MAMA-86's Water Day Action Report

During the World Water Day 2005, which in this year according to the decision of the United Nations has began the UN International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015 to promote worldwide access to safe drinking-water and sanitation. Mama-86 network has conducted a broad informational campaign at local and national levels. The events devoted to the World Water Day have been organized in Kiev and in other cities and towns: Nizhyn, Odessa, Poltava, Feodosia, Kharkiv and Yarenche. The information materials have been disseminated among the wide public and mass-media representatives. Traditionally the main target groups of t he World Water Day events were pupils, students and teachers of primary and secondary schools and universities.

Kyiv

For the World Water Day the information materials have been prepared such as: "The 22d of March — World Water Day", "Water Day 2005", "Water and Health", "Water Resources: global and Ukraine situation", First Global WASH Forum Declaration, Dakar, December 2004 and Dakar Action Plan. These materials have been sent to all of MAMA-86 Water Campaign participants. Based on the information materials letters-appeals have been sent to the key state authorities, responsible for the WASH issues: to the President and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Ministers of environment and public health, the Head of the State Committee on Housing and Municipal Services. These letters were focus on the actuality for Ukraine to consolidate the State and all stakeholders efforts to support the Decade "Water for Life" and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water supply and sanitation in Ukraine.

16 March 2005 in cooperation with Water Informational Center MAMA-86 organized an excursion to the Museum of Water for 45 students and 5 teachers of Natural-geographical and ecological education faculty of M.P. Dragamanov National Teacher's Training University. After excursion the training "Water Day — 2005 — the Beginning of Decade Water for Life" was held. There was an active discussion on safe drinking water, risks of nitrate and fluorine contamination for health and a role of the public in environmental problems solutions. All participants have received information materials for Water lessons and questionnaires on sanitary and hygiene at schools. After training Head of natural-geographical and ecological education faculty V.S. Tolmachova has expressed the readiness to cooperate in future and to take part in MAMA-86's events related to water and other environmental issues.

From 28 th of February till 18 th of March, during the practical work students have conducted 25 lessons for 701 pupils at 7 Kyiv schools and lyceums: ¹48, ¹136, ¹177, ¹200, ¹145, ¹241, ¹272. 17 Water lessons were conducted by students after water training in Water Museum. 308 pupils at the age of 13-17 have filled in the questionnaires on sanitary and hygiene. Most pupils are not satisfied by quality of drinking water (77,6%), an ecological condition of Kyiv water resources (79,9%), quantity of public Kyiv toilets (52,9%) and their condition (76,5%). Most pupils have noted an inadequate condition of streets (60,1%). In school toilet as usual there are cold water (93,2%) and soap (52,3 %). And pupils would like to have a hands' drier (71,1%), a towel (66,9%), a toilet paper (62,3%), hot water (61,3%), soap (54,6%) and cold water (40,3%). As for the pupils, their mothers are the main help to them by advises to select the hygiene goods and their parents and doctors are the main sources of information on sanitary and hygiene.

17 March 2005 MAMA-86 together with Water Informational Center have held the press club on the World Water Day. Water experts, the representatives of "Kyiv Vodokanal", Kiev and Kremenchug City SESs, NGOs, scientists and 19 mass-media representatives took part in this event. There were shown two short documentary films: about eco-san toilet in village Gozhuly and drinking water problems in Kremenchug. The problem of the high fluorine pollution of drinking water and risks for health in Ukraine was presented to mass-media. All participants received the Water Day information materials.

18 March 2005 the coordinator of water campaign A.M. Tsvetkova took part in "The Breakfast with 1+1 TV channel" program. On March, 22nd she was invited to the studio of the National Radio "Promin" to talk about Water Day on the air. This talking broadcast was repeated on March, 23rd.

Before World Water Day spot-check of public toilets quantity and condition has been held by MAMA-86's volunteers in Kyiv centre in order to update the city toilets map. During spot-check 25 questionnaires have been filled and their analysis was done. Information about public toilets and the results of pupils' opinion poll will be delivered to the corresponding Kyiv State Administration authorities on the end of April.

6 April 2005 A.M. Tsvetkova as a representative of MAMA-86 was invited to participate in "Clean Water is a Basis of the Nation Health" student's conference. The first-year students of Water Transport Academy presented more than 20 issues related to water quality, water resources state in Ukraine and water-related health problems. Conference took place in the Chernobyl Museum.

Yaremche

For the public informing on the World Water Day "MAMA-86-Yaremche" has prepared bulletin "The 22d of March — World Water Day" (100 copies). In the newspaper "Karpatski National" the article "The 22d of March — World Water Day" was published.

