World Educational and Cultural Organization

World Educational and Cultural Organization

Native names

• Aquidish:	Organizzazione Mondiale dell'Educazione e della Cultura
  Alemannic:	Weltbildungs- und Kulturorganisation

Verden Uddannelsesmæssige og Kulturelle Organisation
Abbreviation	WECO, VUKO, OMEC, WBKO
Motto	Promoting understanding through creative collaboration globally
Founder	Uffe Sorensen
Founded at	Vænholm
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Kulturarvbygning (the Heritage Building), Vænholm, Glanodel
Chairman	Joel Bendtsen

The World Educational and Cultural Organization (WECO) (Glanish: Verden Uddannelsesmæssige og Kulturelle Organisation) is a non-governmental organization based in Vænholm, Glanodel. Its declared purpose is "to contribute to global education and pursuit of the liberal arts by promoting international collaboration in order to increase universal respect for intellectualism, diversity, culture, and heritage."

Most Asuran nations participate in the organization and a number of non-Asuran nations also participate. Most of its field offices are "cluster" offices covering three or more countries; national and regional offices also exist.

WECO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture, and communication/information. Projects sponsored by WECO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programs, international science programs, the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press, regional and cultural history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity, translations of world literature, international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage, collectively known as World Heritage Sites, and to preserve human rights, and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide.

WECO's aim is "to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information". Other priorities of the organization include attaining quality "education for all" and "lifelong learning", addressing emerging social and ethical challenges, fostering cultural diversity, a culture of peace and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication.

History

Purchased by the Lhedwin Heritage Foundation in 1960 and converted into a natural and human history museum in 1962, Kulturarvbygning (the Heritage Building) is now the headquarters of the World Educational and Cultural Organization.

In 1946, the widely recognized historian and author Katharina Johansen officially established the Glanish Heritage Foundation. Enjoying popular support as a result of the prevalent national movement which had swept across Glanodel in response to newfound sovereignty after the Great War, the Foundation quickly spread across the country and after partnerships with numerous tourism organizations, the establishments of "national heritage sites" began.

By 1960, the Foundation had renamed itself to the Lhedwin Heritage Foundation and its influence could be plainly seen throughout the nations of the archipelago as internationally recognized "hertage sites" were established. Later that year, the Foundation purchased the Heritage Building and began refurbishment. By 1962, the Building became the organization's headquarters and was quickly converted into a museum.

In 1971, the Lhedwin Heritage Foundation challenged the construction of several large scale, urban development projects that would have endangered the integrity of several historical monuments in Newrey, tir Lhaeraidd, and Vrnallia. After successfully protesting and preventing the completion of most of these projects, the organization gained international recognition and renamed itself the World Educational and Cultural Organization in 1973.

With its new name, the Organization quickly spread throughout Asura and had opened offices worldwide by 2000. Since then the Organization has named hundreds of World Heritage Sites, contributed to numerous education and cultural projects, and now receives contributions from hundreds of governments around the world and private donations ranging from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands.

Structure

The WECO is led by the WECO Director-General, who directly oversees WECO's day-to-day operations as a whole from WECO Headquarters in Vænholm, Glanodel. Below the organization's headquarters are cluster offices which oversee anywhere from operations across an entire continent to operations throughout several nations. Within each cluster office are national offices which oversee a specific nation and regional bureaus, which are generally used only within geographically large nations. Local offices, or liaison offices, are another office used mostly when several operations or heritage sites are located relatively close together and also provide legal and educational services to local communities.

Governing body

Many of the actions taken by the World Educational and Cultural Organization are proposed by representatives from member states' governments or the directors of local offices. Proposals are then voted on by the General Conference which is the organization's primary governing body and is composed of the directors of each of the national offices. Everything from research grants, cultural and educational projects, the founding of new branches/offices, and the official recognition of new Heritage Sites are all presented to the General Conference for approval at each of the Conference's quarterly meetings (January, April, July, October).

WECO day-to-day operations are administered and supervised by the Director-General who is elected by the General Conference two-year terms. The Director-General does not have the authority to enact new policies, approve new Heritage Sites, or grant funding, they may only execute the decisions made by the General Conference.

