Viva con Agua Magazine 2019 by vivaconagua

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

TRIP TO NEPAL On her first project trip, VcA employee Sophia Burgard has experienced what on-site educational work is like.

BEHIND THE SCENES Intern Valerie Bülow got into the VcA spirit.

CREW LOVE The voluntary crews are in the flow! Göttingen and Cologne talk about their initiatives.

HAVE A GLASS OF WATER WITH … Musician MOGLI.

TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT New pictures from Marco Fischer‘s photo campaign.

TRIP TO UGANDA What happens if a well breaks down? Francis Mugoya and his crew experienced this scenario.

TRIP TO ETHIOPIA Allrounder Fynn Kliemann wanted to drill a well in Ethiopia. He tells his companion Michael Fritz why this plan didn‘t work.

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

Is this Viva con Agua‘s next offshoot in East Africa?

HAVE A GLASS OF WATER WITH … Musician Leslie Clio.

ART FOR THE GOOD SWAG Various international artists are committed true to the motto ART CREATES WATER.

HAVE A GLASS OF WATER WITH … Artist Joséphine Sagna.

ANTICIPATION The Viva con Agua cosmos is looking forward to these upcoming events.

IMPRINT

Cover-Photo: Andrin Fretz 3

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO NEPAL

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

„IT ONLY TOOK ONE MINUTE UNTIL EVERYONE WAS DANCING“

Sophia Burgard works in the field of inspiration and education at VcA’s “Brunnenbüro” (Well Office) in Hamburg. At the end of last year, she accompanied the project trip to Nepal where Viva con Agua visited seven schools and enthused children and teenagers with WASH topics through sports, music and dance.

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO NEPAL

ophia, you know VcA’s educational work in Germany and have now gotten to know it on a project trip to Nepalese schools. How would you draw a comparison?

VcA has been supporting educational work and water supply in Nepalese schools since 2012. In the schools visited, the children showed us which project groups they had founded with regard to WASH (WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and which activities they implement together: For example, dances are used to approach the topic of sanitation in a playful way.

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

They also showed us how they had learned to wash their hands thoroughly since the school has had access to running water. I see a lot of parallels to our educational work in Germany: We visit schools to get to know young people and explain the importance of WASH projects. This is done in the typical VcA spirit: with fun, diverse activities and, above all, great participation. In doing so, it is important for us to take the pupils’ potential into consideration and strengthen their self-efficacy, both in Nepal and Germany. Here in Germany, it is often the case that pupils show us their homemade deposit container or tell us about activities for clean drinking water which they have already set up. It is simply an encounter on equal terms that I enjoy very much! Why is educational work of such great importance to Viva con Agua? With its educational work, VcA wants to reach young people in particular because they are the ones who will help shape the future. We want to raise awareness and activate people for the topic of WASH as early as possible. In the past year, we were able to reach approximately 8000 pupils through different actions in Germany and I am confident that this number will further increase. What makes working with children and teenagers special? We reach a lot of young people – this applies to the schools in Nepal as well as in Germany. But it

is especially great to see how our "Universal Language Approach" (ULA) works perfectly at schools in the respective project countries. We get in touch with young people through the universal languages of music, sports and art. This reduces barriers. Moreover, a multiplication effect takes place in the project countries. We talk to young pupils about the topic of WASH, exchange ideas and they in turn pass on their newly acquired knowledge to their parents and the entire community. This effect makes educational work in the project countries so valuable. This was your first visit to Nepal. What were your impressions of the country? Actually, I was completely torn. On the one hand, Kathmandu is a very chaotic city with a lot of noise and traffic. In the beginning it can be a bit overwhelming. On the other hand, Nepal’s great, varied landscape thrills you as soon as you leave the city. That was the first thing I noticed – this contrast between the noisy, hectic city and beautiful nature. Which schools did you visit and how did you get there? We visited schools in both Kathmandu and our project area, the Chitwan region in southern Nepal. In total, we visited seven schools in ten days. Many of the schools are located in small and remote villages which is why it is sometimes difficult to reach them with a larger travel group. So, we could only visit communities that were easily accessible and in which projects supported by Viva con Agua had already been established. What was the visit like? We were a very heterogeneous group. It consisted of office staff but also artists and musicians so that we were able to implement very different activities with the pupils. We rehearsed a dance with the children, painted walls together and practiced how to wash our hands thoroughly. The musicians made music with the children; another group grabbed a football and was running across the pitch. It was a very varied program.

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO NEPAL

Which experience from Nepal do you take home with you for your work in Germany?

Yes, on the very first day. We were in a school and the whole team was still a bit excited. Nobody really knew what to expect. We had previously rehearsed a dance with a common song which we performed in front of the whole school. Pablo ("Mal Élevé") and David Bucher ("Dabu Fantastic") were rapping and it only took one minute until everyone was dancing. The pupils understood very quickly what it was about, got involved straight away, were dancing and singing along to the chorus. It was so beautiful to see that we all come from different countries, don't even speak the same language, but can still get in touch with each other immediately through music and dance. That was a real goosebump moment because that's exactly what we deal with every day at VcA.