Within the framework of informational activity the week "Water Known and Unknown" was held. The lessons "Water for Life" were conducted at 5 secondary schools (4 March — at Tatarivska school; 10 March — Vorohtyanska school; 11 March — Mikulichinska school; 16 March — Yaremchanska school ¹1, 18 March — Yaremchanska school ¹3) The action "Water of Life" was also begun and it will be continue till October 1, 2005 (practical action for children "Is Water We Drink from Well Clean?" — wells water express-analysis on nitrate content in Vorohta village). The children's quiz was held within the framework of the Sixth European Children's Water Parliament "Feel Danube! Celebrate Danube Day!"

The information leaflets "The Rivers Claim Attention!", "Save Water — the Life Origin on the Earth!", "Clean Rivers for the Healthy Environment."

Odessa

"MAMA-86-Odessa" has celebrated the World Water Day together with the Odessa Danube Youth Club and Odessa Standardization, Metrology and Certification College. 24 March 2005 the festival conference was held. 553 students, representatives of the Environment Protection and Youth Policy, Family and Tourism Departments of The Odessa Oblast and City Administrations and mass-media took part in this event. There were newspapers "Svetliy Dom", "Odessky novosty", radio "Sana", the TV program "Seredov". The students presented different water issues, including the Danube river problems. During the conference the exhibition of creative works and drawings devoted Danube Day was organised. Also both eco-fashion demonstration and poem reading on water was held. Mass-media has widely informed Odessa residents about this conference.

Poltava

March 31, 2005 the representatives of MAMA-86-Poltava, the Gozhuly School Director Irina Danyuk and pupils of 7-th class from Gozhuly school visited the village Maryanivska and organized the Water Festival at local secondary school. There are 56 pupils study at Maryanivska school, from them 40 children participated in Water event. The Director of Gozhuly School has welcomed children with a holiday and told a history of the World Water Day and its actuality today. MAMA-86-Poltava water coordinator Juliya Kibenko informed the children about nitrates and nitrites contamination of water and health effects, about water purification methods of both water and food at home. The booklets "Attention, Nitrates!” have been delivered to the Maryanivska school Director M.G. Kotlyarevski. The express testing of 9 water samples from local wells was demonstrated to pupils. The results of testing were good: 6 wells had nitrate indexes equal to 50 mg/l and nitrite indexes equal to 20 mg/l, 2 wells had pure water and a school well had nitrate indexes equal 50 mg/l.

The quiz "Hygiene and Sports in Our Life" were held. The pupils of 7-9 th classes were most active. The pupils have filled in the questionnaires "Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Everyone". The quiz winners and primary school pupils have received gifts (soaps, tooth pastes and brushes).

After the Festival the representatives of "MAMA-86-Poltava" met with Maryanivska school teachers and Director to discuss the school problems. The problem of school toilet was recognised as the most acute problem, for which school has no money. The teachers liked the idea to have warm åcī-toilet.

5 April 2005 the World Water Day was held at Gozhuly School. Forty five pupils both secondary and primary schools took part in this event. 160 pupils filled in the questionnaire. Primary school pupils were the most active participants and they have received encouragement gifts.

The results of both Maryanivska and Gozhuly schools pupils opinions poll show that practically all children follow the elementary rules on hygiene (hands washing before meal, teeth cleaning, taking a shower). At Maryanivska school only 30% of pupils wash hands with soap after the toilet and approximately 30% of pupils at Gozhuly school. It can be explained that there is no school water supply and canalization in village Maryanivka. The primary school pupils (aged 6-8 years) do not use soap at Gozhuly school. But practically all children have personal hygiene goods. For 40% of pupils the main sources of informing on sanitary and hygiene are doctors, for 20% – both teachers and books, for 10% – nearest relatives as well as mass-media. The most pupils need in the additional information on sanitary and hygiene. In Gozhuly most (60%) pupils satisfied by school eco-toilet. The 30% children did not satisfy of eco-toilet, among them 40% of pupils were not satisfied by smell, and the rest did not adapted to use it. The main conclusions of pupils' poll are: to pay more attention of pupils to healthy live style, to conduct educational actions for developing pupils' hygiene.

It was decided to establish constant relations and to exchange of information on health, personal hygiene and sanitary between two rural schools and MAMA-86.

Feodosia

On the eve of the World Water Day public ecological organization MAMA-86-Feodosia has organized the literal-art competition at 4 schools in Feodosia (boarding school ¹ 1, secondary schools ¹¹ 9, 13, 14) and secondary schools in Old Crimea. 2 exhibitions were organized both at Feodosia City Centre of Youth Ecologo-natural Art "Intellect" and in the library ¹ 4 (together with "Ecologia i Mir"). The competent commission has designated the best works, which have received Water Prizes during the Clean Water Festival on March 22, 2005.

