In the Amazon
Title:Supporting communities along one of the world’s longest rivers
Subtitle:
Vodni svet
Title:Reka Amazonka
Subtitle:
Amazonka, ki se vije po zgornjem delu Južne Amerike, je znana po svoji neverjetni dolžini (6800 km) in pomenu za biotsko raznovrstnost in naravne vire. Iz te impresivne reke priteče 20 % svetovne sladke vode, njeni bregovi in vode pa so dom številnim živalskim in ribjim vrstam. Lokalne in domorodne skupnosti so odvisne od reke, saj jim reka vsak dan zagotavlja hrano, vodo, zaslužek in plovno pot.
Žal pa svetu in ljudem, ki živijo v porečju reke Amazonke, grozi, da bodo izgubili ta življenjsko pomemben vir, če bodo na reko vplivale posledice podnebnih sprememb in krčenja gozdov. Če bi Amazonka usahnila, bi bilo vpliv na kroženje vode čutiti po vsem svetu.
Swarovski Waterschool v Braziliji
Družba Swarovski si s projektom Waterschool v Braziliji od leta 2016 prizadeva za preoblikovanje in zaščito reke Amazonke in njenih obrečnih skupnosti. V prvih dveh letih je bila v okviru projekta zasnovana in preizkušena izobraževalna metodologija, ki naj bi spremenila pristope in prakse obdelave vode vzdolž reke. Metodologija je zajela 45 različnih izkustvenih dejavnosti v smislu higiene, hidracije, sanitarne ureditve ter porabe vode in onesnaževanja.
V projektu trenutno sodeluje 28 podeželskih skupnosti, v katerih živi približno 3715 ljudi. Znotraj teh skupnosti sodeluje družba Swarovski v okviru projekta Waterschool z 20 različnimi šolami. Vse skupnosti prebivajo ob reki ali jezeru in je do njih možno dostopati le s čolnom. Pri mnogih skupnostih je običajno, da se voda pije neposredno iz reke. Če voda ni ustrezno obdelana, lahko to privede do nevarnih bolezni.
Ob začetku projekta 14 šol ni imelo dostopa do tekoče ali shranjene vode, 16 šol ni imelo nobenih možnosti za umivanje rok, 13 šol ni imelo stranišč, šest pa jih je bilo brez šolske stavbe. S ciljem reševanja teh vprašanj se je projekt v začetku osredotočal na izboljšave obstoječe oziroma na izgradnjo nove infrastrukture v teh šolah. To je vključevalo izgradnjo sanitarij, vzpostavitev sistema filtriranja z zbiranjem deževnice in s črpalkami ter obnovo šolskih vodovodnih sistemov. V skoraj vseh primerih so imele od izboljšav v šolah koristi tudi okoliške vasi, saj so člani skupnosti začeli enake postopke obdelave vode v svojih domovih.
V okviru projekta je bilo v amazonskih zveznih državah usposobljenih 454 učiteljev. Dolgoročno je cilj projekta spodbujanje vzpostavljanja večjih vodnih skupnosti, ki bodo uresničevale trajnostne prakse upravljanja z vodami, kar bo prispevalo k izboljšanju zdravja in preživetju obrečnih skupnosti, pa tudi vitalnosti reke Amazonke.
Žal pa svetu in ljudem, ki živijo v porečju reke Amazonke, grozi, da bodo izgubili ta življenjsko pomemben vir, če bodo na reko vplivale posledice podnebnih sprememb in krčenja gozdov. Če bi Amazonka usahnila, bi bilo vpliv na kroženje vode čutiti po vsem svetu.
Swarovski Waterschool v Braziliji
Družba Swarovski si s projektom Waterschool v Braziliji od leta 2016 prizadeva za preoblikovanje in zaščito reke Amazonke in njenih obrečnih skupnosti. V prvih dveh letih je bila v okviru projekta zasnovana in preizkušena izobraževalna metodologija, ki naj bi spremenila pristope in prakse obdelave vode vzdolž reke. Metodologija je zajela 45 različnih izkustvenih dejavnosti v smislu higiene, hidracije, sanitarne ureditve ter porabe vode in onesnaževanja.
