The Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) of the American University of Beirut (AUB) is calling for your support through its Keepers of the Land fundraising campaign. This campaign was launched in 2016 to support graduate students in their academic endeavors. They are the Keepers of the Land who champion the conservation of our values, resources, and traditions.
Because of the impact of the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, the weakening of the local currency, and the pandemic, we have broadened the campaign, through the Food for Beirut emergency national food security initiative, to benefit even more Keepers of the Land who are struggling to survive in the absence of any support during this unprecedented crisis.
We are calling on you to join our cause by supporting these Keepers of the Land.
ESDU PLEDGE
- To support the education of those who will ensure that we will all have food to eat by providing awards to undergraduate students and fellowship to graduate students at FAFS.
- To support the livelihoods of those who will ensure that we all have food to eat by helping to secure basic needs of:
- Sun – by providing solar units
- Water – by supporting water harvesting and
- Waste – through composting
The funds that are raised will be used to support the independence and sustainability of the Keepers of the Land strengthening their resilience, promoting the local food system, and promoting national food sovereignty in times of crisis. |
ABOUT ESDU
The Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) is a research and development unit at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB that's been caring for our “roots" for more than 20 years. ESDU works with the Keepers of the Land offering training and support to help them make a living while preserving our natural resources for future generations. Over the years, ESDU support has benefited more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students, interns, researchers, and around 100,000 community members (more than 60 percent of whom are women), promoting sustainable livelihoods of small-scale farmers/producers, agri-food cooperatives, and small businesses.
“Hidden somewhere deep inside, we are all Keepers of the Land. We want you to revive the keeper inside you!" Shady Hamadeh, ESDU Director |
HOW CAN YOU HELP?