Director-Generals of WECO

Name	Years of Tenure
Marie Lauritzen	1974 - 1976
Silas Lund	1976 - 1980
Vera Magnussen	1980 - 1982
Luix Capet	1982 - 1984
Wilfred Steinbeck	1984 - 1986
Philipp Fenstke	1986 - 1988
Kai Koch	1988 - 1990
Stephan Trahnig	1990 - 1992
Anny Davidsen	1992 - 1994
Robert Williams	1994 - 1996
Template:Country data Aquidneck Auberto Di Marco	1996 - 1998
Template:Country data Sarpory and Vemnia Marina Jisdoke	1998 - 2000
Sigfred Boesen	2000 - 2002
Template:Country data Aquidneck Clara Malnati	2002 - 2004
Manuel Pegrant	2004 - 2006
Dennis Conradi	2006 - 2008
Template:Country data Aquidneck Mercede Bava	2008 - 2010
Loke Andersen	2010 - 2012
Marcel Passereau	2012 - 2014
Template:Country data Sarpory and Vemnia Stephane Gesersh	2014 - 2016
Arthur Hibbered	2016 - 2018
Anna de Ouserad	2018 - Present

Offices

WECO headquarters are located at Kulturarvbygning (the Heritage Building) in Vænholm, Glanodel. WECO's field offices across the globe are categorized into four primary office types based upon their function and geographic coverage: cluster offices, national offices, regional bureaus and liaison offices.

Field offices by region

The following list of all WECO Field Offices is organized geographically and identifies the members states and associate members which are served by each office.

Arabekh

• WECO Arabekh Headquarters (Jisthavefan Office) – Office for the Arabekh Continental Region, as well as the location of facilities pertaining to the North Opal Ocean region. Regional Director: Dr. Kaatja M. Rine.

Asura

• WECO Headquarters (Vænholm Office) – Headquarters of WECO
• WECO Asura Mainland Offices (Cyningburgh Office) – Regional offices of WECO for the Asuran mainland

Catai

• LOCATION NAME HERE (i.e. city name) – National Office to Country/Cluster Office to country, country, and country/Regional Bureau for city, city, and city in city, country/Liaison Office for specific project or heritage site in city, country

Frigidarum

• LOCATION NAME HERE (i.e. city name) – National Office to Country/Cluster Office to country, country, and country/Regional Bureau for city, city, and city in city, country/Liaison Office for specific project or heritage site in city, country

Yidao

• WECO Yidao Headquarters (Kulana Office) - Office for the Savai Islands and Yidao Continental Region, as well as the location of facilities pertaining to the Southern Jade Ocean region. Regional Director: Dr. Pauahi Pākī

Majula

• LOCATION NAME HERE (i.e. city name) – National Office to Country/Cluster Office to country, country, and country/Regional Bureau for city, city, and city in city, country/Liaison Office for specific project or heritage site in city, country

Rennekka

• LOCATION NAME HERE (i.e. city name) – National Office to Country/Cluster Office to country, country, and country/Regional Bureau for city, city, and city in city, country/Liaison Office for specific project or heritage site in city, country

Vestrim

• LOCATION NAME HERE (i.e. city name) – National Office to Country/Cluster Office to country, country, and country/Regional Bureau for city, city, and city in city, country/Liaison Office for specific project or heritage site in city, country

Member states

WECO counts 12 member states, but no associate members, yet. Some members are not independent states and some members have additional National Organizing Committees from some of their dependent territories. The current member states of WECO are: Ajerrin, Aleia, Aquidneck, Sarpory and Vemnia, Crylante, Glanodel, Mascylla, Midrasia, Navack, Newrey, Songdang, tir Lhaeraidd, and Vrnallia.

