{"id":4593,"date":"2021-12-07T14:29:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T14:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shukalb.al\/?p=4593"},"modified":"2022-11-24T16:05:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T15:05:42","slug":"english-shukalbs-friends-of-water-program-brings-sincere-messages-on-water-from-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/?p=4593&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"SHUKALB\u2019s \u201cFriends of Water\u201d Program Brings Sincere Messages on Water From Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
During the opening ceremony of the Children\u2019s Exhibition \u201cWater through the Eyes of Children\u201d. At the stage, from L to R: Herrie Heckman, \u201cAccompanying Measures Rural Water Supply III\u201d Program; Avni Dervishi, Albanian Development Fund; Nina Guga, Deputy Minister of Education and Sport; Sebina Matlija, Manager of Programs of SHUKALB; Petrit Tare, President of SHUKALB, Elisabeta Po\u00e7i, Executive Director of SHUKALB, and Zef Ma\u00e7i, Member of Board of Directors of SHUKALB<\/em>
Photo Credit: SHUKALB<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SHUKALB has finalized one of its most loved public outreach and education programs, the \u201cFriends of Water\u201d Program.\u00a0 The program is dedicated to 3rd<\/sup> grade students of elementary schools, and SHUKALB has been organizing it each year since 2007, in partnership under a formal MoU with the Ministry of Education and Sports.<\/p>\n

This year the program reached out to a total of 26 municipalities across Albania, involving the respective member water utilities of SHUKALB, 66 elementary schools, and 2409 children.\u00a0 The implementation of the program for 26 elementary schools in the Municipalities of Tropoje, Diber, Klos Himare, Dimal and Devoll, was supported by the \u201cAccompanying Measures Rural Water Supply III\u201d Program, funded by the German Development Bank KfW and the Albanian Development Fund, while for the rest of the municipalities the program was supported by SHUKALB\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The \u201cFriends of Water\u201d local exhibition organized in Ura-Vajgurore, Dimal<\/em>
Photo Credit: SHUKALB<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During November 2021, the elementary schools participating in the Program, organized local exhibitions in their cities, where children presented their drawings highlighting the importance of water and the protection of water resources.<\/p>\n

SHUKALB participated in the local exhibitions organized in the Municipalities of Tropoja, Diber, Klos, Himara, Dimal and Devoll. The local exhibitions were attended also from representatives of the Albanian Development Fund, Mayors and representatives of the respective Municipalities, directors and representatives of the respective water utilities, and representatives of the schools and regional directorates of education.<\/p>\n

As usual, the \u201cFriends of Water\u201d program culminated with the Children\u2019s Exhibition \u201cWater Through the Eyes of Children\u201d, organized and opened for the public on 1-3 December at the FAB Gallery, in Tirana. The Exhibition this year presented in total 166 drawings of 3rd<\/sup> grade students from 26 cities across Albania. Prior to opening the Exhibition, SHUKALB had arranged for an independent evaluation committee, composed by artists and professors from the Academy of Arts in Tirana. The Commission selected the 12 best drawings, based on the messages each of them conveyed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The local exhibition organized in Peshkopi<\/em>
Photo Credit: SHUKALB<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Exhibition was officially opened on 3 December 2021, with greeting remarks by Nina Guga, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, who appraised the long and fruitful collaboration with SHUKALB in the implementation of such important programs for the education and awareness of children, with a very significant impact on our society.<\/p>\n

The ceremony continued with a speech by Petrit Tare, President of SHUKALB who thanked the supporters of the program, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the German Development Bank KfW and the Albanian Development Fund, as well as the participating schools, for the dedication and the work done by teachers and students.<\/p>\n

As the main supporters of the program this year, the representative of Albanian Development Fund at the ceremony, Avni Dervishi, highlighted also the importance and impact of such programs, along with the need for investments in the water sector, as a way to guarantee sustainability of water services.\u00a0 Present at the ceremony were also Herrie Heckman, \u201cAccompanying Measures Rural Water Supply III\u201d Program; Avni Dervishi, and Zef Ma\u00e7i, Member of Board of Directors of SHUKALB and Director of Lezha Water Supply and Sewerage Company, as well representatives of the participating schools and water utilities.<\/p>\n

At the end, Elisabeta Po\u00e7i, Executive Director of SHUKALB announced the 12 winners of the program, which are:<\/p>\n