V projektu trenutno sodeluje 28 podeželskih skupnosti, v katerih živi približno 3715 ljudi. Znotraj teh skupnosti sodeluje družba Swarovski v okviru projekta Waterschool z 20 različnimi šolami. Vse skupnosti prebivajo ob reki ali jezeru in je do njih možno dostopati le s čolnom. Pri mnogih skupnostih je običajno, da se voda pije neposredno iz reke. Če voda ni ustrezno obdelana, lahko to privede do nevarnih bolezni.
Ob začetku projekta 14 šol ni imelo dostopa do tekoče ali shranjene vode, 16 šol ni imelo nobenih možnosti za umivanje rok, 13 šol ni imelo stranišč, šest pa jih je bilo brez šolske stavbe. S ciljem reševanja teh vprašanj se je projekt v začetku osredotočal na izboljšave obstoječe oziroma na izgradnjo nove infrastrukture v teh šolah. To je vključevalo izgradnjo sanitarij, vzpostavitev sistema filtriranja z zbiranjem deževnice in s črpalkami ter obnovo šolskih vodovodnih sistemov. V skoraj vseh primerih so imele od izboljšav v šolah koristi tudi okoliške vasi, saj so člani skupnosti začeli enake postopke obdelave vode v svojih domovih.
V okviru projekta je bilo v amazonskih zveznih državah usposobljenih 454 učiteljev. Dolgoročno je cilj projekta spodbujanje vzpostavljanja večjih vodnih skupnosti, ki bodo uresničevale trajnostne prakse upravljanja z vodami, kar bo prispevalo k izboljšanju zdravja in preživetju obrečnih skupnosti, pa tudi vitalnosti reke Amazonke.
Nekatere šole v amazonskih zveznih državah imajo prvič v življenju kopalnice in postaje za umivanje rok.
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:
Uixi community – opportunities for the younger generation
Title:
In Amazonas state, the youth of the Uixi community is a particularly vulnerable group due to their lack of local job opportunities. Because of this, many young people are forced to move great distances to urban areas to study or seek employment.
In 2018, the Swarovski Waterschool project began focusing its efforts on strengthening leadership skills among the Uixi youth and investing in initiatives brought forth by youth groups. After taking part in Swarovski Waterschool training programs, youth leaders formed action groups that implemented water initiatives within their communities and brought water education to surrounding areas.
“[We taught] them about garbage and water, and during our travels we could see that they were putting what they learned into practice. They built a dump, which made the community cleaner.”
– Jorlaine, Uixi community youth group member/leader
In 2018, the Swarovski Waterschool project began focusing its efforts on strengthening leadership skills among the Uixi youth and investing in initiatives brought forth by youth groups. After taking part in Swarovski Waterschool training programs, youth leaders formed action groups that implemented water initiatives within their communities and brought water education to surrounding areas.
“[We taught] them about garbage and water, and during our travels we could see that they were putting what they learned into practice. They built a dump, which made the community cleaner.”
– Jorlaine, Uixi community youth group member/leader
Uixi youth leadership programs teach about the importance of water treatment and sustainability.
Title:
Eliana da Silva – the student becomes a teacher
Title:
Eliana da Silva has been a part of the Swarovski Waterschool project in Brazil since its beginning. She participated in the workshops in her school as a student as well as youth leadership trainings, where she helped coordinate youth groups in her community. In 2021, she and six youth group members brought water education and waste management campaigns to three other Amazon River basin communities.
Da Silva’s experience with the Swarovski Waterschool project has inspired her to become an educator. She became the first person in her community to be hired as a teacher and to work in a local school.
“This project was a unique experience in not only my life, but in the lives of everyone who participated. It is something that we will never forget. This project helped me discover my life’s profession: being a teacher.”
– Eliana da Silva
Read more about Swarovski’s engagement.
Or visit the Swarovski Waterschool Program.
Da Silva’s experience with the Swarovski Waterschool project has inspired her to become an educator. She became the first person in her community to be hired as a teacher and to work in a local school.
“This project was a unique experience in not only my life, but in the lives of everyone who participated. It is something that we will never forget. This project helped me discover my life’s profession: being a teacher.”
– Eliana da Silva
Read more about Swarovski’s engagement.
Or visit the Swarovski Waterschool Program.
Eliana da Silva shares her expertise and knowledge with community members
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