World Heritage Sites

Site	Image	Location	Criteria	Area	Year	Description
Frihedsstatuen (Statue of Liberty)	File:Glanodel-Statue of Liberty.jpg	Vænholm, Sørland, Glanodel	Frihedsstatuen was the first state-funded cultural project in Glanodel after the Great War and is closely associated with Glanish cultural traditions of liberalism.	14 acres (56,656 m2)	Construction began in 1915 and was completed in 1918. Formal dedication ceremony held in November of 1918.	Frihedsstatuen, or the Statue of Liberty, was dedicated as part of the fourth Glanish Presidential Inauguration ceremony. Today, it is perhaps the most widely recognizable Glanish national symbol and is most commonly associated with the ideologies of liberalism, equal protection under the law, and liberation from tyranny.
The Lentini Stone Constructions	File:Collage of Lentini Stone Monuments JPEG.jpg	Lentini, Crylante	The Lentini Stone Constructions are one of the first known, large scale construction projects in human history. Encompassing much of rural Lentini Island, the site consists of large aligned rows of standing stones, prehistoric burial chambers, ancient villages, and an ominous monolith overlooking the island's coast.	12,355 acres (50 km2)	It is thought that most of the monuments were built between 1000BCE and 850BCE.	It consists of five main sites scattered around rural Lentini Island, the Termeno Alignments (lines of standing stones), the Rovella and Magatsini Burial Chambers, Bergell Ancient Village and the Storring Man, which are located scattered across Southern Lentini Island. Today they are a major tourist destination for Crylantians and non-Crylantians alike, generating the Republic of Lentini Island 10% of its GDP in 2016.
Helleristninger af Hafrhell	File:Glanodel-cave drawings.jpg	Sørland-Østbjorth border to Ellesø, Glanodel	Some of the oldest known petroglyphs on the Lhedwinic Isles, dating back to the 9th millennia BCE.	230 km2 (134 sq.mi)	It is thought that most of the carvings were made around the beginning of 8000BCE.	As the oldest known petroglyphs Glanodel and one of the oldest in Lhedwin, the carvings are located along the walls of Hafrhell, a system of underground caverns extending from the coast of the Sørland-Østbjorth border to Ellesø, Særland. They provide unique insight into the origins of the Lhedwin culture.
Runesten Ögri	File:Glanodel-runstone3.jpg	Vænholm, Glanodel	One of Glanodel's oldest runestones erected in honor of King Ögri, the first King of Glanodel, in 973.	5 acres (20,234 m2)	The runestone is dated as being erected in the Spring of 973 and initial carving is believed to have started in 972.	Runestones were among the first forms of record keeping in Glanodel and the Runesten Ögri holds a detailed account of the life of the first Glanish King and the Annarrauthmál.
University of Mydroll	File:UniMydroll.png	Mydroll, Midrasia	The University of Mydroll is the oldest university in Aeia established in 1064.	85.57 acres (346,275 m2)	The first buildings at the university were completed in 1064. The majority of the 'old seven' colleges were constructed between 1250-1634.	The University of Mydroll is the oldest university in the world and one of the most prestigious, with construction beginning in 1064. The site covers thirty colleges across the city with around 20,000 students and 1,700 academic staff.
St. Alydian's Cathedral of Norlynn	File:Norlynn-Cathedral.jpg	Norlynn, Newrey	St. Alydian's Cathedral of Norlynn	46,000 sq.ft (4,273 m2)	The cathedral, in its current form, was completed in 1083	The St. Alydian's Cathedral of Norlynn is one of the oldest buildings of the Alydian faith, and the first cathedral built in Newrey. It also hosts the coronation of every Monarch of Newrey
Parliament of the Witenagemot	File:Witenagemot-building.jpg	Cyningburgh, Newrey	Houses the Witenagemot of Newrey	Dunno	The main building was completed in 1783	The Witenagemot building hosts the Witenagemot of Newrey and remains one of the few gothic revival buildings in Cyningburgh.
Hagamnova Temple Complex	File:Ukamnovo.jpg	Dvrieska, Vrnallia	The oldest extant building in Vrnallia, believed to have been used for religious purposes in prehistoric times.	0.43 acres (1,744 m2)	Between roughly 2000BCE and 500BCE	A prehistoric complex believed to have been used for ritual purposes when Vrnallia was first settled. The facility is built from limestone and the Vrnallian name simply means "Red Brick Temple". Radiocarbon dating suggests that the temple is between three and four thousand years old, though this is disputed and the temple may be two and a half thousand years old at most.
