Project Joule Showcase
As the number of refugees continues to rise globally, research on the provision and economics of energy access in refugee camps is much needed but remains underexplored. Providing safe and sustainable energy access is difficult in a displacement context, where political challenges, a shortage of energy specialists in the field, and limited private sector investment are a few of the many factors that prevent substantial improvements from reaching refugees.
We are four students from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs who traveled to Lebanon in March 2016 to learn about life in four Syrian refugee camps there. We went to study energy access in these camps -- a resource that impacts nearly every aspect of daily life from cooking to lighting to heating.
We wanted to know: What kinds of energy are used in the camps? How do the energy payments work? And is improving energy access a priority for families or the camp managers? How do families with limited resources make decisions about when and how to use energy?
Please join us in a showcase presentation where we will discuss our observations in addition to a photo exhibit.
Food will be provided by Eat Offbeat - a social enterprise that offers authentic ethnic food prepared and delivered by refugees in New York and Manhattan. http://eatoffbeat.com/
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Co-sponsored by the Prometheus Institute, the Migration Working Group, the Middle East Dialogue Group, SIPA Energy Association, ECO, Women in Leadership, and Women in Peace and Security.
As the number of refugees continues to rise globally, research on the provision and economics of energy access in refugee camps is much needed but remains underexplored. Providing safe and sustainable energy access is difficult in a displacement context, where political challenges, a shortage of energy specialists in the field, and limited private sector investment are a few of the many factors that prevent substantial improvements from reaching refugees.
We are four students from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs who traveled to Lebanon in March 2016 to learn about life in four Syrian refugee camps there. We went to study energy access in these camps -- a resource that impacts nearly every aspect of daily life from cooking to lighting to heating.
We wanted to know: What kinds of energy are used in the camps? How do the energy payments work? And is improving energy access a priority for families or the camp managers? How do families with limited resources make decisions about when and how to use energy?
Please join us in a showcase presentation where we will discuss our observations in addition to a photo exhibit.
Food will be provided by Eat Offbeat - a social enterprise that offers authentic ethnic food prepared and delivered by refugees in New York and Manhattan. http://eatoffbeat.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Co-sponsored by the Prometheus Institute, the Migration Working Group, the Middle East Dialogue Group, SIPA Energy Association, ECO, Women in Leadership, and Women in Peace and Security.