The Blue Community designates and welcomes a new partner, the organisation Woman and Youth Empowerment for Ecological Climate Change WYEECC, based in Kabala, Sierra Leone, Africa.
WYEECC is a non-profit organisation. It aspires «to become a Blue Community and join the Blue Community Network to promote sustainable water management, environmental stewardship, and public access to clean water.»
In its commitment to the core values of the Blue Community, WYEECC states:
«Affiliation will enable us to collaborate with like minded organizations, share best practices, and amplify community education on water conservation. We expect to learn from global initiatives while contributing our local expertise, innovative projects, and volunteer engagement to advance water sustainability.»
WYEECC recognizes access to safe water and sanitation as a fundamental human right. The organisation supported community awareness initiatives that educate residents about the importance of clean water, hygiene, and equitable access to sanitation services. «Moving forward, our goal is to strengthen advocacy for inclusive water policies and improve access for vulnerable and underserved groups. We plan to conduct educational workshops, engage local stakeholders, support community led water and sanitation projects, and promote public participation in decision making processes. Through these activities, we aim to advance dignity, health, equality, and universal access to safe water and sanitation for all members of our community.»
WYEECC supports the principle that water and wastewater services should be publicly financed, publicly owned, and publicly operated to ensure equitable access, transparency, accountability, and long term sustainability. «Our goal is to strengthen public confidence in and support for publicly managed water systems that prioritize people over profit. We plan to organize community forums, educational campaigns, and stakeholder dialogues highlighting the benefits of public water services. We will also advocate for adequate public investment, promote transparent decision making, and encourage citizen engagement in protecting and improving local water and wastewater infrastructure.»
WYEECC also promotes safe, accessible public drinking water as a sustainable alternative to bottled water: «We have supported awareness campaigns on the environmental and economic impacts of single use plastic bottles while encouraging the use of safe tap water where available. We plan to conduct educational outreach, promote reusable water bottles, advocate for the installation of public drinking water stations, and collaborate with local partners to raise awareness about water quality, health benefits, and plastic waste reduction through funds because our organization did not have funds to implement project for now.»
WYEECC also plans to organize educational workshops, community clean up campaigns, tree planting initiatives around water catchment areas, and youth engagement programs focused on water conservation. «We will also encourage partnerships with local institutions and community groups to promote sustainable practices, strengthen public participation in water related decision making, and support long term water security for present and future generations.»
Raymond Hindowa Ngegba, Country Director with WYEECC, states:
«As a Blue Community, we aim to strengthen community awareness, implement responsible water policies, and foster a culture of shared responsibility for this vital resource, ensuring its protection for future generations.»
Umo Isua-Ikoh, Blue Community Coordinator for Central-/Western Africa, welcomes WYEECC to the team:
«Let’s advocate for water justice together for meaningful impacts.»