Palazzo Orneta		Torden, Aquidneck	Seat of the Aquidish Senate.	9.5 acres (30,351 m2)	Palazzo Orneta was constructed in 1225	Palazzo Orneta was first constructed in 1225 for then King Davide I. Upon his death King Livino III gifted the palace, which he despised, to the Senate which had been created 2 years prior. Palazzo Orneta has become the seat of government providing a home for the Prime Minister, the Senate, the Speaker of the Senate, and the various other governmental offices.
Miekat Förbundet	File:Fb9830a9d3724b4250ab7e5a1e7dc692.jpg	Ivgard, Navack	Monument for Navackian unification	17 m2 (182,986 sq.ft)	The bronze swords were made in 872	The swords symbolize the union of the three great kingdoms of Navack after the Trinity War. After years of conflict the thre last great kingdoms sealed the unification on the top of the Vaker Hill, a few miles from Ivgard, on the Great Svartvann River
Garden of Almiaro		Almiaro, Midrasia	Exposition centre, art gallery and orchestral hall	4.4 acres (17,806 m2)	The construction was completed in 1972	Initially a controversial construction due to its post-modernist architectural style, the Garden of Almiaro has since come to embody the post-modern movement, inspiring a whole host of new architectural styles and buildings. The Garden is now a renowned and respected cultural site within Midrasia.
Palazzo Sandora		Torden, Aquidneck	Home of the King of Aquidneck	5 acres (20,234 m2)	Completed in 1763	Completed during the reign of King Renato I the Great, Palazzo Sandora has been the main home to the Kings of Aquidneck and their families ever since. Located in the Orenta District of Torden the palace shows off Aquidish architecture of the mid-1700s.
Kawanakan Heritage Museum	File:Bishop museum oahu hawaii.jpeg	Royal Grounds, Federal Territory of Maka, Ajerrin	The Kawanakan Heritage Museum is a museum of history and science located in the Historic Royal Grounds of Maka on the Ajerrin island of Lahu'i.	16 acres (64,749 m2)	Museum Founded in 1875	Founded in 1875, it is the largest museum in Ajerrin and has the world's largest collection of Kawanakan cultural artifacts and natural history specimens. Besides the comprehensive exhibits of Kawanakaa, the museum's total holding of natural history specimens exceeds 24 million, of which the entomological collection alone represents more than 13.5 million specimens.
Ajerrin Marine Preserve	File:C1SK4.jpg	Federal Marine Preserve of Akua Ka Hale, Ajerrin	Deep-sea coral reefs and other marine ecosystems are among “the most vulnerable” to the effects of a growing population and climate change on Aeia.	88,000 mi2	Marine Preserve Law, 2017	The areas contain “significant objects of scientific interest that are part of this highly pristine deep sea and open ocean ecosystem with unique biodiversity,” according to Federation Protected Marine Reserve Law All commercial extraction activities, including fishing and future deep-sea mining, are prohibited in the monument area.
Remsting Valley		Sønderburg, Crylante	Remsting Valley was the meeting site of the Remsting, the historical law court of the Duchy of Sønderburg, where senior warriors and Trúathist priests (Freyjasthralls) would gather.	4 mi2	The field was first used in the early 9th century.	The practices of the Duchy of Sønderburg have been influential to the nature of democracy and the rule of law in the modern day, and are seen as a key influence on modern Crylantian democracy.
Hochkronstein Palace	File:Hochkronstein.jpg	Königsreh, Kronlande, Mascylla	Ancestral seat of the residing Monarch of Mascylla	15,239 m2	The castle was finished in its current form in 1302.	The Hochkronstein Palace is one of the oldest still used castles in Mascylla, its earliest foundation dating back to 1255. Most of its original components and structure remained over time, while it served as the ancestral seat of the monarch of Cheld and later the Mascyllary dynasty for five centuries. Built in the style of late Middle Ages' Gothic period and erected in one of the most expensive constructions at that time, it posesses a number of extensive defense installations, multiple towers, a throne room, and various other unique features for a Mascyllary castle.