photocopying	With venue May borrow 1 1 1 70 1 roll 24	0.10	If Bought 300 pages	240 156      5     10    25    20 4760     30
Translators*			x 24 days
Translated materials
Learners	To be decided	x 24 learners
Books/pens Rulers Scissors Erasers Sitting mats	2.50 21 12	17 lira		60.00 144.00 204.00
Gardening Materials, pots Seeds etc.	10.00 pp			240.00
Logistics Accommod’n. Transport -free Meals*	Free * Pay for petrol Not yet known			100.00
Trainers
Fares – Aus- Return Visas 2* Insurance	1000Aud Free 400 Aud	X 2 Aus X 2 X 2		7060.00 2824.00
Follow-up Evaluation Reporting Admin.				1000.00
			Grand Total	17,617 Lira AUD5.000

*   I have contacted a range of people I know who speak Arabi and Farsi as a first and second language. Many Syrian farmer refugees speak Turkish

·       Visas – single entry for one month - free. Need letter from NGO

·       Meals – there is a Syrian woman who would cook for the duration of the course – cost to be decided – need to pay for lunch for participants

·       Accommodation – need for pay for water electricity about 5 lira pp/day

APPENDICES

https://vimeo.com/250713081

Afghan Peace Volunteers (APVs):    Essays of Light II/ Repairing our decaying soil, air, water and food

Bradford, Andrew:    Taking Refuge in Permaculture.  Article in Permaculture Magazine. No.26 www.permaculture.co.uk

https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/agendaArticle.php?id=22        Article on Need for small scale diverse development, and, educational opportunities in refugee settlements.

Sammi-Jo Lee posted Jan 18, 2018 in YES magazine, Farming brings refugees closer to home through Food and Community.   Karen farmers from Myanmar resettle in North Carolina.      

Lemontree trust: http://lemontreetrust.org/film-and-interactive/   Transforming Land, Transforming Lives    In 2017, Lemontree trust supported Coventry University in establishing gardens in Domus II camp in northern Kurdistan.

https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-campus/agriculture-initiative-in-refugee-camps/

Morrow, Rosemary:  2^nd Permaculture course in Kabul, 2018   Report.       This course has led to permaculture graduates starting three gardens and being invited by Jesuit Refugee Service to give some lessons as part of a life-skills program for IDPs.

Soils Lebanon    https://www.soils-permaculture-lebanon.com/publications.html      In 2016 Soils Lebanon, sponsored by Mercy Corps, established gardens to assist with food security in six refugee camps.  Their blog is excellent for refugee and small-scale situations.

Permacultureforrefugees(P4R) Permaculture for Refugees in Camps   booklet here

https://theconversation.com/how-gardening-can-improve-the-mental-health-of-refugees-98700?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2028%202018%20-%20105169297&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2028%202018%20-%20105169297+CID_da5de986a67894a0303149a875e8f124&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=How%20gardening%20can%20improve%20the%20mental%20health%20of%20refugees

 Why a walk in the woods really does help your body and your soul

: The science is in: gardening is good for you

https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/infographic/bangladesh-cox’s-bazar-refugee-response-4w-camp-level-31-july-2018

Bangladesh:  Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development.   basd-bd.org, Face book: BASD

House-110, Monipuripara, Dhaka-1215. Bangladesh

Phone: 88-02-9102326, Cell: 00 88 01713451849

E-mail-  <bsgomes52@gmail.com>, basdbd91,@gmail.com,

Skype- boniface.gomes1, Website: basd-bd.org, Face book: BASD

Excerpt from email 8 May 2018– reprinted by permission from

Boniface Gomes, Executive Director

Greetings and best wishes to you from Dhaka. 

The following is my visit sharing with you. 

I came back visiting the Rohinga Refugee Camp at Cox's Bazar with Juliet Gomes (Board member), Akalchur Rahman (Staff), Remington (Student) and one of my friend (Jessica from CSI). We met there some of the Rohinga Leaders and community people in 2 camps. We stayed there for about 3 hours, talked to them and visited their homes and surrounding.  

It is unthinkable and pathetic, these people are living as animals (because) they are very much vulnerable and helpless. No work, no trees, no shade, 1 million + people of all ages are sitting here and there, going around, gossiping, quarreling etc., some are in the line for food / materials collection/ health check up, hundreds of children playing in the roads and around etc. 

They have hundreds of problems and needs. Immediate needs are - 1) assistance for prevention of land sliding as rain started, many of the houses are in real risk and in danger, different kinds of grasses may be planted now there etc. 2) need shade / place need to be cooler, no trees within 4/5 km, plantation like Neem and other wood, fruit and medicinal plants needed sooner, 3) need to teach them waste management, it is a big crisis in everywhere, it is easier to engage those people for doing this, just need inspiration and guidance, 4) need to teach / inspire the community people for cultivation of vegetables beside their rooms, on ground / hanging using sack bag / pots etc. it is not easy but very important, it is possible using permaculture techniques. People showed keen interest of doing these works when we talked to them as almost no vegetables are available in the nearby shops or nearby villages, if available then price is very high and many other needs and crisis.  

