News

Water Matters - a Youth Exchange

Marrakesh, Morocco, 11-19 Feb. 2023

Water Matters - a Youth Exchange held in Marrakesh, Morocco, 11-19 Feb. 2023

In recent decades, climate change, population growth and increasing consumption for agricultural and industrial purposes have led not only to uneven pollution, but also to a significant depletion of water resources on our planet. Consequences of our actions are that many parts of the earth will soon turn into deserts. Additionally, humankind will also be affected by climate change and water shortage.

Even though the earth looks blue and full of water from its surface, less than 1% of the water on earth is drinkable fresh water. A sizable parts of the African continent and the Middle East suffer from a direct causality between drought and extreme poverty. Even if Europe is not the first to be affected, there is still a responsibility to take action. The "Water matters" project intended to ensure that younger generations in particular are made aware of environmental issues by promoting sustainable development practices and raising awareness of the consequences of misusing the planet's resources.

The project was co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus plus program. It aimed to find global solutions to climate challenges creating global responsibilities toward the less fortunate parts of the world for the sake of future generations. The Youth Exchange brings together participants from 8 Euro-Mediterranean countries, who have shared and learned practices on sustainable development, ecology and reconnecting with nature. Participants learned how to calculate their ecological footprint and the importance of Overshoot Day. Also, they had the chance to present the environmental issues in their countries. Moreover, they visited the Water Museum in Marrakech, where participants learned how water gets from the main source to the cities, what the surface and groundwater resources are like in Morocco and what the Moroccan ecosystem is like in general. At the Intercultural Night, participants present their culture (preparing food, sweets, traditional costumes, music and traditional dances. The last day was dedicated to emphasizing the individual role in protecting the environment. Participants understand their own role in climate change and how everyone can do something.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8gZJfPwFiBc