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:
Comunità Uixi – delle opportunità per la generazione più giovane
Title:
Nello stato dell’Amazzonia, i giovani della comunità Uixi sono un gruppo particolarmente vulnerabile data la mancanza di opportunità di lavoro a livello locale. Di conseguenza, molti giovani sono costretti a spostarsi su grandi distanze verso aree urbane per studiare o cercare lavoro.
Nel 2018, il progetto della Swarovski Waterschool ha iniziato a focalizzare i suoi sforzi sul rafforzamento delle capacità di leadership tra i giovani Uixi e sull'investire in iniziative portate avanti dai gruppi giovanili. Dopo aver frequentato i programmi di formazione della Swarovski Waterschool, i giovani leader hanno formato gruppi di azione che hanno attuato iniziative idriche nelle loro proprie comunità e diffuso l’educazione idrica nelle aree circostanti.
“[We taught] riguardo ai rifiuti e all’acqua, e durante i nostri viaggi abbiamo avuto modo di realizzare che stavano mettendo in pratica ciò che avevano imparato. Hanno costruito una discarica, che ha reso più pulita la comunità”.
– Jorlaine, membro/leader della comunità giovanile di Uixi
Nel 2018, il progetto della Swarovski Waterschool ha iniziato a focalizzare i suoi sforzi sul rafforzamento delle capacità di leadership tra i giovani Uixi e sull'investire in iniziative portate avanti dai gruppi giovanili. Dopo aver frequentato i programmi di formazione della Swarovski Waterschool, i giovani leader hanno formato gruppi di azione che hanno attuato iniziative idriche nelle loro proprie comunità e diffuso l’educazione idrica nelle aree circostanti.
“[We taught] riguardo ai rifiuti e all’acqua, e durante i nostri viaggi abbiamo avuto modo di realizzare che stavano mettendo in pratica ciò che avevano imparato. Hanno costruito una discarica, che ha reso più pulita la comunità”.
– Jorlaine, membro/leader della comunità giovanile di Uixi
I programmi di leadership giovanile Uixi insegnano l'importanza del trattamento delle acque e della sostenibilità.
Title:
Eliana da Silva – da studentessa a insegnante
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Eliana da Silva fa parte del progetto della Swarovski Waterschool in Brasile sin dall’inizio. Ha partecipato ai seminari nella sua scuola come studentessa e anche ai corsi di formazione sulla leadership giovanile, durante i quali ha contribuito a coordinare i gruppi giovanili nella sua comunità. Nel 2021, lei e sei membri di un gruppo giovanile hanno attuato campagne di educazione idrica e di gestione dei rifiuti in altre tre comunità del bacino del Rio delle Amazzoni.
L’esperienza vissuta da Eliana Da Silva in seno al progetto Swarovski Waterschool l’ha spinta a diventare un’educatrice. È diventata la prima nella sua comunità ad essere assunta come insegnante e a lavorare in una scuola locale.
“Questo progetto è stato un'esperienza unica non solo nella mia vita, ma in quella di tutte le persone che vi hanno partecipato. È qualcosa che non dimenticheremo mai. Questo progetto mi ha aiutata a scoprire la mia vera vocazione nella vita: essere un’insegnante”.
- Eliana da Silva
Continua a leggere sull’impegno di Swarovski
o visita il Programma della Swarovski Waterschool.
L’esperienza vissuta da Eliana Da Silva in seno al progetto Swarovski Waterschool l’ha spinta a diventare un’educatrice. È diventata la prima nella sua comunità ad essere assunta come insegnante e a lavorare in una scuola locale.
“Questo progetto è stato un'esperienza unica non solo nella mia vita, ma in quella di tutte le persone che vi hanno partecipato. È qualcosa che non dimenticheremo mai. Questo progetto mi ha aiutata a scoprire la mia vera vocazione nella vita: essere un’insegnante”.
- Eliana da Silva
Continua a leggere sull’impegno di Swarovski
o visita il Programma della Swarovski Waterschool.
Eliana da Silva condivide la sua esperienza e le sue competenze con i membri della comunità.
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