From: Professor Salim M. Diab

To: Mr. Mohammad Abbas, Director

Date: September 21, 1998

Dear Mr. Abbas:

Please accept my sincere appreciation and gratitude for the generous time and effort that you and your assistant Mrs. Icklas Sorat had given to me and Mr. Suheil Diab, the Deputy Mayor of Nazareth regarding our visit to your office on Saturday, September 19, 1998, concerning the status of environmental education issues in Nazareth schools and neighboring districts.

Based on our conversation, it is understood that my work on this project will be on a volunteer basis and that Terra Sancta College will be used as testing pilot for any educational materials developed for the project. It is also understood that office of "Nazareth Iris" may use any elements of this project for future request for financial funding.

• establish a steering committee composed of representatives from each of the schools involved in the project under the direction and management of the office of "Nazareth Iris" and assess the current status and needs of the school system.
• visit students, teachers, and administrators at Terra Sancta College and establish a working strategy using surveys for testing and evaluating the project.
• develop objectives for a hands-on curriculum that meets the needs and available resources of the schools.

• develop a hands-on manual that reflects the curricular objectives proposed above.
• involve University of St. Francis students in preparing, testing and evaluating the instructional units and hands-on activities.
• prepare final draft of the manual for implementation.

• familiarize teachers with manual by conducting workshops.
• test pilot curriculum at Terra Sancta College.
• assess and implement curriculum in perspective schools.

In addition to developing an environmental education and awareness curricular program to the schools of Nazareth, this project should serve the following benefits:

• promotion of a global dialogue between University of St. Francis faculty and teachers and students of schools in Nazareth.
• better understanding of how other cultures view environmental education and encourage the exchange of information and communication via the internet.
• enhancement of understanding of global environmental issues between faculty and students. 

In summary, I do hope that you find this proposal compatible with your current needs for environmental education as well as challenging to the new hopes and goals of the community for promoting a better environment. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Respectfully;

Dr. Salim M. Diab

Professor of Chemistry

University of St. Francis

Joliet, IL 60435/ USA

Phone: 001-815-740-3855

Fax: 001-815-740-4285

e-mail: sdiab@stfrancis.edu or etherman23@aol.com

webpage: http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/etherman.htm

cc: Mr. Ramez Jaraisy, Mayor of Nazareth

Directors of Secondary Schools in Nazareth and Neighboring Districts