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:
Comunitatea Uixi – oportunități pentru generația mai tânără
Title:
În statul Amazonas, tinerii din comunitatea Uixi este un grup foarte vulnerabil din cauza lipsei de oportunități pentru locuri de muncă. Din cauza acestui lucru, mulți tineri sunt forțați să se deplaseze distanțe mari în regiuni urbane pentru a studia sau căuta locuri de muncă.
În anul 2018, proiectul Swarovski Waterschool a început concentrându-și eforturile pe dezvoltarea abilităților de leadership printre tinerii Uixi și investirea în inițiativele aduse de grupurile de tineri. După participarea la programele de instruire Swarovski Waterschool, liderii de tineret au format grupuri de acțiune ce implementează inițiative pentru apă în comunitățile lor și aduc educația privind apa în zonele înconjurătoare.
„[We taught] despre deșeuri și apă și pe parcursul călătoriilor noastre am putut observa că puneau în practică ce au învățat. Aceștia au construit o groapă de gunoi, care a făcut comunitatea mai curată.”
– Jorlaine, membru/lider al grupului de tineret al comunității Uixi
În anul 2018, proiectul Swarovski Waterschool a început concentrându-și eforturile pe dezvoltarea abilităților de leadership printre tinerii Uixi și investirea în inițiativele aduse de grupurile de tineri. După participarea la programele de instruire Swarovski Waterschool, liderii de tineret au format grupuri de acțiune ce implementează inițiative pentru apă în comunitățile lor și aduc educația privind apa în zonele înconjurătoare.
„[We taught] despre deșeuri și apă și pe parcursul călătoriilor noastre am putut observa că puneau în practică ce au învățat. Aceștia au construit o groapă de gunoi, care a făcut comunitatea mai curată.”
– Jorlaine, membru/lider al grupului de tineret al comunității Uixi
Programele de leadership pentru tineri din Uixi informează cu privire la importanța tratării și sustenabilității apei.
Title:
Eliana da Silva – studentul devine învățător
Title:
Eliana da Silva face parte din proiectul Swarovski Waterschool din Brazilia încă de la început. Ea a participat la ateliere din școala ei ca și student și la programe de instruire de leadership pentru tineri, unde a ajutat la coordonarea grupurilor de tineri din comunitatea sa. În anul 2021, ea și șase membrii din grupul de tineri au adus campanii pentru gestionarea deșeurilor și pentru educarea în privința apei în trei alte comunități ale bazinului Râului Amazon.
Experiența lui Da Silva cu proiectul Swarovski Waterschool a inspirat-o să devină un educator. Ea a devenit prima persoană în comunitatea sa care a fost angajată ca învățătoare și pentru a lucra într-o școală locală.
„Acest proiect a fost o experiență unică nu doar în viața mea, dar și în viața oricărei persoane ce a participat. Este ceva ce nu vom uita niciodată. Acest proiect m-a ajutat să descopăr profesia vieții mele: profesia de învățătoare.”
– Eliana da Silva
Citiți mai multe despre angajamentul Swarovski.
Sau vizitați Programul Swarovski Waterschool.
Experiența lui Da Silva cu proiectul Swarovski Waterschool a inspirat-o să devină un educator. Ea a devenit prima persoană în comunitatea sa care a fost angajată ca învățătoare și pentru a lucra într-o școală locală.
„Acest proiect a fost o experiență unică nu doar în viața mea, dar și în viața oricărei persoane ce a participat. Este ceva ce nu vom uita niciodată. Acest proiect m-a ajutat să descopăr profesia vieții mele: profesia de învățătoare.”
– Eliana da Silva
Citiți mai multe despre angajamentul Swarovski.
Sau vizitați Programul Swarovski Waterschool.
Eliana da Silva își împărtășește expertiza și cunoștiințele cu membrii comunității.
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