In the Amazon
Title:Supporting communities along one of the world’s longest rivers
Subtitle:
Water World
Title:Amazon River
Subtitle:
Winding its way through the top of South America, the Amazon River is well-known for its incredible length (4,225 miles) and its importance to biodiversity and natural resources. 20% of the world’s fresh water comes from this impressive river, and its banks and waters are home to countless animal and fish species. Local and Indigenous communities rely on the river as a daily source of food, water, income, and transportation.
Unfortunately, the world, and the people living along the Amazon River basin, are at risk of losing this vital resource as the river succumbs to the effects of climate change and deforestation. If the Amazon were to dry up, the impact on the water cycle would be felt worldwide.
Swarovski Waterschool Brazil
Since 2016, Swarovski Waterschool Brazil has been working to transform and protect the Amazon River and its riverine communities. During the first two years, the project designed and tested an educational methodology to change the attitudes and practices of proper water treatment along the river. This included 45 different experiential activities focused on the themes of hygiene, hydration, sanitation, and water consumption and pollution.
The project currently works with 28 rural communities, which are home to around 3,715 people. Within these communities, the Swarovski Waterschool is involved with 20 different schools. Each community is located by a river or a lake and can only be accessed by boat. In many of these communities, it is common to drink water directly from the river. If the water is not treated properly, this can lead to dangerous diseases.
At the start of the program, 14 of the schools had no access to running or stored water; 16 lacked handwashing structures; 13 had no toilets; and six were without a school building. To tackle these challenges, the project began by either improving or building anew the infrastructure of these schools. This included building bathrooms, creating a filtering system that used rainwater collection and pumps, and renovating the schools’ water systems. In nearly all cases, the improvements to the school benefitted the surrounding village as well, as community members adopted the same water treatment practices in their own homes.
Currently, the project has trained 454 teachers in the Amazonas state. The long-term goal is to promote a large swathe of water-wise communities that implement sustainable water management practices that will improve the health and livelihood of the riverine communities, as well as the vitality of the Amazon River.
Unfortunately, the world, and the people living along the Amazon River basin, are at risk of losing this vital resource as the river succumbs to the effects of climate change and deforestation. If the Amazon were to dry up, the impact on the water cycle would be felt worldwide.
Swarovski Waterschool Brazil
Since 2016, Swarovski Waterschool Brazil has been working to transform and protect the Amazon River and its riverine communities. During the first two years, the project designed and tested an educational methodology to change the attitudes and practices of proper water treatment along the river. This included 45 different experiential activities focused on the themes of hygiene, hydration, sanitation, and water consumption and pollution.
The project currently works with 28 rural communities, which are home to around 3,715 people. Within these communities, the Swarovski Waterschool is involved with 20 different schools. Each community is located by a river or a lake and can only be accessed by boat. In many of these communities, it is common to drink water directly from the river. If the water is not treated properly, this can lead to dangerous diseases.
At the start of the program, 14 of the schools had no access to running or stored water; 16 lacked handwashing structures; 13 had no toilets; and six were without a school building. To tackle these challenges, the project began by either improving or building anew the infrastructure of these schools. This included building bathrooms, creating a filtering system that used rainwater collection and pumps, and renovating the schools’ water systems. In nearly all cases, the improvements to the school benefitted the surrounding village as well, as community members adopted the same water treatment practices in their own homes.
Currently, the project has trained 454 teachers in the Amazonas state. The long-term goal is to promote a large swathe of water-wise communities that implement sustainable water management practices that will improve the health and livelihood of the riverine communities, as well as the vitality of the Amazon River.
Some schools in Amazonas state received their first-ever bathrooms and handwashing stations.
Title:
São Raimundo – from zero to drinkable water
Title:
Sometimes, there is no existing solution that fits the local reality, so the Swarovski Waterschool has to develop it. In São Raimundo, the first solution needed was in regard to water collection and distribution.
Up until November 2020, the Indigenous community of São Raimundo sourced their water directly from the lake, carried in buckets up and down steep dirt paths by women and children. Not only was this a laborious task, it also created a gender imbalance.
Inspired by the ideas of the community’s chief, the Swarovski Waterschool installed water taps in each house to alleviate this challenge. However, these taps then faced a new problem: the pump for the taps relied on diesel fuel, which was expensive for the community to maintain. Furthermore, the water was still being consumed without proper treatment.
The following year, the project combined efforts with a group of engineers to develop a system that used solar energy to pump, filter, and purify the water to make it drinkable.
Up until November 2020, the Indigenous community of São Raimundo sourced their water directly from the lake, carried in buckets up and down steep dirt paths by women and children. Not only was this a laborious task, it also created a gender imbalance.
Inspired by the ideas of the community’s chief, the Swarovski Waterschool installed water taps in each house to alleviate this challenge. However, these taps then faced a new problem: the pump for the taps relied on diesel fuel, which was expensive for the community to maintain. Furthermore, the water was still being consumed without proper treatment.
The following year, the project combined efforts with a group of engineers to develop a system that used solar energy to pump, filter, and purify the water to make it drinkable.
Students enjoying water from the solar-powered water treatment system.
Title:
De nouvelles opportunités pour la jeune génération du peuple Uixi
Title:
Dans cet état, les jeunes de la communauté Uixi sont particulièrement vulnérables, en raison de la pénurie de travail dans la région. Nombre d’entre eux sont contraints de déménager loin de chez eux pour se rendre dans les zones urbaines afin d’étudier ou trouver un emploi.
En 2018, Swarovski Waterschool axe alors ses activités sur le renfort des compétences en leadership des jeunes de la communauté Uixi et se met à investir dans leurs initiatives. Une fois formés par le programme, ces jeunes dirigeants à la tête de petits groupes sont invités à lancer des initiatives au sein de leur communauté pour éduquer les populations riveraines aux enjeux de l’eau.
« Nous leur avons appris à traiter l’eau et les déchets. Au fil de nos voyages, nous avons pu constater qu’ils mettaient en pratique ce qu’ils avaient acquis. Comme par exemple construire une décharge pour rendre leur environnement plus sain. »
– Jorlaine, membre de la jeune communauté Uixi/leader
En 2018, Swarovski Waterschool axe alors ses activités sur le renfort des compétences en leadership des jeunes de la communauté Uixi et se met à investir dans leurs initiatives. Une fois formés par le programme, ces jeunes dirigeants à la tête de petits groupes sont invités à lancer des initiatives au sein de leur communauté pour éduquer les populations riveraines aux enjeux de l’eau.
« Nous leur avons appris à traiter l’eau et les déchets. Au fil de nos voyages, nous avons pu constater qu’ils mettaient en pratique ce qu’ils avaient acquis. Comme par exemple construire une décharge pour rendre leur environnement plus sain. »
– Jorlaine, membre de la jeune communauté Uixi/leader
Les programmes de leadership pour les jeunes de la communauté Uixi enseignent l’importance du traitement de l’eau et du développement durable.
Title:
Eliana da Silva: la alumna se convierte en profesora
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Eliana da Silva forma parte del proyecto Swarovski Waterschool en Brasil desde sus inicios. Cuando era alumna, participó en los talleres de su escuela y en formaciones de liderazgo juvenil, donde ayudó a coordinar grupos de jóvenes en su tribu. En 2021, ella y seis miembros del grupo de jóvenes llevaron campañas de educación sobre el agua y gestión de residuos a otras tres tribus de la cuenca del río Amazonas.
La experiencia de Da Silva con el proyecto Swarovski Waterschool la ha inspirado a convertirse en docente. Fue la primera profesora de su tribu en trabajar en una escuela local.
«Este proyecto ha sido una experiencia única no solo para mí, sino para todo el mundo que ha participado. Es algo que no se olvida. Este proyecto me ha ayudado a descubrir mi pasión: ser profesora».
– Eliana da Silva
Más información sobre el compromiso de Swarovski.
O visita el programa Swarovski Waterschool.
La experiencia de Da Silva con el proyecto Swarovski Waterschool la ha inspirado a convertirse en docente. Fue la primera profesora de su tribu en trabajar en una escuela local.
«Este proyecto ha sido una experiencia única no solo para mí, sino para todo el mundo que ha participado. Es algo que no se olvida. Este proyecto me ha ayudado a descubrir mi pasión: ser profesora».
– Eliana da Silva
Más información sobre el compromiso de Swarovski.
O visita el programa Swarovski Waterschool.
Eliana da Silva comparte su experiencia y conocimientos con los miembros de la tribu.
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