Jump4rivers

Yesterday, Friday 20.3.2015, a group of 16 young adults from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria  come together to learn how to get active for our rivers. The jump4rivers-training is organized by WWF YTAE and the SCI with the initiative river jump and takes place in Marchegg at the Austrian border to Slovakia.

On Saturday morning the youth exchanged stories about the environmental problems at their local rivers and lakes. Mishka (19), a participant talked about her home: “We have two rivers in my city, one is polluted by the industry and in the other one the farmers wash their animals, I would really like to take my little brother to swim in one of the rivers, but it’s not possible because of the pollution”.

After this really depressing part of the day it was time to work on some solutions. Stephanie an expert from the Umweltdachverband (Umbrella enviromental organisation) taught us about the Water Framework Directive (WFD), what the EU countries are supposed to do to protect our rivers and how the reality looks like. Afterwards we went outside to the river Morava to brainstorm on some own ideas to take action for our rivers, raise awareness and put pressure on the politicians. 

During the time of brainstorming, Valentin actually jumped in the cold Morava. “The first step was pretty cold, but as soon as your whole body is in the water, you really feel the energy” said Valentin (21) while drying up. Today he was the first and only one to jump, but tomorrow, 22.3.2015, the world water day, everybody will join and jump to take a stand for river protection and free flowing rivers. 

The Jump will be one of many coming in the next months throughout Europe and is part of the Big Jump Challenge 2015.