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나답게, 단단하게, 즐겁게
Someone wondered how to solve Africa''s fundamental problem: people drinking contaminated water and facing threats to their lives in environments where obtaining water is not even easy.
That person is architectural designer Arturo Vittori.
Fun education that changes the world, Warka Water |
Fun education that changes the world, Warka Water workshopI attended it.
The topic wasMaking a Warka Water Tower of Hope using appropriate technology!
First,about Warka Water (Warka Water)I''ll briefly explain it.
Water scarcity in Africa is common knowledge and a problem that needs to be addressed worldwide.Unlike our environment in Korea, where we don''t feel a shortage of water,people in Africa spend much of each day searching for scarce water.
While traveling in Ethiopia, the designer was deeply shocked to see African children drinking muddy water.
He used his skills to create Warka Water, which can help solve Africa''s water shortage problem.
And this technologyappropriate technologyis what we call.
Appropriate technology
[Definition] Technology that provides technical solutions suited to the circumstances of a particular region.
Source: Encyclopedia
Arturo VittoriThe Warka Water developed by Arturo Vittori uses the principle of Africa''s large daily temperature variations tocapture moisture from the air and condense it into droplets on a dense nylon mesh.This technology is said to be able to produce more than 95–100 liters of water per day.
The Korean Gap Year education program held this time was a program where participants used appropriate technology to actually build a Warka Water tower.Building WakaWater was a fairly large-scale project, so many participants had to join forces and work together.
A fun education that changes the world — Korea Gap Year WakaWater Project!
A time to directly experience appropriate technology.
I''ll briefly document its start and end.
This WakaWater project wasthe Korea Scout Associationand was carried out together. So I visited places in Goyang City that I hadn''t been to before...I stepped onto land in Goyang City... It''s located about 10–15 minutes from Wondang Station.It was difficult to get there by bus, so I took a taxi!I don''t remember the exact cost, but it was about 3,000–3,500 won.
I called the Korea Gap Year coordinator and was able to find the location fairly well. Luckily!
We were supposed to assemble by 10 a.m., but I actually arrived about 10 minutes late... Everyone had already arrived and were introducing themselves...
Later I found out that the four people on the left in the photo were the instructors in charge of the WakaWater workshop.
The event proceeded according to the timetable below.
What made this workshop meaningful to me was that I had recently participated in a workshop only for university students, butbeing with scout members who are middle and high school students felt really refreshing and was very meaningful.Unlike how I was as a scout member in elementary school, the kids were really spirited and impressive.The kids who expressed their opinions without hesitation were really bright, and I felt energized.
After ice-breaking and being assigned to groups, we were able to hear more in-depth about why appropriate technology is needed and about WakaWater.I was late... I hurriedly composed myself, so there are no photos from the start of the workshop...
Duration | Program name | Program content |
20 minutes | Recruitment & implementation | Venue recruitment & implementation |
20 minutes | Ice-breaking | Introductions and a change of atmosphere to encourage cooperation |
30 minutes | Understanding appropriate technology (WakaWater standard) | Explanation of appropriate technology and WakaWater |
30 minutes | Tool use and hands-on practice | Tool use and hands-on practice |
6 hours | Actual construction | WakaWater construction |
20 minutes | Wrap-up | Closing remarks and photo-taking |
What I later found out after spending the morning focused on making WakaWater with friends wasIt turned out the event included not only the Scout Association but also Naver Happy Bean and Tom N Toms.
Pinwheel on the Scout Association field.
During the workshop I occasionally looked at the sky and the scenery.I''m really glad I bought an iPhone.
Initially it was just ordinary bamboo like this, but after a long journey from morning to evening,the WakaWater Tower of Hope was completed!
I''ll show the completed photo at the very end.At first I wondered how this could become a tower. I worried it might fail.I was skeptical, but in the end it was a success!
This is a photo of our team. My first position, together with a 12th-grade friend named Sohee,was making the net!We cut and connected the net to fit the WakaWater frame, and the part our team was makingI felt proud thinking we were making a part of the WakaWater.
In particular, Scout Association members are trained in various skills to survive in any environment, even when alone.They receive various training. The knot-tying techniques these kids were taught were one factor that helped successfully complete the WakaWater construction!
With the instructor''s kind explanations and help, we slowly built the WakaWater, piece by piece.
It was fascinating to see the production process with my own eyes.Experiencing appropriate technology with my own hands felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The sky was clear and I felt good. I enjoyed the provided lunch,I cheered up and started making things with my team again. After eating, the netting work was finished.My partner Sohee and I thought we were finished quickly and said ''we''re done!'', but there was still a lot of unfinished work,so we moved to help other team members and started the bamboo-making work again.
It''s tough.They''re at an age when they''d be likely to complain,but seeing the children who never complained and carried out their tasks steadfastly and responsibly,there was a lot to learn. As the sun slowly set, each team member''s WakaWater parts were being completed!
Around 3–4 PM, each team''s WakaWater was completed.
Now it was time to assemble. It was the most important moment,and the most memorable moment.
Unlike the morning when time seemed to fly by, many participants togetherwere able to carry out the assembly work at a rapid pace.
(There are a lot of photos so it might look like I was just watching, but I participated earnestly... my leg muscles were bulging.)
That so many people could cooperate with one heart like thismade me think I''m glad I joined the workshop, and I felt really proud.
I thought I should participate in events like this regularly from time to time.Late in the evening, we successfully finished the workshop and wrapped up the event with applause.
I still can''t forget that day!
If there''s another opportunity, so that I can help those trying it for the first time,I think it would be good to participate once more.
The instructor said the WakaWater ''Tower of Hope'' workshopwill continue to be run as part of the Korea Gap Year program.
They said there might even be a chance next time to work with Arturo Virotti, the designer who developed WakaWater, which made me want to join even more.
