Winning Youth Water Project: Along the Scheldt

Thinking of applying to #WaterGeneration Grants, but you need some inspiration?

Take a look at ALONG THE SCHELDT, a project that was one of the recipients of the first round of #WaterGeneration Grants in 2017.

After attending the 13th European Youth Parliament for Water in Switzerland, members of the French delegation partnered with visiting Latvian students from the Viesturs school. The project team tested the water in the French portion of the Scheldt River, cleaned up a section of riverbank that runs through the city of Valenciennes, and produced educational leaflets.

The Scheldt River originates in northeastern France and passes through Belgium before emptying into the North Sea.

From April 20-23, 2017,  youth from France and the Viesturs school in Latvia met in Valenciennes, France. Over three days they worked together to learn about river ecosystem health and exchange cultural knowledge. They used the grant to conduct the cleanup, perform water testing and hire a graphic designer to produce identification guides for the many insect species that call the Scheldt home.

The project was initiated by the Agence de l’eau Artois-Picardie (Artois-Picardie Water Agency), and undertaken in cooperation with the Viesturs Eco-Centre in Riga, Latvia. The Valmiera District Youth Centre in Riga named Along The Scheldt the best youth initiative of 2017.

The work to raise awareness on river health continues. Later on in 2018, the French delegation will travel to Latvia to reunite with their colleagues and continue on the next phase of the project.

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#WaterGeneration Grants have been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Artois-Picardie Water Agency.

 

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