Projects

We propose that members of the multiregional RISE CC (RISE 1) take the initiative in inviting the environmentally endangered spiritual healers of one or more of their own local communities to create a (RISE 2) URI CC. Others, who are either high level indigenous spiritual leaders or their designated representatives, who wish to create a local RISE CC to restore a local community, are welcome to join our multiregional RISE CC. While there are many ways of regenerating indigenous spirituality and ecosystems, one method that we have to offer is the following:

Central RISE CC facilitaters can share guidance with members of the multiregional RISE 1 CC and with local community RISE 2 CC leaders in creating their own local community regeneration projects.

Local products ideally would eventually include the development of both of the fully equiped RISE Healing demonstration and reference center, functioning as a local headquarters, and its surrounding community RISE CC made up of local practitioners and their assistants. For this second community circle, Gaia Education (GE) and the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), can provide a RISE-adapted, flexible, autonomously indigenous version of the sustainable, Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) curriculum to guide the process of regenerating villages and urban communities.

GE is one of UNESCO's global network of CIFAL training organizations. World View (Spirituality) and Ecology (Ecosystems) are UNESCO' first two dimensions of sustainability. Economy and Society are the third and fourth dimensions. All four dimensions contribute to the regeneration of indigenous communities. Completing this program qualifies RISE CC communities as members of the 40 country, million-plus member Ecovillage Network.

The recently certified RESEAU COSAN community CC in Yoff, Senegal began this program in March 2016. The diagram below provides a simplified overvue of our flexible projected activities and time line over the last 10 months of 2016 and January of 2017.

The Yoff project expects to include: Restoration of both public and private cultural sacred sites with review and adaptation to modern contexts; Islamic worship and guidance on halal versus haram work between Muslims and their Muslim nature spirits; intensive climate regeneration, educational pilot programs focused on learning, and acting on traditional and Muslim universal values for children and young people; research and workshops by experts to create an official version of the history and practices of Yoff’s spiritual traditions; establishment of the living heritage center or centers; and preparation and sharing of the authentic Neup-Tuur tradition with sincere spiritual seekers, preferable from other RISE CCs. Subsequent year programs would followed with build on the first year's achievements and add additional activities as needed.

A leading graduate of a highly regarded Inter-faith seminary already has expressed an interest in bringing a tour of sincere spiritual learners to participate in the project year's final January 2015 vision and healing quest ceremony

Funding Strategies and Proposal Format

In the following section we describe one of a number grass-roots level fund raising strategies that may permit individual grass-roots community CCs to obtain and independently manage their own RISE restaurations. Other partners and funds will be needed for Central and regional coordinaton, planning and provision of services.

In seeking partners to support the work, we propose to prepare our ecosystem’s community funding requests using the format of the UNDP Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grants Program. This is a suggestion, not a requirement. I believe the standardized dimensions of these GEF SGP programs, and the types of results they achieve, if used well, are a good match for the size dimensions and many of the requirements needed to restore local indigenous communities in less developed countries to greater spiritual, ecosystems, economic and social health. Proposals in this format may be applicable for submittion not only to the GEF SGP but also to other funders and donors.

The SGP project framework typically includes.

1. A $50,000 grant, to which the local project team contribute approximately $50,000 in counterpart funds, measured by in-kind community work and in gifts from other donors.

2. A time frame per project cycle of one and a half years, divided into six 3-monthly reporting quarters.

3. A variety of assistance in areas such as local microcredit supporting the subsidized sale of and distribution of solar energy products, etc.

Our Experience with GEF SGP Programs

RISE Director/facilitator, Professor Marian Zeitlin, and other members of our RISE team were a part of the Global Ecovillage Networks delegation to the RIO Earth Summit in 1992, where a decision was made to finance the creation of 12 of Senegal’s Ecovillages through the NGO CRESP, Senegal, which Zeitlin co-directed at the time. Since then she and other members of RISE still are in close coordination with colleagues in Senegal, who develop solar energy at the village level and carry out other ecovillage work with the support of GEF SGP grants.

Today, GEF has financed more than 20,000 projects in 125 less developed countries, including most recently in December 2015 five indigenous winners of the prestigious Equator Prize from Afghanistan, China, Guyana, Iran and Indonesia (https://www.thegef.org/gef/node/11556 )

the URI INDIGENOUS RISE COOPERATION CIRCLE

the URI INDIGENOUS RISE COOPERATION CIRCLE

Projects

the URI INDIGENOUS RISE COOPERATION CIRCLE

RISE Projects and Fund Raising Strategies

Central RISE CC facilitaters can share guidance with members of the multiregional RISE 1 CC and with local community RISE 2 CC leaders in creating their own local community regeneration projects.

The recently certified RESEAU COSAN community CC in Yoff, Senegal began this program in March 2016. The diagram below provides a simplified overvue of our flexible projected activities and time line over the last 10 months of 2016 and January of 2017.

Funding Strategies and Proposal Format

The SGP project framework typically includes.

1. A $50,000 grant, to which the local project team contribute approximately $50,000 in counterpart funds, measured by in-kind community work and in gifts from other donors.

2. A time frame per project cycle of one and a half years, divided into six 3-monthly reporting quarters.

3. A variety of assistance in areas such as local microcredit supporting the subsidized sale of and distribution of solar energy products, etc.

Our Experience with GEF SGP Programs

Today, GEF has financed more than 20,000 projects in 125 less developed countries, including most recently in December 2015 five indigenous winners of the prestigious Equator Prize from Afghanistan, China, Guyana, Iran and Indonesia (https://www.thegef.org/gef/node/11556 )

the URI INDIGENOUS RISE COOPERATION CIRCLE

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