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나답게, 단단하게, 즐겁게
On May 30th, IWakaWatertook part in a program to directly experience the appropriate technology used to make it.
Before I write my review of the experience, I should first explain what WakaWater is and what appropriate technology means, right?
Appropriate technology refers to technologies developed not as cutting-edge solutions but tailored to the environment, economic conditions, and social circumstances of underdeveloped areas or marginalized groups. For example, there is little water in parts of Africa, and many people suffer because of that. At such times, technologies devised to obtain water in Africa''s harsh environments — these kinds of technologies are called appropriate technologies.
- WakaWater: fun education that changes the world |
Producing water in Africa — this idea is closely related to the ''WakaWater'' I''m introducing today. It is said that an architect in a region of Africa, seeing people struggling with access to water, devised this technology. By using a material called the Waka tree found in Africa to build an outer frame and hanging a nylon mesh inside, the system uses the temperature and humidity differences between night and day to produce water.
This WakaWater program was held at the Korea Scout Association''s central training center.The event was organized by Korea Gap Year. Although this project had never been attempted in Korea before, I want to express my gratitude to Korea Gap Year for willingly turning it into a program.
The program was made up of friends from the Korea Scout Association and general participants who joined through Korea Gap Year. I was also a Scout when I was young, and seeing the youngsters neatly dressed in uniform at this event brought back faint memories :) At the same time, I worried whether we could run the program well with the younger kids. As we worked together, I deeply felt that my worries were unfounded...
We participants took time to review the concept of WakaWater while listening to the presenter''s explanation. Both ''appropriate technology'' and ''WakaWater'' were still unfamiliar terms to us, so the presenter''s kind explanation was a great help.
Also,we had time for the participants to introduce themselves, and then the four instructors who would lead today''s event were introduced. Both participants and instructors came from a wide range of fields. There were some remarkable people whom I doubt I would have met if it weren''t for this event. Before we even started, I felt anew that I was glad I participated.
After the introductions, four teams were formed around the four instructors. Soon after, each team heard from the instructors again about how to build the devices and what roles each person would take. The moment of wondering which role I would get... my heart was pounding.
Anyway! After the team meetings ended, the real work began. Someone cut hoses, someone drilled holes in bamboo, someone cut mesh — everyone worked together without resting, which was very impressive. In particular, the Scouts'' enthusiasm once the work started was indescribable... Seeing them sweat harder than anyone, I was inspired and worked hard too.
And another thing: there was a moment when the Scouts'' skills shone — when using the knots needed to bind bamboo together. Scouts who study and practice various survival methods carried not only knot-tying skills but also small pocket knives they thought necessary for survival. The young kids'' solid knots and passion, which amazed the civilian participants, are still vivid in my mind.
As a result of everyone working hard together, each team began to produce finished pieces. The photo above is one of the four completed works. The completed pieces were stacked upward like in the photo. So each team made four layers (1, 2, 3, 4), and the layers were assembled together. I could physically feel how important cooperation was in this program.
But as with many things, it didn''t succeed on the first try. Small errors along the way inevitably delayed the results. Still, I felt a certain pride in the fact that we were finding and solving those errors together.
When we fixed the errors and built the tower... the stacking process was somewhat dangerous, so the men mainly did the stacking. Amazingly, the upper and lower layers fit together perfectly. I think this was largely thanks to the long preparation period for the event and the instructors who went all out during the event to improve the quality. Great job.
Thus, we carefully and diligently stacked all the towers. Once the four layers were stacked, it was really tall. Now we just needed to check whether water would be produced through the nylon mesh inside the tower. Because water generation from humidity and temperature differences doesn''t happen that quickly, we weren''t able to confirm that water was produced. Sigh — well, isn''t it understandable that it might not work perfectly?
I think what was important in this program was not whether the product we made functioned properly. Unlike people in Africa, we can live without lacking water even without WakaWater.
So what meaning did today''s experience have?
Personally,by experiencing appropriate technology firsthand — technology designed to solve various problems around the world —I think it gave us a chance to think more deeply about the difficulties faced in those regions.Thanks to this, it was a time to learn more deeply about the concept of appropriate technology, and furthermore about WakaWater as an African appropriate technology. Thank you all for your hard work :)
