RCE+Cairo

Dear RCE Community, Dear Friends, we (RCE Cairo) are planning to start a big project of establishing a training and education center in a version desert area. We achieved already to get a wonderful desert area located only 50 Km from Cairo and 40 KM from the Cairo Airport. The area is about 36 000 m2 (90x400). The area is easy to reach by Car in less than one hour from Cairo. The planned constructions are: - Organic agriculture for vegetables and trees in most of the area (irrigation water source is available) - 1500 m2 (750x2 floors) for training facilities, hostel, restaurant, other facilities. - Sport place - Animal and birds rearing facilities (250m2) - Wall surrounding the area. All the sustainable and green building criteria MUST be considered in establishing the facilities including among others: - Using green and environmental friendly building materials - Water recycling systems - Modern irrigation systems - Drinking water treatment - Renewable energy (Bio-Gas, PV, etc) - Etc. STEP is planned to be a place that host the following activities: - Field trips for school students to demonstrate school curriculum from the sustainable development point of view - During the weekend the place will be used as an educational and entertainment place for families that offers trainings on green building, organic agriculture, sustainable development and many other programs. - The training facilities will be also used to offer individuals and companies other SD related educational program. WE KINDLY ask all of you for contribution in this initiative, any type of contribution in this big project is welcomed such as: - Development of master plan - Designing the buildings, facilities, agriculture fields, irrigation systems, etc. -<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Water system design, Energy system design, etc. -<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Developing training programs and kits (at a later stage) -<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Ideas for funding Our dream is to have a place that acts as center of excellence for ESD in the Cairo region. STEP will be also a place ready to receive any friend from the RCE network to contribute in the running activities and enjoy the wonderful weather and be close to Egyptian touristic places (Pyramids, Museums, citadel, Coptic Cairo, etc etc etc). We highly appreciate and welcome ideas, recommendation, materials, .. Looking forward for your feedback Hani Sewilam RCE Cairo