June 25, 2003

Morgan Williams

Oberlin Design Initiative

15 1/2b W. College St.

Oberlin, Oh 44074

Re: Grant Application

Dear Mr. Willam

Eko Tim Sarajevo is pleased to submit the following application for your design Initiative. Our project as a pilot project will play a key role in developing a national and regional network for sustainable development.

Northeast Ohio is currently seeking to become a national leader in the area of sustainable development. In this process, international recognition is important to develop credentials for organizations from the region. Our network offers a cost effective distribution model that can offer create rewards in the short-term.

I am a graduating senior from CSU; specializing in sustainable development this project fulfills your guidelines. Furthermore, this program can offer other students from northeast Ohio the opportunity to gain skills working directly with a regional network through the internet.

The low-cost of this initiative does not reflect the limited scope of the project, but the cost effective use of recourses currently underused. If you have any project oversight questions you may contact Rijad Tikvesa at Rijad@EkoTim.org. Please feel free to contact me for any project implementation questions at 216 797 1148 or Info@EkoTim.org. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Dennis Morgan, Virtual Volunteer Eko Tim Sarajevo

Executive Summary

North East Ohio can cement its position as a leader in sustainable development through the cultivation of international cooperation. Initiatives currently active in the region have created a wealth of information in the form of electronic documents. Maximizing these resources is vital to the future of the movement.

Eko Tim Sarajevo is a grass-roots group that has developed in the last two years as a leader in the Bosnian environmental movement. Young enthusiastic activists have worked with local, regional and international foundations. The Bosnian government has also supported the activities and changed policies due to the determination of this group.

A regional network, Eko Mreza (Eco-network), has become a focus of Eko Tim’s activities. As a member of the steering committee, they have taken a lead role in the development of this organization. New groups have formed throughout the region based on the model of Eko Tim.

Eko Tim Sarajevo, a new organization itself, has managed to accomplish many things in its short history. However, determination and enthusiasm cannot replace reliable data. What they are lacking is readily available through a search of Cleveland area green organizations.

Bring these resources together can both cement the future of Eko Tim and a regional network. Furthermore, Cleveland organizations can gain wider acknowledgement for their efforts and develop relationships to develop sustainable development projects at a smaller scale.

Earth Day celebrations offer a perfect opportunity to highlight a new relationship between the hard-earned expertise of Cleveland and the determination of grass-roots organizations to make change for the better. Working at sensible pace, long-term benefits for all parties involved creates a win-win situation that is the heart of sustainable development.

Virtual support and virtual volunteer programs can both offer students of sustainable development experience and grass roots organization legitimacy. Eko Tim Sarajevo has demonstrated incredible talent at establishing itself as a regional player for sustainable development. International avenues of support will be found, the question for the Cleveland area is: are we really the type of leader that can be involved at an international level?

This project can create a solid relationship between the two regions at an early stage in the process. This is perhaps a greater opportunity for the Cleveland region: leaders need to demonstrate that they can follow.

Introduction

Sustainable development is the largest single project in the history of the world. Organization and stakeholders from around the world are working on the same problem; each seeking local solutions to deal with problems of global significance. The context of the information age offers the possibility of coordinating these efforts into a coherent whole.

The greatest challenge is the vast difference in institutional capacity. Large organizations have a wealth of electronic capacity that is often underutilized. Cleveland has several expert organizations that are pushing to make the area a national leader in sustainable development. However, electronic recourses posted to web sites are a passive distribution model. In a “hit or miss” proposition, smaller organizations use these resources to increase capacity.

Using a more direct distribution model, small organizations can gain even more support from excess capacity and large organizations could gain direct data from the development of these grass-roots organizations. The process involves sharing best practices, not reinventing the wheel, but coordinating destination.

The only challenge to extending this idea internationally is one of translation. Logistical costs are non-existent: a wealth of electronic documents has been created and distribution through the internet is virtually cost free given the extensive use of the medium by large organizations. Cost of translation is the only consideration.

Why Cleveland? As mentioned above the Cleveland is becoming nationally known for green building and other sustainable development issues (within the city is one of only a handful of eco villages projects in the country).

Why Sarajevo? Sarajevo offers two things: a strong grass-roots organization developing a regional network and a very low-cost translation market. English language skills have been a key marketable skill given the presence of international organizations over the last ten years. Translation to Serbo-Croatian in Cleveland runs as high as $40 per page, while in Bosnia the same service can cost seventy-five percent less.

As Cleveland looks towards sustainable development from a postmodern context, Eastern Europe, which is much less developed, can avoid some of the problems Cleveland is now trying to overcome. Urban sprawl for example is almost unheard of in the region, but by recognizing the danger at this stage, sound planning can support the strengths of the denser communities.

