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 – dal nulla all’acqua potabile
Title:
A volte, non esiste una soluzione che si adatti alla realtà locale: è dunque compito della Swarovski Waterschool svilupparla. In São Raimundo, la prima soluzione di cui si aveva bisogno riguardava la raccolta e la distribuzione dell’acqua.
Fino a novembre 2020, la comunità indigena di São Raimundo si procurava direttamente dal lago l’acqua che veniva trasportata in secchi da donne e bambini nelle due direzioni per ripidi sentieri sterrati. Non solo si trattava di un compito faticoso, ma creava anche uno squilibrio tra i generi.
Traendo spunto dalle idee del capo della comunità, la Swarovski Waterschool ha installato rubinetti per l'acqua in ogni casa per alleviare questa situazione. Tuttavia, questi rubinetti hanno poi dovuto affrontare un altro problema: la loro pompa di erogazione era alimentata da carburante diesel, il che ne rendeva la manutenzione troppo costosa per la comunità. Inoltre, l’acqua veniva ancora consumata senza essere stata sottoposta a un trattamento adeguato prima dell’uso.
L’anno seguente, il progetto ha collaborato con un gruppo di ingegneri per sviluppare un sistema che utilizzasse energia solare per pompare, filtrare e purificare l’acqua in modo da renderla potabile.
Fino a novembre 2020, la comunità indigena di São Raimundo si procurava direttamente dal lago l’acqua che veniva trasportata in secchi da donne e bambini nelle due direzioni per ripidi sentieri sterrati. Non solo si trattava di un compito faticoso, ma creava anche uno squilibrio tra i generi.
Traendo spunto dalle idee del capo della comunità, la Swarovski Waterschool ha installato rubinetti per l'acqua in ogni casa per alleviare questa situazione. Tuttavia, questi rubinetti hanno poi dovuto affrontare un altro problema: la loro pompa di erogazione era alimentata da carburante diesel, il che ne rendeva la manutenzione troppo costosa per la comunità. Inoltre, l’acqua veniva ancora consumata senza essere stata sottoposta a un trattamento adeguato prima dell’uso.
L’anno seguente, il progetto ha collaborato con un gruppo di ingegneri per sviluppare un sistema che utilizzasse energia solare per pompare, filtrare e purificare l’acqua in modo da renderla potabile.
Studenti che si godono l'acqua provienente dal sistema di trattamento dell’acqua a energia solare.
Title:
Uixi 社區 – 年輕一代的機會
Title:
在亞馬遜州，Uixi 社區的年經人因為當地缺乏工作機會，生活特別不易。因此，許多青年被迫離鄉背井，搬到大城市求學或謀生。
2018 年，Swarovski 水資源學校專案開始將精神集中放在加強 Uixi 青年的領導能力，以及投資青年團體所提出的行動方案上。青年領袖在參加 Swarovski 水資源學校訓練計劃後，組成了行動團體，在自己社區內實施水資源行動方案，同時將水資源教育引進鄰近地區。
「我們教導他們關於垃圾與水的處理知識，而在這段期間，我們看到他們真的在將所學付諸實踐。他們蓋了一座垃圾場來保持社區整潔。」
– 喬萊恩，Uixi 社區青年團體成員/領袖
2018 年，Swarovski 水資源學校專案開始將精神集中放在加強 Uixi 青年的領導能力，以及投資青年團體所提出的行動方案上。青年領袖在參加 Swarovski 水資源學校訓練計劃後，組成了行動團體，在自己社區內實施水資源行動方案，同時將水資源教育引進鄰近地區。
「我們教導他們關於垃圾與水的處理知識，而在這段期間，我們看到他們真的在將所學付諸實踐。他們蓋了一座垃圾場來保持社區整潔。」
– 喬萊恩，Uixi 社區青年團體成員/領袖
Uixi 青年領導力計劃旨在教導水處理與永續管理的重要性。
Title:
艾蓮納·達·席爾瓦 – 當學生成為了教師
Title:
艾蓮納·達·席爾瓦在 Swarovski 巴西水資源學校專案一開始時，就加入該專案。當時還是學生的她，參加了學校的講習班以及青年領導力訓練，幫助協調自己社區中的青年團體。2021 年，她和六個青年團體成員將水資源教育及廢棄物管理運動引進了亞馬遜流域的其他三個社區。
達·席爾瓦在 Swarovski 水資源學校專案獲得的經驗，啟發她成為教育工作者。她成為自己社區中首位受聘擔任教師的居民，在當地學校服務。
「這項專案不僅是我人生中的獨特經驗，也是所有參與者人生中的獨特經驗。它教給我們的東西，我們永遠不會忘記。這項專案幫助我發現自己一生的志業，也就是成為一名教師。」
– 艾蓮納·達·席爾瓦
閱讀更多關於 Swarovski 所做努力的資訊。
或者，請造訪 Swarovski 水資源學校計劃。
達·席爾瓦在 Swarovski 水資源學校專案獲得的經驗，啟發她成為教育工作者。她成為自己社區中首位受聘擔任教師的居民，在當地學校服務。
「這項專案不僅是我人生中的獨特經驗，也是所有參與者人生中的獨特經驗。它教給我們的東西，我們永遠不會忘記。這項專案幫助我發現自己一生的志業，也就是成為一名教師。」
– 艾蓮納·達·席爾瓦
閱讀更多關於 Swarovski 所做努力的資訊。
或者，請造訪 Swarovski 水資源學校計劃。
艾蓮納·達·席爾瓦向社區成員分享她的專業與知識。
Title:
