Books and bears aren't the first things that come to mind when thinking of aid to Ukraine, but they are one of many items that engineering lecturer Douglas Evans is sending to Eastern Europe in an effort to help young Ukrainian Refugees.
Douglas (67) from Dundee, who has been lecturing at Forth Valley College for the last two years, is also involved with the educational outreach group Discover Science Engineering and Arts (DSEA) https://www.dsea.uk/ aimed at supporting education, the arts, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) literacy projects around the globe.
His first experience with aid and education projects, was back in 2009, on a British Council funded renewable project between, Balaju School of Engineering and Technology, Bharatpur and Trade School, Nuwakot, as well as Dundee College. Since then, he has worked with other like-minded professionals to provide help to vulnerable groups, IDPs, Refugees, and impoverished communities across the Globe.
As a lecturer, Douglas believes that education has the potential to not only change an individual's life, but also the lives of their community. Sometimes all that is needed is a little bit of knowledge and some support. His projects cover a broad scope, from teaching Nepalese students and supporting renewable power projects there to providing support for several dozen schools throughout the Middle East.
With the ongoing crisis in Eastern Europe, DSEA has expanded its efforts to now include support for Ukrainian children in Poland. The new projects will continue in the group's tradition of supporting education for these refugee children as well as support for the children themselves.
As the Ukrainian projects are a new venture, Douglas is looking for colleagues to help with supplying and sending aid to the refugees in Poland, and if possible, help with continuing to support the numerous schools that DSEA is involved with throughout the Middle East.
Douglas and his son David an Aerospace Engineer who regularly works in Turkey, set up www.DSEA.uk back in 2010. Since then, they have organized projects that have helped thousands of students in Iraq, India, Jordan, Nepal, Syrian, Turkey, the UK, and now Poland. Each project is specifically tailored to the individuals and countries that they help.
Douglas, said: “Books and Bears was Originally set up to help Syrian refugees in Turkey, by supporting students with enough supplies to get through school, as well as teddy bears for impoverished refugee children who fled the war. This expanded to providing support for impoverished children.
“The recent crisis in Ukraine prompted DSEA to provide support for refugees who fled to Poland and are in need of help. The group has supplied educational supplies for hundreds of students and aims to supply ‘Books and Bears’ as well as art supplies.
“Despite DSEA’s efforts, the group is struggling to send enough aid to help the many thousands of children and students who need help. With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the group has worked tirelessly to supply aid to Ukrainian Refugees in Poland.
“I am looking for colleagues to help support our existing projects and provide support for the many children who are needing help there. Books, Bears, and some of your free time would be greatly appreciated.
“DSEA has ambitions of becoming a not for profit charity, and would kindly welcome any advice and help to do so.”
Des McCabe, Curriculum Manager in FVC’s Department of Engineering and Science, said: “Everyone in the Engineering and Science Department is right behind Douglas and his efforts to help those affected by the tragic situation in Ukraine. We are happy to encourage colleagues and students to donate what they can to his appeal and get in touch with Douglas to find out how they can help.”
For more information on what Douglas and his son do and how you can help contact him douglas.evans@forthvalley.ac.uk or visit https://www.dsea.uk/
Other projects DSEA work on include:
New Horizons - This has included linking local experts with schools in the country they run, this provides a framework to support STEM topics being taught to students who may not have access to such topics. Some of the projects included lessons at Astronomy Observatories, and STEM experts visiting the schools directly. New Horizons regularly includes inviting colleagues from groups like NASA, ESA, CERN, and various Universities to give video conference lessons to various classes.
Support for Schools - Providing aid so students can continue their education, an extension of ‘Books and Bears’ where aid is provided to a school not only to provide support for existing schools, but to also provide teaching aids, materials, equipment and support for improving the variety and quality of lessons taught at that school.
STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics - These are a variety of hands-on projects aimed at encouraging an interdisciplinary approach between not only various STEM disciplines, but also encouraging a fusion with the Arts. This covered a broad scope from astronomy drawings lessons with refugees, to professional aerospace animation between colleagues at NASA and students throughout the UK.