For the cost of translation, organizations from North-East Ohio can develop a reputation internationally. The smaller scale of eastern European cities also offers a test bed for the development of best practices. In some sense, Cleveland lacks community, but is developing technology to lead nationally to sustainable development. Conversely, Eastern Europe has strong community, but lack both technology and institutional capacity to ensure a sustainable future.

Objectives

In creating an electronic cooperative pilot project, Eko Tim Sarajevo will be able to expand their institutional capacity in order to demonstrate the cost effective nature of this type of project. Eko Mreza (eco network BiH) is the vehicle currently used to develop grass-roots organization throughout the region. Currently several new initiatives are being created in Bosnia as well as Croatia. Eko Tim Sarajevo was created through the support of Eko Tim in Nis, Serbia.

New grass-roots organizations have a small window of opportunity to blossom or wither. Strategic support in the form of best practice techniques, proposal writing, organizational structure and other related documentation can be gathered and made available to help small organizations survive to have a lasting impact upon the community.

In Cleveland, opportunities for students to offer assistance through a virtual volunteer program will develop. The possibility will be offered as we contact organizations for permission to translate and distribute electronic resources. These documents are generally available through web sites, but in contacting these institutions directly, we can establish a relationship and promote volunteer opportunities with our project.

Creating a virtual volunteer program and through translation of electronic resources a new legitimacy can be given to the process of creating new organizations. However, beyond this aspect small-scale demonstration projects will offer urban research data for a further extension of the project. Both students and active professionals can gain experience.

University programs in the region also offer a wealth of information in electronic form. Establishing contacts with these institutions will offer the best chance to find participants for the virtual volunteer project. Possible contributions can include web site design and maintenance, project design, support for proposal writing, and various other service over the internet.

The pilot period, January 2004 through June 2004 will create a wealth of electronic information that will expand the capacity of Eko Tim Sarajevo as well as new developing organizations through Eko Mreza BiH. Beyond this concrete accomplishment a new model for the sharing of institutional capacity will be created.

Methodologies

ANPED (the Northern Alliance for Sustainability) based in Amsterdam, has once again become a key aspect of our program ( www.anped.org ). Members have attended several of their skill-share seminars in ’98-’99. ANPED “is an international network of many organisations, working in CEE and NIS, which therefore gives the opportunity to link up with many similar organisations as EKO TIM. Also, as ANPED is involved in international processes, and has local groups included, they are the place where the local is meeting the global, therewith bringing local issues to a global level.”

REC (Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe) based in Budapest is our second key partner in our work ( www.Rec.org ). One member attended their Junior Fellowship month long training. Their office in Sarajevo was an essential support during the creation of Eko Tim Sarajevo. Their network will be used to report on the pilot project to the entire region.

Activities will build towards a pilot virtual volunteer campaign in January 2004. Training materials in cooperation with REC, the Earth-Day Net, and ANPED will be added to material from leading organizations and institutions in the Cleveland area for environmental NGOs through out the former Yugoslavia. NGO to NGO direct transfer of knowledge will be the focus of the materials; based upon the skill-share model developed by ANPED.

The approach to the issues outlined will require the creation of an environmental multi-media design group. In concert with event planning experience, a broad spectrum of services can also be offered to the local community and beyond including: Internet and web services, event preparations including promotion of concerts, desktop publishing, and graphic design. Recently two members have created a web site for a Greek company demonstrating the feasibility of our plans.

In July 2003, a general meeting is to be held to plan coordinated events for Sarajevo and beyond. Proven models need only to be applied and adapted in order to increase the number of environmental NGOs and help support them.

June – December 2003

This period will be used to develop strategies to make the most of our pilot program. www.EkoTim.org is currently being redesigned and a web portal program will be fully implemented with Alternative (a Canadian organization) who supplied Eko Tim with a computer for the office in Sarajevo.

Relationships will be established with organizations and institutions in the Cleveland area to compile a tentative list of participants in the pilot project. Electronic resources will be identified for translation as well as an advertising campaign begun for the virtual volunteer project. Direct marketing through email will be used to reduce cost. Design work will be provided from Eko Tim’s current resources.

This time period will also allow Eko Tim Sarajevo to complete a current fund raising campaign to secure core funding for the organization. New organizations currently being formed through the work of Eko Mreza will be able to finalize the registration project during this time period.

January 2004

Eko Tim Sarajevo will hire a staff person for translation duties. A contract will be drawn up for a six-month pilot period. Market research in Sarajevo indicates that a staff person at $500 per month is the most cost effective means to complete a large amount of translation.

