The Bureau of Arts and Culture received 20,000 for digitization and preservation of Palau’s unique archive materials. The Bureau of Aging and Gender got $24,000 for its Applied Arts Center. And PICRC received $25,000 for the “Strengthening of Environmental Education and Awareness program to support biodiversity.”
The Participation Programme is one of the means employed by the UNESCO to achieve its objectives, through participation in activities carried out by Member States, organizations or institutions, in its fields of competence. This participation is designed to strengthen the partnership between UNESCO and its Member States and make that partnership even more effective through a sharing of contributions.
“Participation Programme from UNESCO is a program that gives Member States an opportunity to promote UNESCO’s programs and activities in their countries,” Dwight Alexander, Director of the Bureau of Arts and Culture, said in an interview.
UNESCO has different activities that they allocate money to; and the member countries support UNESCO by promoting these programs and activities in their own countries.
“That’s why it’s called Participation Programme; it’s not a grant,” Alexander said.
The agencies are required to submit reports to UNESCO, indicating how they have been able to promote those activities for UNESCO. It will be due in December 2011.
“So we have the whole year to work on it,” Alexander added.
According to PICRC, there are two elements that push its environmental and awareness programs. First is engaging the Center in the Ministry of Education’s Science curriculum at all academic levels by offering the agency’s expertise and facility as a field classroom to learn and appreciate the island’s environment. Second is to continue to work to raise public awareness on the importance of the coral reef systems at all levels of the society.
“With the grant from UNESCO, we will be able to accomplish 10 activities under the following objectives,” PICRC said.
One is to provide marine environmental education to at least 10 schools in Palau by December 2011.
Second is to implement the community awareness program via Field Guide books, posters, TV, signboards, and newspaper on conservation of Palau’s reefs based on results from the PICRC’s Research Department. And three, to expand the Aquarium’s education programs to provide more information to the public.
Both the Bureau of Arts and the Bureau of Aging are still developing their own programs and activities.
Masa-Aki Emesiochl, Palau National Commission for UNESECO Representative was on hand to sign the contract agreement with the three agencies.
The members of the Commission are Masa-Aki Emesiochl, Chairman/Minister of Education; Dwight G. Alexander, Secertary General, Director of Arts & Culture; and members Sinton Soaladaob, Education;
Faustina Rehuher-Marugg, Culture/Chairs the Culture Subcommittee; Laura Mangham, PCC, Libraries and Media; Eunice Akiwo, Media; Benedict Kesolei, Media; Yimnang Golbuu, Science; Vernice Yuji, Science; and Gustav Aitaro, Technical Assistance and Trade, Ministry of State.
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