BY LIA DAVITADZE
High in the mountains of Ajara, where access to resources is limited, water and wastewater infrastructure is almost non-existent and environmental challenges are intensified by climate conditions, a quiet but powerful transformation is taking place alongside a novel Infrastructure Investment Program – The Ajara Rural Water Supply and Wastewater Program, assisted by the European Union and the German Government and being implemented in 39 mountainous villages and 5 semi-urban areas of Ajara. At the beginning of the Program, already during the village selection stage it was decided to establish workshop with students and schools, so called eco-clubs, through which the students of the affected villages would become environmental leaders, community educators, and active agents of sustainable change.
Eco-clubs have now been active for five years already. Across the highland villages, they have brought together students, teachers, academics from Batumi Shota Rustaveli State Universities and local communities around one joint mission: to protect nature, to bring up environmentally friendly, socially responsible citizen who will value resources and take care of its sustainable usage building a greener future. What began as small student groups has been growing into a strong youth-driven movement, reaching schools that previously had little access to environmental education or practical sustainability initiatives.
Initially, the eco-club concept was structured to have environment related workshops at each involved school, bringing in experts from the relevant fields and from the universities. Students involved in the eco-clubs have gained hands-on experience in implementing activities, which were documented in the green calendar with photos reflecting the activities uploaded to the Facebook eco club page, as social media is important for visibility and communication with and between the students. An Environmental Summit was held at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, where all 23 eco -clubs participated. During the summit, the Eco-clubs presented examples of their work during the recent year. Students now understand how everyday actions impact rivers, forests, and public health. Through environmental clean-up campaigns, usage of water tool kits to monitor the water quality of springs and rivers in their villages, and awareness sessions, the children have become visible role models in their villages—teaching not only their peers, but also parents and neighbours about the importance of water wastewater biodiversity and environment issues.
One of the most significant changes has been in the attitudes toward wastewater treatment. In communities where wastewater was traditionally discharged in holes, and the soil later used for fertilization, however not considering the potential contamination of rivers and springs in its vicinity, eco-club members discussed the importance of effective and safe solutions the Ajara Rural Water Supply and Wastewater Program managed by the Ajara Water Alliance offered to village inhabitants: biologically treated septic tanks, community training on affective usage and creating precedent in Ajara mountainous villages. Eco–club students are actively involved to distributing first hand information to their community on proper on advantages of septic tanks.
The eco-clubs have also improved students’ leadership and communication skills. Through meetings, peer-to-peer education, public presentations, and cooperation with local authorities, students acquired the skills to organize campaigns, speak in public, and advocate for environmental protection. Teachers report improved confidence, teamwork, and responsibility among participants.
More importantly, the initiative has also helped build a bridge between schools, the local university, municipalities, and families. Local governments now see students as partners in environmental protection. The university and involved families continuously support school activities, recognizing that their children are bringing practical knowledge and positive change into households.
The eco-clubs in Georgia’s Ajara highlands prove that real environmental change does not require large infrastructure alone — it begins with education, youth mobilization and engagement, ownership and community trust. By empowering children with knowledge and responsibility, the project planted seeds that will continue to grow for years to come, shaping a generation that respects nature and protects its future.
MACS is applying the concept of Eco-clubs as integrated instrument following a holistic and participatory approach in all MACS projects in Sustainable Infrastructure. Eco-clubs are an important instrument of the empowerment of the Rural population. For this reason, MACS has been assisting and extending the establishment of Eco-clubs in Georgia, but also in Moldova, Albania and Peru in the context of other currently ongoing rural and urban wastewater treatment and water supply projects.
The initial concept for the Trujillo Waterloss Reduction Program was realized in 2016/2017 in close cooperation with SEDALIB to determine the focus of activities necessary to strengthen the institutional capabilities of SEDALIB to ensure a significant reduction of water losses nd a reliable water supply in Trujillo and Alto Trujillo. The region on the pacific coast is suffering inceasingly from water scarcity and intense weather developments intensified by climate change while also illegal piping connections and overall ownership of the community and the utility for the water supply systems issufficient.
The main goal of the project is the improvmeent of the efficiency of water use in order to contribute to the sustainable supply of drinking water to the population of the the Project area, taking into account the intensification of water scarcity due to climate change. This is to be achieved through the cohesion of institutional strengthening measures eith invesmtent measures.
MACS is implementing the Project in a Consortium together with GITEC-IGIP GmbH (Lead) and WMI International, with MACS activities focusin on the capacity development support to SEDALIB as utility in the context of implementation of change management measures and the involvement of local stakeholders and the public for awareness raising in the context of health and sanitation.
Lina Saenz
Director of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environmental Engineering Consultant
Lina Saenz
Director of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environmental Engineering Consultant
Ms. Lina Saenz completed her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering in Colombia, her home country. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in Water Resources and Environmental Management from Leibniz University of Hannover. During her professional career, Ms. Saenz has worked on a wide range of projects in Colombia, Panamá, Ecuador and Germany. This makes her a highly adaptable professional with experience working in multicultural environments.
She has extensive experience conducting Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) and risk assessments at contaminated sites, following the required international and national environmental and health and safety standards in Colombia, Panamá and Ecuador. During her last professional experience, Ms. Saenz had the opportunity to increase and strengthen her knowledge in hazardous building materials and hazardous materials management, ESDD and further environmental training. Additionally, she had the opportunity to develop and improve her project management skills by providing client technical support to both local and international clients in Germany.
Currently, Ms. Saenz supports the MACS Team as Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Service Area, as well as E&S Expert for the projects 'KfW Perdidas II' in Trujillo, Perú and 'Rural Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Program' in Ajara, Georgia, and in the review of the PFI’s ESMS and preparation of the ESDD and ESAPs. Ms. Saenz is fluent in English and German, on top of Spanish as her mother tongue.
Dr. Lia Davitadze
Senior Gender and Communication Consultant