On Wednesday, June 2nd , the Municipal Government of Cuenca signed agreements with the winners of the Youth Climate Action Contest, an initiative that seeks to foster youth leadership through innovative projects to address the challenges of climate change.
At SWACH, we are proud to celebrate that one of the selected projects was born within our initiative. This is Centinelas SWACH, a proposal developed by Environmental Engineering students from the University of Azuay — Santiago Plaza, Leydi Gutama, and Sofía Torres — who are active members of our team.
What is Centinelas SWACH about?
The project aims to train a new generation of environmental leaders at Unidad Educativa Manuela Garaicoa, promoting a culture of responsible water use with technological and educational tools.
Its main actions include:
Environmental education for high school students.
Active use of the SWACH app to monitor household water consumption.
Design of a rainwater harvesting system within the school environment.
In addition, a school-based digital campaign will be implemented to raise awareness about efficient water use and foster responsibility from an early age.
Cuenca among the finalists of the Mayors Challenge
During the same event, the Municipality of Cuenca announced that the city is among the 50 finalists of the Mayors Challenge (Bloomberg Philanthropies), an international competition that rewards innovative urban solutions to address global challenges.
The project presented by the Municipal Government, called AQUA SMART, is directly based on the findings of the SWACH research project and proposes effective solutions to reduce potable water consumption in Cuenca households.
Out of the 50 finalists, only 25 will be selected to receive a grant of 1 million dollars to implement their proposal.
A model of collaborative work
Both achievements reflect the impact that can be generated when science, education, technology, and citizen participation come together. SWACH, as a research project led by the University of Azuay in collaboration with national and international institutions, continues to develop concrete tools to improve water management in the city and to cultivate conscious citizens.
This is clear proof that climate change requires innovation, youth commitment, and real action at the local level.
