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Karim Shrayedeh - Jordanian, West Asia

2018 Winner | | Jordanian

The “Protection of Water Dams in Jordan” project aims to protect the environment by increasing vegetation coverage in the catchment areas of two dams that supply Amman (the capital of Jordan) and Al-Karak with water. Both the Wadi Almujab and Wadi Al-Karak dams are facing increased accumulation of sand and other sediments. This has diminished their storage capacities, threatening vital supplies of water to agriculture. Without the dam water, farmers will be forced to tap precious limited groundwater resources – an unsustainable scenario. This project will seek to raise the dams’ water levels through non-traditional methods. Jordanians and Syrian refugees will be employed for a total of 75,000 working days to increase vegetation coverage in the catchment areas. The project will thus create new job opportunities, enhance social inclusion and foster a sense of shared responsibility for the maintenance of the dams and their catchment areas. Moreover, it will improve the efficiency of the aforementioned dams.

I am lucky to be the current Project Proposals Writer of The Jordanian Hashemite Fund (JOHUD) - the largest and oldest organization in Jordan - where I have written and won six project proposals that will change the environmental future of Jordan and provide services to thousands of people throughout the country. Previously, I was contracted with a new service provider agency that accomplished a cross border registration and relief distribution in an area where agencies are unable to operate. I was part of the team that designed and implemented projects. This provided me with valuable field experience dealing with security and working directly with refugees.

Disclaimer: NOTE: This content was shared online for the 2019 cycle of the Young Champions of the Earth programme and has not been updated. This listing does not constitute any endorsement by nor status with the UN Environment Programme.

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