To mark World Environment Day on 5 June, the Jacques Martel Foundation wishes to highlight an initiative led by the Sens Solidaires association, which reminds us just how precious water is as a resource, essential to life, and that access to it remains highly unequal across the globe.
This year, pupils at Appraxine School in Nice have been maintaining a correspondence with pupils at Kagnout School in Casamance, Senegal. The scheme involved an exchange of letters, culminating in the delivery of the letters to both sides by Arya, a civic service volunteer with the association.
The Jacques Martel Foundation was fortunate enough to be present when these precious letters were handed over in Nice. Through photos, anecdotes and personal accounts, the pupils gained an insight into the daily lives of their Senegalese correspondents. They learnt that in some villages, access to water remains a daily challenge. The children thus became aware of the importance of this resource, which is essential for life: for drinking, cooking, washing hands, growing food and, of course, staying healthy.
The session also provided an opportunity to highlight a fact that is worth remembering: water is not an inexhaustible resource. The pupils were encouraged to think about their own water consumption and the simple actions they can take to conserve it. They discovered that water is present everywhere in our daily lives, including in the food we eat. Producing certain foods requires considerable amounts of water, which led to fruitful discussions on how to reduce one’s water footprint and combat water wastage.
Arya then outlined the practical initiatives undertaken by Sens Solidaires in Senegal. Thanks to support from the Jacques Martel Foundation, the charity has helped three schools in Casamance to improve access to drinking water by installing water purification systems (NanoAids) as well as simple equipment such as Tippy Taps, which make handwashing easier and contribute to better hygiene in everyday life.
Beyond the figures and environmental issues, it was the human connections that left a lasting impression. The moment when the letters sent by the Senegalese pen pals were handed out stirred up strong emotions in the class. Through a few words, drawings and stories about their lives, the children discovered realities different from their own and were curious to learn more about them.
This event perfectly illustrates the mission of the Jacques Martel Foundation: to protect and safeguard the future. In partnership with Sens Solidaires, this project has helped raise awareness among young people about water-related issues, made them realise how fragile this resource is, and opened their eyes to other realities of life. A valuable experience that also demonstrates the importance of people, openness to others and solidarity for the Jacques Martel Foundation.