Basics: In February 2012, WRAP completed its second project, a rain barrel harvesting system at the Al Afaq School for Special Education located in East Jerusalem. The project serves 300 Arab boys with special needs and includes three years of maintenance and educational programming.
Details: The rain barrel system and educational program at Al Afaq function similarly to the first project at Sur Baher Girls School. Rain collected from the roof of the school is transferred to rain barrels and used for toilet flushing and gardening.
Results: Since the installation of WRAP’s system, the school has pursued a number of complementary projects, including gardens and hands-on environmental education activities. The activities, which are connected through a visual interpretive diagram described in stages throughout the school yard, include a greenhouse, compost site, and outdoor covered classroom, all created with reusable materials and anchored by WRAP’s rainwater harvesting system.
At the Al Afaq School, the environmental program continues to have a significant impact on the community, providing a sense of accomplishment and hope to both the students and their parents, who face enormous challenges in their personal lives.
Monthly data reporting from November 2012 – March 2016 showed that the rain harvesting system has collected and conserved over 184,000 liters, used for the school’s toilet flushing and community garden.
Ongoing Commitment: The school’s leadership and the surrounding community are very supportive of the project and environmental education has become a central focus of the school. WRAP’s delegation makes regular visits to the school and WRAP continues to fund the system’s routine maintenance and educational program. Al Afaq is also partnering with WRAP in its efforts to establish connections between students from different backgrounds.
How it’s possible: The project was funded by WRAP’s member contributions and a $4,000 commitment by its local in-school partner, the Only Green Environmental Center. WRAP and Only Green continue to collaborate with the school to coordinate a variety of parallel environmental and community-building initiatives. 
