World Educational and Cultural Organization
Verden Uddannelsesmæssige og Kulturelle Organisation | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | WECO, VUKO, OMEC, WBKO |
|---|---|
| Motto | Promoting understanding through creative collaboration globally |
| Founder | Uffe Sorensen |
| Founded at | Lotrič |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Heritage Building, Lotrič, Midrasia |
Director-General | Anna de Ouserad |
Chairman | Joel Bendtsen |
WECO, short for the World Educational and Cultural Organization, is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1973 as a successor to the regional Lhedwinic Heritage Foundation. The organization is one of Aeia’s most recognized and represented. According to original 1973 WECO Declaration of Purpose, the organization aims to raise appreciation for global intellectualism and Aeia's diverse cultures and heritages, achieved through promoting education and international collaboration. Through later amendments, promotion of sustainable development and peace-brokering in vulnerable regions have also been added to organizational aims.
Most Aeian nations participate in the organization as members. In addition, there are four associate members. The WECO collaborates with 211 non-governmental organizations, most of which are affiliated with education and national identity. WECO is headquartered in Lotrič, with a number of field offices and specialized institutes across Aeia. Most of its field offices are "cluster" offices covering two or countries, but national and regional offices that cover single countries or entire regions also exist.
The organization’s main work is carried out within two overarching programs: Culture, Education and Peace (CEP), and Scientific Research (SR). The major programs are divided into smaller and more specialized sub-programs. WECO receives funding from the governments of its member countries, which it uses to fund a series of projects related to its programs. WECO is most known among laymen for maintaining the list of cultural and natural World Heritage Sites, which the organization aims to protect and enhance. Also noted is the organization's yearly WECO Award, given out as a celebration dedication and excellence by member countries in achieving WECO goals.
Decisions on WECO Heritage Sites, WECO Awards and directional and administrative matters are discussed during quarterly WECO meetings. Member countries also present their efforts in WECO's work. As of 2020, the most recent summit was held April 2019 in Rehue.
History
In 1946, the historian and author Katrine Johansen officially established the Crylantian Heritage Foundation. Enjoying popular support as a result of the prevalent national movement which had swept across Crylante 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, Midrasia, and Cuirpthe. 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. The headquarters were moved to Lotrič in 1974.
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 millions.
WECO has during certain periods been perceived as a controversial organization by the international community, especially in post-colonial states and former colonizers. During the 1980s, some Asuran countries accused WECO for being too critical of Asura based on rejections of scientific literature published in Asuran universities, which were in conflict with literature published in post-colonial Arabekhi states. The protest sparked an outcry from other member countries and polarized the general member base. Several Majulan states left WECO in 1987 on the basis that the organization delved too deeply in the continent’s “racial problems”.
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 Lotrič, Midrasia. 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.
| Name | Years of Tenure |
|---|---|
| 1974 - 1976 | |
| 1976 - 1980 | |
| 1980 - 1982 | |
 Luix Capet |
1982 - 1984 |
 Wilfred Steinbeck |
1984 - 1986 |
| 1986 - 1988 | |
 Bridia Torán |
1988 - 1990 |
| 1990 - 1992 | |
 Anny Davidsen |
1992 - 1994 |
| Robert Williams |
1994 - 1996 |
 Auberto Di Marco |
1996 - 1998 |
| 1998 - 2000 | |
| 2000 - 2002 | |
| Clara Malnati |
2002 - 2004 |
| Manuel Pegrant |
2004 - 2006 |
| Dennis Conradi |
2006 - 2008 |
| Mercede Bava |
2008 - 2010 |
| Giscar Berezu |
2010 - 2012 |
| Marcel Passereau |
2012 - 2014 |
| 2014 - 2016 | |
| Arthur Hibbered |
2016 - 2018 |
 Anna de Ouserad |
2018 - Present |
Offices
WECO headquarters are located at the Heritage Building in Lotricč, Midrasia. 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 – 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 (Lotrič Office) – Headquarters of WECO
- WECO Asura Mainland Offices (Cyningburgh Office) – Regional offices of WECO for the Asuran mainland
Catai
- WECO Catai Headquarters - Office to the Catai Region
Frigidarum
- WECO Frigidarum Headquarters (Jääpunkt Office) – Office for the Frigidarum Region, as well as the location of facilities pertaining to the Frigidarum Oceans region. Regional Director: Dr. Tal Vaska
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
- WECO Majula Headquarters – Office to the Majula Continental Region
Rennekka
- WECO Rennekka Headquarters – Office to the Rennekka Continental Region
Vestrim
- WECO Vestrim Headquarters – Office to the Vestrim Continental Region
Member states
WECO counts 12 member states and four associate member. Some members are not independent states and some members have additional National Organizing Committees from some of their dependent territories.
World Heritage Sites
| Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 50 km2 (12,000 acres) | It is thought that most of the monuments were built between 1000 BCE and 850 BCE. | 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. |
| University of Mydroll | 
|
Mydroll, Midrasia | The University of Mydroll is the oldest university in Aeia, established in 1064. | 34.63 hectares (85.6 acres) | 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 | 4,273 m2 (1.056 acres) | 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 | 
|
Cyningburgh, Newrey | Houses the Witenagemot of Newrey | 18,000 m2 (4.4 acres) | 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. |
| Palazzo Orneta | 
|
Albasini, Atresca | Seat of the Atrescan Regency. | 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres) | Palazzo Orneta was constructed in 1225 | Palazzo Orneta was first constructed in 1225 for then Duke Davide I. Upon his death Duke 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 various governmental offices. |
| Miekat Förbundet | File:Swords in Rock.jpg | Ivgard, Navack | Monument for Navackian unification | 17 m2 (20 sq yd) | 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 | 1.78 hectares (4.4 acres) | 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 | 
|
Vestinia, Atresca | Home of the King of Atresca | 2 hectares (4.9 acres) | Completed in 1763 | Completed during the reign of Duke Renato I the Great, Palazzo Sandora was the main home to the Duke of Vestinia and their families ever since. Located in the Orenta District of Vestinia the palace shows off Ardaiman 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. | 6.47 hectares (16.0 acres) | 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 | 
|
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. | 227,919 km2 (88,000 sq mi) | 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. | 10.36 km2 (4.00 sq mi) | 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. |