In this situation, we need to take some immediate steps at least for the above issues. If anyone is interested for detail sharing or further discussion I will be pleased to do that. 

With kind regards, peace and harmony. 

Subsequent emails from BASD show excellent innovative examples of small scale gardens and animal systems started through this project. 

REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATIVE INSTRUMENTS OF P4R

This example is a Report of permaculture training with refugees in Spain – questionnaire and response from Candelo Vargas, permaculture teacher

Name of project:  PDC at La Bolina                                                                            Organisation:  La Bolina Restautation Project

Stage of project: Refugees in permanent homes in rural areas in Spain   Type of project: Full PDC  + agroecology for creating livelihoods and internships in other local projects.

Your role in the project PDC Teacher

Site of the project Salleres, Granada, Spain

Starting date:     12 February 2017                                                                               Final date: 23 February 2017

Your name: Candela Vargas                                                                                             Address:  Torre de Machuca n4 Bloque 2 6A

Phone:   0034 601465875/                                                                                           email candelavp@gmail.com/fax etc

Budget:

About the project	At the beginning of the project	By the end of the project
1.Whose ideas was this project and did it change?	The La Bolina project was created during a residency organized by the Eroles Project in Catalunya during the summer 2016. The initial idea was to offer refugees a center where they could have a pause during their path for a secure place to restart their lives. It slowly changed into setting up a structure to offer opportunities and housing in a rural area in Spain, and develop land-based regenerative activities to offer employment and promote self-employment of refugees and migrants. The PDC is one event with 3 facilitators within the long term project to design partly who to use the land for the La Bolina project.	Create an integral cooperative conformed by local resident, the La Bolina team, refugees and migrants. Repopulate villages in the area of Valle del Lecrin. There were 5 original members of La Bolina project that slowly had been expanding to integrate some new core members, interns and other many participants. During the PDC there was 2 main facilitators and support from many of the core participants.
2.  Managed Individually Team? Management style and processes	Team effort in an open and flat structure style. Collaborative and no objection decision making procedure. Core team made up of 9 people and a network with more people supporting the project. The PDC was planned by 1 facilitator that gave space for contributions and changes to any of the members that wanted to get involved.	At the time the project is restructuring it self a little bit to find how to collaborate in the best way. Always looking at flat structure models.  In the PDC the different sections where guided by members with interest and capability to hold the sessions.
3. How did participants find out about it? TV Radio Posters in public Newspapers Facebook etc Other?	Personal contacts from refugees and through contact with different organizations that work with refugees and migrants. Some through other social networks	Some PDC participants throught Permaculture social networsk.
3. Overall goal and mission of the project?	Our mission is to repopulate a network of villages in the province of Granada, Spain which were once thriving and now at risk of extinction due to depopulation and damaging land based practices. We aim to collaboratively work the land, create viable and sustainable livelihoods, and regenerate both the ecosystems and the economy of the area The PDC objectives where to start the analysis process to decide how to work together in an efficient way and plan the use some of the lands of the project.	Further courses will be useful to keep planning and finding ways to work together efficiently.
4. Lesser objectives 1. 2. 3. 4	The Regeneration Project in Granada seeks to find new ways to respond to the interconnected crisis we live today. We aim to be a win-win-win project tackling ‘multiple problematic factors’ to create positive, viable, humane and sustainable solutions now and for the future. We are addressing: - the depopulation of Spanish countryside and villages - food sovereignty - degradation of land - high local unemployment - socio economic integration of migrants and refugees> Other important objectives of the PDC were to gather some new people that could be interested in joining La Bolina, and ensure that all participants are knowledgeable in Permaculture design.	As the PDC was held in another project facilities (La Alquería de Moraima). One more objective was to establish good relationships with them and guido on how to transform a bit their working style into a more permaculture minded hotel.
5. Who owns the land or venue? Access and security of tenure Were there any problems with the place?	La Alquería de Moraima A rural hotel in a small village called Cadiar. They want to be more ecologically sound and give a new twist to the management style of the business.	During the PDC we helped with some few practical things and make some design suggestions for possible developments. The managers are considering to implement some of the ideas and we might plan for other courses working specifically with the Alquería members.
6. The Challenges of this project Among the refugees Among the project staff Among the local citizens Other?	Among the refugees: necessity for engagement for a long term vision and patience to accompany the project, the project will offer economical security once it is functioning, but until then, refugees or migrants might need to find/create a job. Among the project staff: lack of financial resources, adaptation of personal life to the necessities of the project. Other: challenge of getting in touch with more women (migrants or refugees).  Lack of openness and collaboration of the big NGOs working in the field of asylum.	During the PDC the main challenges were: The need of translation (Spanish/English) To have to both design for La Bolina project without being on the site. Design for the Alquería (The place were we where) without having full engagement of the community members. And the unbalance on capabilities from one group and the other. Also the requirement from the Alquería to do a lot of practical work that was also usefull work for the PDC and to keep the balance between practical and permaculture theory.
7. Were the goal, mission and objectives maintained? Yes No Mainly Please write something about this	One of the beauties of this project is that is it organic and iterative, meaning it is constantly adapting to the realities it faces. The goal and mission are maintained, the activities and sometimes short term objectives are adapted to the situations.	During the PDC the educational objectives were fulfilled, and none of the wider objectives had change.
8. What were the main problems with this project? Your solutions to these?	As the facilitator I can say that the main problems I face collaborating with La Bolina project is a lack of a consistent coordinators that ensure communications and agreements to reach the relevant members.	For further curses I ask to have one person that will take the coordination role from their side and will be present from the very first communications and present in the course.
What really worked well? Would you recommend these to subsequent projects of this type?	It worked to have a big part of the core team taking the course together. So they can plan their common project.	It was very good to have some of the refugees as involved members of the La Bolina core team and very willing to take an active role in the PDC.
About you
Were your skills and knowledge Very good Adequate Not good enough Please list a few areas	My skill where adecuate to guide the groups energy and manage the goup learning proccess. I am very knowledgeable to cover the content required for a PDC.	It would have been useful to have someone else to support the learning process of the group.
What were the hardest things for you? What would have helped before you started? What support would you have liked during the project	I would have like to have another engaged facilitator to lift the course with me.	It would have helped me to know more about the group of refugees that was involved and understand better their cultural behaviors.
What recommendations would you make for anyone starting work similar to yours?	To do several small workshops first to get a feeling of the coworkers and refugees, and the dynamics between them.	To do the courses on a space managed by the core group.
What is important for Permaculture for Refugees to know and understand about your project	La Bolina is a long living situation where some of the Refugees are given the role of organizer. That gives a lot of empowerment to the refugees, anyhow it is important to evaluate first (as with any other member) what type of responsibilities they are capable to take.	La Bolina is slowly getting more refugees to come and participate from the activities. With the intention to engage them and give them an option to earn a living from agriculture in the region.
How do you judge the success of your project	I judge the success of the PDC by the results on the design presentations, the social bonding of the groups, the feedback sessions with participants, staff and organizers.

