Q1 FY21 Report: Under the Same Green Roof

The program will establish Green Roofs in Jewish and Arab communities in Israel, serving as platforms for joint learning and promoting a culture of peace among at least 1,572 direct beneficiaries. Program activities are based on the Social/Cultural Contact and Cooperation/Mutual Interest theories of change and are rooted in a framework of Environmental Peacebuilding. The program's expected outcomes include the development of mutual trust, cooperation, and a common vision for shared living among Israeli Jewish and Arab youth, schoolchildren, and community members through joint environmental peacebuilding activities. Additionally, the program aims to promote Jewish-Arab cooperation in the local innovation ecosystem and facilitate meaningful opportunities for the advancement of joint Jewish-Arab ventures in GreenTech and Circular Economy verticals. Increased awareness among key Jewish and Arab public and private sector stakeholders of the need for peace education and cross-community environmental cooperation is also an expected outcome. During Q1 FY21, the Peres Center and implementing partners progressed successfully through the preliminary stages of the program components, despite facing some delays and challenges due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The program is on track to commence public-facing activities and meet objectives and targets for participation in the program's community building, education, and innovation activity components. Component 1: Inception and Community Building was successfully executed, with the implementing partners – The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, Kfar Saba Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and Kfar Qassem Economic Development Corporation (QEC) – executing partnership agreements and recruiting personnel. The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation recruited a Project Manager and a USAID Compliance Officer, while the Kfar Saba EDC recruited a Community Coordinator, and the Kfar Qassem QEC increased an existing employee's LOE to fill the role of Innovation & Community Coordinator. The program's environmental peace education curriculum was also developed by the Peres Center's project management and peace education team in collaboration with environmental consultants from the Kfar Saba EDC. The curriculum combines the concepts of Green Roofs technology and urban environmental sustainability with the Peres Center's core peacebuilding methodologies, including Hebrew/Arabic language instruction, teambuilding activities, and discussions on urban environmental challenges. The curriculum uses a "training the trainers" approach, providing Young Leaders with the knowledge, tools, and self-confidence required to run successful sessions with schoolchildren.