22 March 2005 the Clean Water Festival was held for the town dwellers. Both children' drawings and national craftsmen exhibitions have been held. During the Festival each participant has received an "Ecotelephone" calendar, brochures, booklets and leaflets, which were published by MAMA-86-Feodosia in the framework of "Drinking Water in Ukraine" project and "Source of Life and Health". Festival has been shot by Youth group of TV company "Vizit". These materials have been supplemented with the information about springs which water was suitable and dangerous for drinking. And this film (10-minute duration) has been demonstrated on local cable TV. The results of the literal-art competition and information about Pure Water Festival have been transmitted by the radio "Feodosia" and published in the newspapers "Pobeda" and "Vsyo dlya vas".

24 March 2005 the presentation of an exhibition "The Ecological Organizations in Feodosia" was open in Feodosia Antiquity Museum. It will be demonstrated till June, 2005. The exhibition exposition consists mainly of the materials provided by MAMA-86-Feodosia on water and it will be used for lessons on environmental protection for Feodosia schoolchildren.

30 March 2005 the MAMA-86-Feodosia Director speech has been transmitted by the radio "Feodosia".

Before the World Water Day the preparative work of fountain "Delfinchyk" has been carried out for new season: redecoration of the fountain, new footsteps construction for the additional approach to the fountain. The Contract with the Simferopol Distance of Civil structures and water supply about fountain water feed (April 7 till October 31, 2005 ) has been extended.

1 and 15 March 2005 during information actions and round-tables the leaflets on water have been disseminated among participants and residents of Feodosia and Old Crimea.

Nizhyn

20 March 2005 on the occasion of the World Water Day MAMA-86-Nizhyn has held the meeting with the interested public of village Talalayvka of Nizyn Rayon. During the meeting MAMA-86-Nizhyn activity in Water Campaign and the results of implementation of both pilot projects "Cooperation for Sustainable Rural Development" and "Green choice of Ukraine" have been presented. The test of private wells water (31 samples) has been carried out in v. Talalayvka. The advices regarding reduction of poor-quality water harm to health have been given. The village inhabitants have received the information materials "Attention, Nitrates!", "Adviser for the present and future wells users", "Water, Comfort, and Economy".

16 March 2005 Round table "Ecology in a Water Drop" has been held at Nizhyn secondary school ¹ 5 (8 th class, 22 pupils). Such themes have been discussed:

• Unique properties of water;
• Global and national water pollution problems;
• Search of ways out "water crisis";
• Necessity of water as the main natural riches protection.

On March 17, performance "Higyk's Friends" has been held at the primary school ¹ 5 (40 pupils) to rise the children knowledge about necessity to follow hygiene and sanitary rules. The children attention has been attracted on such questions:

• Water — a source of cleanliness and health;
• Acquaintance with sanitary and personal hygiene;
• Water saving.

22 March 2005 the discussion devoted to World Water Day has been conducted at the secondary school ¹ 2 (7-8 th classes, 20 pupils). The next questions have been clarified: Necessity of nitrate pollution water tests; World Water Day, UN International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015.

Based on MAMA-86-Nizhyn material the article "All population of Earth will meet with drinking water deficit till 2020" has been published in the newspaper "Nezhinsky vistnyk" ¹ 23 on March 26, 2005 (3600 copies).

Kharkiv

18 March 2005 MAMA-86 Kharkiv organised the World Water Day information actions at 6 educational institutions (secondary schools ¹165, 122, 116, the Kharkiv lyceum and high school). 500 pupils have taken part in events.

The presentation of two children's ecological projects has been prepared for the World Water Day-2005 devoted to water problems (these projects are carried out within the framework of the project "Green choice of Ukraine").

Within the framework of the project "Save Drop" the questionnaire "Study of water consumption sources for the inhabitants of North Saltivka microdistrict" has been prepared and published (300 copies) by ecological pupils group of school ¹ 165. The sociological survey of 300 families has been conducted in this microdistrict. An information board "Water is the Most Expensive Treasure on the Earth" has been prepared and established. It was devoted to the water conservation problems as well as cooperation of secondary school ¹1 65 and MAMA-86 Kharkiv.

The children from ecological group designed the leaflet-reference "March 22 — World Water Day", which was published (200 copies) for the dissemination on 22 March among the inhabitants of North Saltivka microdistrict.

By March 22, 2005 ecological pupils group implemented the first part of the project "Quality drinking water as a necessary condition of sustainable development", devoted of UN International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015. The Kharkiv drinking water state: an ecological state of water supply sources, water pipe, water cleaning, mineral water and microelements, was investigated. The second part of project has been begun. It includes sociological research (a questionnaire preparation), analysis of both tap and mineral water, development (sampling water for tests) and publication of information leaflets on work results (300 copies).

22 March 2005 within the framework of the project "Green choice of Ukraine" (ecological education) a round table "Ecological education as component of sustainable development education" has been held (60 participants). Two reports on water have been done. An exhibition of ecological creative works of the teachers and pupils of Kharkiv educational institutions has been organized. There were 3 student groups' presentations on water problems.