On May 10, the network Réseau Ecole RadioChico in Mali and neighbouring countries in French speaking Africa received their certificate as a Blue Community in an online event.
The online ceremony was opened and moderated by Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, coordinator of the Ecumenic Water Network Africa and of the Blue Community Chapter Africa. He welcomed the participants and honored the Réseau Ecole RadioChico for their achievement.
Leonard Shang-Quartey, coordinator of the Africa Water Justice Network, the umbrella structure for African organizations working on Water Justice, also welcomed the Réseau Ecole RadioChico in the family of African water justice organisations, and expressed his hopes for a good and strong cooperation for the common interests and the common good water.
Next to welcome the Réseau Ecole RadioChico as a Blue Community was Dinesh Suna on behalf of the World Council of Churches WCC, a Blue Community itself and home of the global Ecumenic Water Network.
Then, the Blue Community certificate was handed over to the Réseau Ecole RadioChico by Blue Community co-founder Maude Barlow, expressing her joy and excitement about the recent development of Blue Communities spreading in the countries of the global south and especially now on the African continent.
Annemarie Koch, co-president of the Blue Community RadioChico Switzerland and in this position closely working with their African partner in Mali, thanked Maude Barlow and all other Blue Community people involved to make the affiliation of RadioChico possible. Her statement:
Respected Maude Barlow
Reverend Kolade – Leonard Thang Quartay – Dinesh Suna
In the name of RadioChico Switzerland I thank you for the opportunity you are giving to the Réseau RadioChico Mali.
I can assure you, that this handing over of the Blue Community Certificate motivates the Youth of the French speaking Countries in Africa.
I am very happy knowing that young people love to be active and should, if possible, not be held back as this takes away their enthusiasm.
To Souleymane and the whole team of Réseau RadioChico Mali: you are in my eyes true advocates of the principles of Blue Community.
I am looking forward to work together with you all, so that water will also be available for the future generations in this beautiful world.
Souleymane Guindo, coordinator of the network Réseau Ecole RadioChico, expressed his gratitude and the strong will of the Réseau Ecole RadioChico to fight for the Right to Water and to implement the Blue Community pledges in their everyday life in concrete action. Other Blue Community activists part of the Réseau Ecole RadioChico in Mali and neighboring countries joined this commitment and their joy and feeling of honor to become a Blue Community.
Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi closed the session with a feeling of encouragement and empowerment for all of us, struggling for the Right to Water and Sanitation as a part of the global Blue Community.