Mediterranean Education Initiative for Environment & Sustainability by Iro Alampei, MSc. MIO-ECSDE Programme Officer

MEdIES IS… MEdIES is a Mediterranean Network on ESD aiming to contribute to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the MDGs through the effective implementation of common innovative educational programmes. Launched during WSSD (2002) as a Type II Initiative MEdIES OBJECTIVES: To raise public awareness and support education relevant to sustainable management of freshwater resources and wastes by appropriate educational schemes To facilitate networks on ESD and develop a methodological framework for such networks (to be adapted in other regions).

MEdIES structure Core Group: Greece, Italy UNESCO, UNEP/MAP, MIO-ECSDE, and GWP-Med Task Group: 44 members (NGOs, IGOs, Ministries for Environment and/or Education, Educational, Environmental Institutions, etc.) Network of Educators Secretariat: MIO-ECSDE

Methodology - Regular coordination meetings & communication between the Secretariat and the Core as well as the Task Group. -Consultations & participatory processes in the development of new educational materials for the Network. - Training seminars & workshops for the educators of the Network in the partner countries together with the local partner(s) of Task Group. - Promotion of ICTs through the function and use of the MEdIES interactive webpage ( providingwww.medies.net A platform of communication for its registered users, Up-to-date information, announcements, reports of meetings etc on ESD topics at international, regional and national level, A library with all MEdIES educational materials (free for download) and basic ESD documents.

Main Activities Publications & educational materials Training Seminars, Conferences & meetings Webpage

Publications “Water in the Mediterranean” English, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Croatian, Portuguese, Spanish “Wastes in our life”: Greek, English “Sustainable Mediterranean” Special Issues No 30 & 34 Handbook on Methodology on EE & ESD Proceedings of the Conference on “Methodologies for the application of educational materials in Education for Environment & Sustainability”_Athens 2003, English. Proceedings of the Conference on “Environmental Education: the Mediterranean Perspective” _, Athens 2002, English.

MEdIES materials

Meetings – Events Core Group meetingsAthens, December 2002 Istanbul, October 2004 Task Group meetingsAthens, December 2002 Spain, December 2003 Educational and Training meetings –Athens, December 2002 (regional) –Athens, October 2003 (national) –Rome, March 2004 (national) –Athens, June 2004 (Evaluation) –Turkey, October 2004 (national) –Egypt, December 2004 (national) –Lebanon, November 2005 (national)

Activities Task Group formulation * Material on water ENIT FR GR PT TRARCR Material on waste GREN draft EN final Network preparation Network function Training Seminars & events RegGRITTR EG LE MO * Students Camp * Handbook on ESD EN Methodology framework **

Economic Issues The MEdIES Initiative has been financed by the Greek and the Italian Government, the Commission of the EU and the GWP- Med, while two of its Greek publications were financed by a private donor.

MEdIES contribution to the UN Decade on ESD ( ) Unique Type II Initiative on ESD in the region including all countries Promotes ICTs (Information & Communication Technologies) & networking Launched in view of DESD, in line with its principles: –Supports the educational community by means of publications, Seminars etc. –Facilitates the cooperation and exchange of information among educators NGOs and other relevant stakeholders –Development of a methodology output.

Next Steps Participation in an educators’ training project in Greece on topics of sustainable development within the UNESCO’s ASPNet schools ( , ) National launching of MEdIES & training seminars for educators in Morocco, (January 2006). Maintenance & enrichment of the educators e- Network Publications (French & Greek translation of the Handbook on methodology & English version of the material on waste)

How can someone get involved in MEdIES? NGOs, IGOs, Educational Institutions etc. send a letter of intention to the Secretariat (MIO- ECSDE) Individuals that are engaged with ESD programmes subscribe for free at