WRAP is a supporting partner of the American University School of International Service’s (SIS) Water Cooperation & Peace Practicum.  The practicum, underway and continuing throughout the summer, aims to evaluate the peacebuilding significance of cooperative Palestinian-Israeli water projects.  A group of eight M.A. candidates, led by two AU Professors, is working to research, collect data, and conduct field studies at project sites within Israel and the Palestinian West Bank.  WRAP congratulates the AU team for its efforts in the region.

To learn more about the practicum, click here.

The Water Resources Action Project’s installation and program at the Sur Baher Girls School in East Jerusalem was recently profiled in the Christian Science Monitor. The article entitled Environmentalists tap Palestinian schoolchildren to clean Jerusalem’s holy valley focuses on the school’s environmental education program and ongoing efforts to reduce the school’s contributions to the “Six Olympic-size pools of trash and sewage [that] are dumped in Kidron Valley, which abuts Jerusalem’s holiest sites, every year.” The article appears in the April 22 online edition as part of the news organization’s ongoing coverage of current events and issues in the Middle East.

For more information and to read the article in full, visit the CSMonitor website at http://www.csmonitor.com.

What: Global Understanding Convention
When: April 9, 2013
Where: Monmouth University

THG’s Brendan McGinnis, in his role as President of the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP), will be presenting on the challenges that securing reliable and accessible water pose to the quality of life in the Middle East and WRAP’s efforts to mitigate these challenges.

WRAP funds and constructs rainwater harvesting systems at schools throughout the region, accompanied by a strong educational program and monitoring procedures. To date, WRAP has installed two such systems in East Jerusalem. WRAP’s next project, a cistern system, will be located at the Battir Girls High School, near Bethlehem in the West Bank. Mr. McGinnis will provide his first-hand account of the Middle Eastern water conflict, resulting impact on human health and the environment, the opportunity to make an immediate difference, WRAP’s role, and lessons learned along the way.

To learn about the Battir School project and contribute to this worthwhile effort that will greatly improve the education and water security of these underprivileged children, visit http://bit.ly/WRAPBattir.

Interview: “Addressing the Middle East Water Crisis – One Rain Drop at a Time”

May 2012

Brendan McGinnis, Founding Member of the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) recently sat down for an interview with Ed Saltzberg, Managing Director of the Security and Sustainability Forum (SSF). The 23 minute interview explores the origins of WRAP, and takes a look at the important issues of water quality, availability, and scarcity faced by the Middle East.

Watch a video recap of the interview.

In The Spotlight: Presentation from Water Resources Action Project Gathering

As posted in The Horinko Group’s April 2012 Newsletter

April 16, 2012

On March 22, The Horinko Group hosted a Welcoming Reception on behalf of the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) to raise awareness and build support for the volunteer, non-profit seeking to improve public health for underserved communities in the Middle East through greater water stewardship.  WRAP recently completed its second rainwater harvesting project at the underprivileged, special needs Afack School in East Jerusalem. 

The gathering included the following remarks and presentation on WRAP’s past and current efforts by Founding Member and THG’s Water Division Director, Brendan McGinnis:

"Let’s start off with a snapshot of what the water conflict looks like in the Middle East.  More specifically, I’m going to focus on the bordering regions of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan – the initial focus of WRAP’s efforts.  This region is one of growing population that is already dealing with dire water shortage problems.  All three of these bordering countries rely on a shrinking and polluted Jordan River, and adding to this problem, the number of rainy days decreases each year.  So, as you can imagine, freshwater is a precious resource for this region and its people."

To read the remainder of "In the Spotlight," click here.

Dedication Ceremony for WRAP’s Second Project Scheduled for April 23, 2012

April 2012

The Only Green Environmental Center in East Jerusalem has announced the dedication ceremony for the Water Resources Action Project’s second installation at the Afack School in East Jerusalem is scheduled for April 23, 2012. The dedication will be held from 8:30 – 11:00 AM and will feature an appearance by the Deputy Mayor of East Jerusalem, Naomi Sur.

WRAP Partners with Only Green to Complete Second Rainwater Harvesting Project

April 2012

The Water Resources Action Project recently partnered with Only Green, the East Jerusalem Environmental Center, to provide funding for WRAP’s second project. The funded project included the construction and maintenance of the raincatcher system at the Al-Afaq School for Special Education in Sur Baher, a neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

Read the full text of the letter about the project from the Only Green Environmental Center.

Water Resources Action Project Accepts Grant from The Jerusalem Fund

As posted in The Horinko Group’s January 2012 Newsletter

January 2012

Founded in 2009, the Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to address water quality-quantity issues for underserved communities in the Middle East.  The organization has focused its initial efforts on harvesting rainwater for schools in East Jerusalem by way of catchment systems, allowing the institutions to remain open during the dry season. 

WRAP’s pilot project, completed in February 2011 at the Sur Baher Girls School, provides one of the school’s restroom with water for toilet flushing.  The grant received from The Jerusalem Fund will allow WRAP to expand the catchment system, collecting enough water to service an additional school restroom. Brendan McGinnis of The Horinko Group is a Founding Member of WRAP and will be actively engaged in identifying, financing, and overseeing the future installations.

As a result of its members and generous donations, the group has started work on its second project, a rain catchment system at the Afaq School. In the years to come, WRAP hopes to install systems in 10 locations throughout Israel and another 10 in Palestine.

Sur Baher Girls School Pilot Project Dedication and Middle East Mission

June 2011

Last month, three of WRAP’s members, Brendan McGinnis, Julie Weisman, and Bob Cole, traveled to the Middle East to participate in the dedication of WRAP’s rain catchment installation at the Sur Baher Girls School in East Jerusalem, as well as identify additional schools for funding.

The dedication featured remarks from Naomi Sur, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem. Sur praised the school’s efforts and the children’s enthusiasm, “Seeing the kids so involved, so caring for what they are doing, I think that’s the sign of good education.” The dedication also included tours of the school’s new rain catchment system led by Amir Yechieli, the pilot project’s Installation Contractor.

WRAP recorded two videos of their visit and the dedication itself. The first video features remarks from Naomi Sur as presented at the dedication ceremony while the second features Amir Techieli guiding a tour and explaining the pilot project and the rain catchment system.

To watch the video of the Deputy Mayor’s remarks, click here.

To watch the video of Amir’s pilot project description, click here.