Funding for the Border Regions/Fondos para la Región Fronteriza
Funding has always been an issue facing Environmental Educators. In our global economy, it is getting more and more difficult to guarantee continuous funding, especially in the border regions. Factors such as convincing the local and national government that specific EE projects are necessary and justifying their impact on the local economy, getting stronger memberships, updating and evaluating personal needs and impacts of projects, continuing to create new activities and curriculums, having annual meetings to discuss different projects and efforts among members all across the region, exchanging networks and sharing experiences, and maintaining contact and communication among organizations, all contribute to the necessity of long-term funding. After seed money is gone, what next?
We would like to know: How do we, as Environmental Educators in the Border Region, ensure continuity of efforts and gain long-term sustainability in our projects? What role should government funding and other foundations’ financial support play in our organizations and schools?
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Siempre nos hemos enfrentado a la dificultad de obtener y mantener financiamiento para la Educación Ambiental. En nuestra economía global, sigue más de menos difícil para garantizar fondos continuos, especialmente en la región fronteriza. Tratar de convencer al gobierno local y nacional que los proyectos EA son necesarios y justificar su impacto en la economía local, mantener participación, actualizar y evaluar necesidades e impactos de proyectos, crear nuevas actividades y materiales, reunirnos en un encuentro anual para discutir los diferentes proyectos y esfuerzos entre los miembros de toda la región fronteriza, intercambiar experiencias entre las diferentes redes ambientales y mantener el contacto y la comunicación entre las organizaciones, todo esto contribuye a la necesidad de obtener fondos de largo plazo. Despues de que se acaban los fondos iniciales ¿qué pasa?
Quisiéramos saber: Como educadores ambientales en la región fronteriza, ¿cómo darle continuidad a los fondos iniciales y obtener sostenibilidad más allá de los fondos? ¿Qué rol tienen los fondos del gobierno y el apoyo de otras fundaciones en nuestras organizaciones y escuelas?
November 19, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I believe that EE organizations should focus on “pride of place.” By saying that the normal avenues of education do not teach about one’s own home, an organization appeals to funders on both side of the political spectrum. We recently raised over a million dollars to further develop our nature center, receiving significant money from oil companies and “conservative” individuals, as well as foundations with a record of contributing to environmental causes. We also have a good relationship with our local foundations because of our steady, non-political programming.
EE educators should teach both local ecology and history. EE organizations should create a website resource full of material about their particular bioregion (like our website!) Newspapers, television, and radio (especially NPR stations) like “local” stories. We utilize all the above venues, and record over a million “teaching moments,” far beyond the 12000+ that actually attend our programs.
April 24, 2009 at 11:25 am
This is very up-to-date info. I’ll share it on Facebook.
April 7, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Masz juz scenario na wakacje? Jesli nie to polecam wakacje w mielno