February 2004

Distribution of materials will begin through Eko-mreza, EkoTim.org and direct email to partner organizations. Translation of materials will continue and a low-cost CD format guidebook will begin.

March 2004

Distribution of a CD format guide book will begin with a focus on simple projects for Earth Day Celebrations in each of the partner organization communities. Several ideas are available for low-cost initiatives for organizations to increase awareness in the community for their new initiatives.

April 2004

A report on the progress and possibilities of this project will be prepared for both the Cleveland and Sarajevo market. Eko Tim’s radio project will be used as the main vehicle in Sarajevo. A letter drafted and supported by each of the member organizations will be sent to each of the Cleveland area groups who have donated electronic documents.

Earth Day celebrations will be the center piece of the media campaign. Printed mini-guide books will be printed and explain the groups involved form Cleveland.

May – June 2004

This period will focus on translating information to English from the local groups that have worked with Eko Tim during the pilot period. Development of a comprehensive program will be possible at this point.

Funding will be sought to extend the cooperation of groups involved. Specific virtual volunteer guidelines will be created for the 2004 - 2005 school year. A virtual volunteer support organization will register (501 (c) 3) in the Cleveland area and seek funding to extend the model.

Organizational Background

The heart of our mission is Sustainable Development. Beginning work in 1997, our sister organization helped to make a Local Environmental Action Plan (LEAP) a reality in Nis, Serbia. Our major focus currently is a public awareness and an education campaign. Long-term goals involve environmental monitoring and the development of eco-cultural-tourism. Youth and volunteerism play important roles in all activities.

Eko Tim has developed with a long tradition of volunteer involvement and has managed to keep consensus decision making at the heart of the organization. Meetings are at regular intervals and always open to new members. Several volunteers have had specialized training in environmental studies (both at University and seminar settings) and have helped shape the general course of specific policies.

A group of activist from throughout BIH created Eko Tim Sarajevo in 2001. The main goals are based on the model of Eko Tim Nis. Education and public awareness are the short-term goals for the group. Currently projects are being develop on the internet to link environmental organizations throughout Bosnia by serving as a member of the steering committee for www.ekomrezabih.net ( Eko Net BiH). Equally, important local campaigns have been developing in Sarajevo to attract volunteers.

In 2002, Eko Tim Sarajevo won a contest from the city government for the best environmental project. Their plan for a car free day including monitoring the dramatic improvement in air quality during the event; the entire center section was closed to vehicle traffic.

Staff/Board

Rijad Tikveša - President

Edin Omerbašic- Vice-president

Edina Lazovic- member board of directors

Control/monitoring board:

Damir Bajroviæ

Belmin Sinanovic

Elvir Uzicanin

Budget for initial 6 month pilot project

Personnel

A virtual volunteer has been working with Eko Tim Sarajevo since its inception in 2001 and will continue to expand the project. Dennis Morgan will graduate from the CSU with a degree in International Relations and Urban Studies focusing on sustainable development. During a pilot period he will continue in a volunteer capacity, but worked towards extension of the project by June 2004. A staff translator is the most cost-effective method to create a library of electronic materials to form the core of this project. Equally, translation of result from the pilot period to English will be facilitated by this staff person.

Equipment

A computer and digital camera were purchased through previous grants and will be available for the duration of the pilot project. A CD burner will facilitate the distribution of larger amounts of data once a library is created. This will allow developing groups to share with newer initiatives.

Other Expenses

Office supplies will include blank CD-R’s as well as contribution to the office costs associated with daily work of the pilot project. Earth Day Printed materials will be distributed from Sarajevo, where costs will be kept low through bulk printing. The office space funds will be required to create a work area for translation.

Conclusion

The central issue of our work is sustainable development, bringing stakeholders together to inform them about strategies for a sustainable future. In this process, we hope to create an organization that can become self-funding and create a model for work in the Balkan region.

In encouraging both local initiative and cross-border contacts in the region, Eko Tim hopes to use proven models in places that very little work for the environment is done. Community gardens, for example, are an approached to urban re-development that has worked in western countries. Earth-Day celebrations can be used to invigorate public participation. In the long-term the focus is upon the impact eco-cultural-tourism can have on the region.

Eko Tim would like to sponsor the creation of a project in Cleveland to gather information to support their activities. If we were able to link activities with Urban Research centers like CSU, we would create a natural channel of information going both ways.

In recommending best practice ideas for Eko Tim SA, this information can be available for other group in the region and can be used in the Cleveland area to advocate sound environmental planning and demonstrate leadership on this issue.