STAGES OF REFUGEE PROJECT

A. Refugees in camps

1. On the road, emergency stage e.g. Rohinga or IDPS eg Philippines
2. In makeshift camps ie. Centre of first reception e.g. Greece
3. In semi-permanent camps
4. In Long term camps e.g, Lebanon
5. Long term refugees

B. Refugees in communities

1. Homeless under bridges, squatting eg. Afghanis in Paris
2. Temporary homes e.g. German and Greece
3. Permanent homes in cities e.g. UK and Australia
4. Permanent homes in rural areas or farms e.g. Australia, Spain, Italy, France
5. Deserted village to be restored

C. Refugees returning home?

Most of the refugees seem to have an intention to be in Spain for several years, but to return home at some point to fulfill their dreams.


D. Internally displaced people, (IDPs)

1. Natural disasters e.g. earthquakes, typhoons,
2. Man made disasters e.g. war, chemical spills


E. Other?..............................................................................

TYPES OF REFUGEE PROJECT


A. Teaching and learning permaculture

1. Full PDC
2. Introductory course
3. Kitchen and/or school garden
4. Nutrition gardens
5. Full camp design
6. Preparing to move on, or, return home

B. Technical skills and boot camp courses

1. Plant propagation, tree planting,
2. Natural building
3. Greywater cleaning
4. Harvesting water
5. Compost and soil nutrition
6. Regenerating waste or toxic land
7. Other……….

C. Social strategies

1. Meeting procedures, AVP, NVC and conflict resolution
2. Assisting with group work and project identification
3. Cultural exchanges including local residents
4. Bioregional enhancement


D. Economic and livelihood

1. LETS, bioregionalism
2. Teach about credit, budgeting and interest
3. Set up internal loan and savings groups
5. Teach high standard skills for markets
6. Identify market niches
7. Income generation

__________________________________________________________________________

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[1] Only 1% of refugees are ever resettled.

The Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees are historic agreements that the UN is negotiating right now and that aim to provide a support network and framework for those on the move due to conflict and crisis. We need to make sure that our leaders first see these people as human beings with stories and history, to prompt them to sign up to the Global Compacts.

[2] Video  See appendices

[3] Permaculturefor Refugees.org Booklet See appendices

[4] https://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/op_reports/wfp287733.pdf  JOINT STRATEGY  for Enhancing Self-Reliance in Protracted Refugee Situations

[5] UNHCR Emergency Handbook, Camp Coordination, Camp Management., Points, 3, 4 5 on Risks Faced by management.  https://emergency.unhcr.org/entry/108625/camp-coordination-camp-management-cccm

[6] Elizabeth Cullen Dunn:  The Failure of Refugee Camps.  The Boston Review. A Political and Literary Forum.   September 28, 2015   http://bostonreview.net/editors-picks-world/elizabeth-dunn-failure-refugee-camps

[7] For its part, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) also forecasts 200 million environmental migrants by 2050, moving either within their countries or across borders, on a permanent or temporary basis. Many of them would be coastal population. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-migrants-might-reach-one-billion-2050