By participating in the EU days in Azerbaijan on 21 and 22 May 2019, the European Union Water Initiative + (EUWI+) project brought Azerbaijan’s water and sanitation issues into the global spotlight.
Reaching 330 students and schoolchildren from Mingachevir to Ganja
Stands, practical experiments, water quality tests and lectures were just some of the many activities organised by EUWI+ to show young people the role that water plays in nature and its importance for the development of human life.
EUWI+ project stand at the EU4You event in Mingachevir, on 21 May 2019
At the EUWI+ project stand held in Mingachevir on 21 May 2019 on Europe Day, about 150 schoolchildren and students took part in practical experiments to test and compare the quality of freshwater from natural sources (the Kura River, the Mingachevir reservoir, rain water) and water for domestic use (tap and bottled water).
The following day, on 22 May, about 50 students from the Small Academy of Sciences in Ganja listened to lectures about water problems in Azerbaijan and took part in practical tests on water quality.
EUWI+ presentation for graduates in the Small Academy of Sciences in Ganja on 22 May 2019
Fresh and drinking water were thus a central topic of the discussions, which emphasised solutions for efficient water conservation and use.
Young people give their views
Young people showed a keen interest and expressed their opinions on water issues, demonstrating once more that the youth of today can drive change and make a valuable contribution to the decision-making process in the water sector.
During the open lesson in the Mingachevir Russian School on 22 May 2019, about 100 schoolchildren aged 12 to 17 participated in quizzes and surveys and talked about how they see their river now and in the future.
EUWI+ in Mingachevir Russian School on 22 May 2019
Building knowledge and capacity in water management for the next generation
EUWI+ supports the development and implementation of basin management plans in Azerbaijan. To this end, special emphasis is given in the country to improving water monitoring capacities by refurbishing laboratories and providing special equipment.
As part of this action, the event organised at the Mingachevir Youth Centre was an opportunity for about 30 young European ambassadors to hear about the benefits of implementing river basin management plans for inhabitants of the region. Knowledge and understanding the state of water resources were pointed out as particularly important for the country’s future, along with effective water monitoring.
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