PROJECT OVERVIEW

SEEDS is a project that will bring together students from Zambia, Sweden, and Canada in order to gain access to the ideas and energy of one other. For 2 weeks, these students, along with four University professors, will work together to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and development issues facing Zambia. Guided by an on-site coordinator from each country, these students will work together to examine, research and discuss questions of environmental and developmental importance. This project aims at allowing students from different countries to engage themselves within their field of study, while establishing lasting links with countries offering diverse cultures and environmental experiences. This exchange is just a beginning, for its structure looks to the future – at setting a precedent for future SEEDS projects, around the world, and around the year. SEEDS will depart from traditional schooling to allow participants to work towards solutions, rather than to merely study them. SEEDS is not just a project to study a problem.

It’s a project to provide answers.

~ PARTICIPANTS

STUDENTS ~ Four students from both University of Alberta, and Uppsala University, and sixteen students from the University of Zambia will participate, along with one coordinator from each University. These students will be chosen based on three criteria:
1. Interest and commitment. 2. Diversity of studies. 3. Seniority of studies.
The 16 students from the University of Zambia will be chosen based upon criteria decided upon at that University, but stress will be placed on diversity of study, and seniority.

PROFESSORS ~ One Professor from Canada, and one from Sweden, will be invited to join the project, to assist the students and to present information designed to provide answers for the specific issue studied. These participants will not be asked to commit to the entire two weeks, but a minimum of four days. As well, two Professors from the University of Zambia will asked to play a key role, as primary facilitators during the project. However, the primary emphasis will be on the students to determine the curriculum and do the teaching.
In total, 24 students, 4 professors, and 3 coordinators.

~ AIMS

The primary aim will be for cultural, academic and humanitarian exchange. Students will temporarily depart from traditional textbook studies of environmental crisis situations to take the time, and make the effort to gain a deeper understanding of a specific environmental or development issue. Considering that most environmental problems that exist in all countries are interlinked to wide variety of issues, students from a variety of backgrounds will be encouraged to use a holistic approach at solving these problems. The project will focus on the current state of the environment and development, problems and potentials, and concrete solutions for overcoming obstacles.
Students from the University of Zambia will have the opportunity to gain access to solutions and innovations that have worked in either Canada or Sweden. At the same time these students will receive a preview of environmental and social problems associated with development and prosperity. Hopefully their insights will influence Canadian and Swedish students preparing for a career in development work. Furthermore, professors will be given an opportunity for formal academic collaborations and initiatives.
All students involved will prepare a paper outlining their goals, and to which of these they believed were achieved. Finally, a paper will be written by the students involved that describes the issue studied, and will be presented afterwards at all three universities by participating students. Coordinators will have the added responsibility of ensuring the proper framework will be built in order to facilitate future SEEDS schools.

~ TIME PERIOD

The exchange will take place for nearly two weeks, starting in mid June, and concluding roughly two weeks later. It will be designed in such a way as to facilitate repeat exchanges that can be founded by any University, and take place at any time throughout the year. Following the project in Zambia, selected students from the University of Zambia will be invited to visit both Canada and Sweden to study how these countries manage the environmental or development problem examined while in Zambia. This final stage of the project will likely take place in September of 2001.


~ PROPOSED PROJECTS

In light of the aspirations and plans of Rescue Mission Zambia as stated in Appendix III, the following projects are tentatively planned for the first SEEDS project to take place in June of 2001:

1. ENVIRONMENT
~ SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND PARK PROJECT:
This project entails developing recycling and composting facilities on the University campus and/or at an appropriate location within the community. Aspects of the project include creating an information campaign, obtaining appropriate permits (prior to course start), establishing collector and purchasing contracts, and appropriating the pertinent building facilities. The facility is intended to be run in co-operation with the Horticulture Department and University grounds maintenance staff at the University of Zambia. Finished compost can be utilised for landscaping needs at the University of Zambia with any remaining compost being donated to members of the community.

2. DEVELOPMENT
~ ESTABLISHMENT OF A STUDENT EMPOWERMENT CENTRE:
Students at the University of Zambia wish to establish a student centre where students can come to learn about environmental and development issues. The centre would function as a place to relax, to learn, to run activities and clubs from as well as provide students access to computer and Internet facilities. The university affiliated, student environmental club, Rescue Mission Zambia has requested the help of CEMUS in form of experienced advise to realise such a centre.


~ COSTS

The majority of costs will be the burden of, in one way or another, the Northern universities. The Zambian student body and government will be asked to contribute as much as their capacity allows. Students will seek funding for their own trip through a variety of institutions such as the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), as well as private donors, students’ unions, and related universities. Students will be billeted by the Zambian students, and this arrangement will be managed by that host University. Professors costs will be the responsibility of their respective Universities.
All funding will be campaigned for primarily by the project co-ordinators, but the student participants will also be asked to contribute their efforts for fundraising.
For details on specific costs, please refer to Appendix I.

