Final Update: July-September 2021
The Blue Filter project has continued on track and has made incredible progress considering the increased unrest. The project leader, Salah El Sadi, reports that he remains at just over 80% finished with the purchasing of natural materials, setting up the lab, collecting samples and conducting experiments. He is also 90% finished training to develop the necessary expertise and skills, and since the last report has made fast progress with the testing and evaluation phase. Mr. El Sadi’s in-depth, measured updates have allowed us to see how rigorously he has continued to conduct markets surveys; identifying the size and beneficiaries within it, alongside side-tasks such as the creation of a mobile app and website. The REF is happy to see the project coming into its full form. A project like this has the potential to have a real and lasting impact – which we anticipate will be felt in the months to come.
Update 2: April-June 2021
Many people living in the Gaza strip have remained disproportionately at risk these last few months. Increased conflict has made everyday life a continued struggle. On top of this, the Gaza Strip has suffered severe water problems for a long time. Salah El Sadi has continued to use his project to remove harmful pollutants from water. Through this project, issues with water for farming purposes can be limited.
Salah`s project is on track and has made significant progress since it was launched in January. The progress up till now has been outstanding. Salah has identified six major milestones for us:
- The project is 80 percent finished purchasing the natural materials and setting up the lab. He is also made a deal with manufacturers for system building to providing it in Gaza strip.
- They are 80 percent done collecting the samples and carrying out research and development.
- The project is 70 percent done with the testing and evaluation. There have been promising results for the system treatment on land.
- Salah is 70 percent done with conducting a market survey to identify the market size and beneficiaries. Salah has conducted surveys to identify important issues, such as the problem with the drinking water and the size of problems in Gaza strip. He is trying to identify the efficiency of alternatives to solving the water problem to compare his solution with them.
- The project is 90 percent done with the training to develop the necessary expertise and skills. Salah works with local partners, local institutions and international institutions in related fields of green entrepreneurship.
- Finally, the project is also 85% done with creating mobile apps and website. This is important for various reasons, but particularly for raising awareness of the project.
We congratulate the team on its success. It is an important project that will have long-term impact. It is in an excellent position to continue to bloom.
Update 1: February-March 2021
The Gaza Strip has suffered severe water problems for a long time. The winner of the Refugee Entrepreneurial Fund, Salah El Sadi, has created an environmentally friendly filtration system that will remove harmful pollutants from water. El Sadi`s project is on track and has made significant progress since it was launched on January 5, 2021. It is well coordinated and is currently in the phase where it is undergoing laboratory testing, validation, workshops, paper writing, training and field visits.
Since the project was launched at the beginning of the year, El Sadi has made five major milestones: First, the project is 50 percent done with purchasing materials and setting the lab. Second, it is 60 percent done with collecting samples and carrying out experiments. El Sadi has started to create deals with manufacturers for system building to provide it in the Gaza strip. Third, the project is 55 percent done with the testing and evaluation. It has so far had good results. Fourth, it is 50 percent done with conducting a market survey to identify the market size and beneficiaries. El Sadi has conducted surveys to identify important issues, such as the problem with the drinking water and the size of problems in Gaza strip. He is trying to identify the efficiency of alternatives to solving the water problem to compare his solution with them. Fifth, the project is 60 percent done with the training to develop the necessary expertise and skills. An important part of the project is to teach farmers across Palestine how to employ the filter system. El Sadi is also working on how to create environmentally friendly solutions to water problems in neighbouring countries.
We are pleased to see the progress El Sadi has made. It is an important project that will ultimately support the livelihoods and health of famers and their families across the Gaza Strip. We are looking forward to continue to support and follow El Sadi`s journey.