~ WEB PAGE DESIGN AND OPERATION

This project has been developed and maintained almost entirely through the use of the Internet. Although many of the participants have prior working relationships, the day-to-day communication has taken place through the use of email.
The web page is being developed in two stages. The first stage was launched on September 13th, when a preliminary page was set up in order to facilitate public access and information for participants. This page has proven already highly successful, and has received hundreds of visitors in its first three weeks. This page will continue to expand to include information on the project, participants and on Canada, Sweden and Zambia.
The second stage of the homepage is to take the initial page developed, and to expand it exponentially to include some important features. Video capability will be added so videos recorded during the project can be added to the homepage. Information on all the participants will be added, plus the information will be developed to the point where other students can use the internet information as a “hand-book” in order for them to found and develop their own SEEDS project.
The first stage of the web has been undertaken thanks to the hard work of the current participants. The considerably expansion planned for the home page will require the services of a professional web design and operation company. Please see Appendix I for related costs.


~ THE THREE STAGES OF SEEDS

SEEDS will be developed, in whole, through the successful completion of three stages. The first and last stage will be modified to operate distinctly within each separate country.

~ PREPARATION

Students selected to participate in SEEDS will be expected to assist to an appropriate level with all preparations. These participants will meet once a week at minimum for at least one hour. During this time, individual progress will be reported, and coordinators will also update participants on relevant progress. A large part of the preparations will include fundraising, and all those who can assist in this will be asked to do so. Furthermore, students who are interested in helping with the SEEDS project, but who have not been selected to travel to Zambia, will be recruited for fundraising purposes.
Students will also prepare a short report (2 to 5 pages) on their personal expectations regarding anything they believe is important. They may choose to write about their expectations regarding the ambitions of the project, or they may simply choose to write about their pre-conceived notions regarding Zambia.
Finally, seminars and information nights will be organised to help prepare participating students. This will include meeting with Zambian students (if they are available) to discuss the culture and history of Zambia, and Zambia’s contemporary society. Other seminars will be arranged to further familiarize students with the relevant proposed projects.

~ SCHEDULE IN ZAMBIA

Firstly, several mornings will be reserved for practical work on the related projects. A project plan and task list will be developed jointly by the class on the first day. The first 30 minutes each day will be spent discussing the mornings progress and re-evaluating the project plan.
Secondly, other mornings will include a presentation from either a group of students or a visiting professor. Discussions after these presentations will be encouraged. Some presentations will focus of the current state of environmental and development issues in the participating countries, while other presentations will be meant to discuss the problem in Zambia in relation to a students field of study – whether that be Economics, Politics, Biology, Chemistry, and so on.
Finally, afternoons will also be spent meeting with appropriate members of related businesses and political offices. Participants will also actively engage themselves in observing how proposed solutions can be implemented within the Lusaka environment. Finally, a large presentation will be made by the SEEDS participants to the student body and the faculty of Lusaka University.
This project schedule is tentative and will be modified according to planned excursions and weather difficulties. The final schedule is being created by participants from Sweden and Zambia. It will be in its final stage by one month before departure, and will be added as Appendix II.

~ POST PROJECT ACTIVITIES

After students have taken part in the SEEDS 2001 project, they will arrange an information night for all other students at their University who would be interested. Topics covered will include the challenges and successes of the project, as well as hopes for the future. Students will also share information on how this project developed, as well as how students can create SEEDS projects again in the future.
The final stage of this project is the development of a “SEEDS Handbook” that will be available for students who wish to continue on with a SEEDS project. This will be available on-line and will consist of the reflections of the participating students and coordinators.


~ EVALUATION

Presence of students is mandatory at all lectures and seminars as well as full participation in the class project. Active contribution during seminars and discussion is expected. Student participants will be observed by the coordinators and will receive a written evaluation, certificate of completion, and letter of reference at the conclusion of the project. This project will also be designed to evolve into an accredited university class, and as such, students will eventually receive a grade according to their home university’s grading system.

~ SEEDS PARTNERS

Three groups are managing the SEEDS 2001 project from their home countries. In Canada, a student group has been established under the name “SEEDS”, in Sweden a group of students primarily operating from CEMUS (Centre for Environment and Development Studies) are managing the affairs there, and finally, in Zambia, the project is being organised by students involved with Rescue Mission Zambia. More relevant information regarding each group can be found in Appendix II.


~ CONCLUSION

SEEDS PROJECT ZAMBIA is the first of its kind. This “Project Overview” followed no prior blueprint and the founders of this project have received no advice from individuals experienced in these matters. This project simply started from an idea. Although much can be learned from books and classes and professors, students also need to empower themselves by applying what they have learned, and by learning even more through the sharing of our ideas and abilities. SEEDS will be a success because those involved are all intrinsically concerned with environmental and development issues.

Please seriously consider contributing to the development of students’ education and the improvement of quality of life for hundreds. This endeavor come to be due to a desire to improve our world, rather than to merely study and understand it. It has emerged because these participating students are educated, innovated, compassionate and determined to find solutions.