I’m definitely taking home the positive feeling of seeing what impact the donations really have on site. I saw what it’s like when schools have running water or when a community has a well in the middle of the village and the women no longer have to walk three hours a day to have access to water. The people told me that they now have more time to pick up the children from school, for example. Back in Germany, I can now teach the pupils in a completely different way how much it means when they make their own deposit container and donate 100 Euros as a result. Because I could see what the money is used for. This further motivated me to work for Viva con Agua and pass on my enthusiasm to other people. WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

Did you experience a particularly touching moment?

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Interview: Roxana Becker and Micha Gab Photos: Marco Fischer 9

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

VCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WELL OFFICE BACKSTAGE FROM

BEHIND THE SCENES

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

By now, Viva con Agua has become well-known to many people. Not just because more and more bottles of VcA mineral water can be found on supermarket shelves. A lot of people know the light blue drop and the colorfully painted deposit containers as they have spotted them at festivals. But what exactly is behind the All Profit Organization? Our intern Valerie provides an insight.

If you had to describe Viva con Agua in three words, the top of the list would definitely include the words joy, commitment and network. Joy because Viva con Agua consistently spreads positive vibes, because in the VcA cosmos the focus is on motivating people to rethink in a joyful manner and with good humor. There's no lecturing or depressing images. It's not about making anyone feel guilty but passing on the Viva con Agua spirit and enthusing people so that they want to change something and get involved voluntarily. Viva con Agua is young and dynamic and full of energy to always tackle new ideas and achieve something. This applies to the water and hygiene projects in the Global South as well as to the events in Germany which Viva con Agua uses to motivate people to think outside the box. The VcA members' commitment is authentic and comes from the

heart. Everyone participates because they feel like doing it and want to be part of a network, not because they want to get all the credit. And what is Viva con Agua committed to? To providing every human being in the world with access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities. This is why VcA uses its donations to build wells and toilets in countries like Ethiopia, Uganda or Nepal. At the same time, they make sure to always act on an equal footing and ensure the sustainability of the projects by sensitizing and activating the local population. But it is not only a question of carrying out development projects in other countries. It is just as important to promote networking and fun among those who are committed to Viva con Agua and collect all the donations that make the projects possible in the first place. More than 15,000 volunteers are organized in the network as of now. The drops - as the volunteers are affectionately called - get together in crews in many cities all over Germany to exchange ideas, plan their own events and organize fundraising campaigns. Besides, there is the main office in Hamburg where permanent employees make sure that everything is properly organized, booked, communicated, marketed and carried out.

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

And who are these people at Viva con Agua? They are the people who dance next to the deposit containers at festivals and wave a VcA flag; who look after the information desk and explain topics related to water; who paint the guests' faces with glitter; who teach school classes in a playful way how to wash their hands properly; and who cheer during charity runs and distribute cups of water. They are the kind of people that scream their lungs out for the benefit of group dynamics; that are on their feet for hours to collect deposit cups; and who share a tent with you. As an intern, you'll get to know both sides thoroughly, full-time and voluntary work, and thus also the organization behind all the fun. As assistant to the actions department, you are right in the middle of festival events, you pull all-nighters and

Text: Valerie BĂźlow

return home completely dusty but happy. At the same time, though, you also experience the preparation at the office - including stress, rush and mishaps. After the festival season, the power and motivation low is bound to occur and you realize that you have to be careful not to forget yourself due to all the commitment and good conscience. But if you find the right balance to get involved while maintaining a certain distance and not biting off more than you can chew, then the Viva con Agua cosmos is an absolute gain. Being a VcA member means doing something meaningful with the aid of the universal languages music, sports and art and being rewarded for it with fun, friendships and a good feeling. Viva con Agua is a growing global family with a deeply rooted common vision: WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER.

Photos: Ulf Duda (P. 12), Alexander Schliephake (P. 13) 13

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

CREWLOVE // GÖTTINGEN

PADDLING FOR WATER

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

summer day, the sun is burning. A group of young people has gathered on the shore of a lake, clapping, screaming and jumping around in excitement. On the water, a few sports enthusiasts raise their game: They have a paddling race on self-made rafts. The Kiessee, a recreation area in Göttingen, is always well-visited on sunny days, but today is a special day: The Viva con Agua Crew from Göttingen invited to a raft race. 16 teams compete against each other – and paddle for water. But the raft race is more than just a sports event: on the lakeshores visitors listen the music, stroll through the open-air art exhibition, get inspired by other initiatives or eat grilled vegetables. Right in the middle of it: around 25 people in blue T-shirts with a drop print who are running back and forth in excitement.

The raft race in Göttingen took place for the first time in 2017. It was an idea by the Cottbus Crew. Our plan for 2018: expanding the raft race to a kind of mini-festival, turning it into an event full of music, art, food and drinks; child care included. It became one of the biggest events I've ever taken part in, an emotional rollercoaster ride for all Crew members. And it was an outstanding success: About 500 visitors attended the event and we were able to collect 2,185 Euro of donations, which we forwarded to Viva con Agua.

Eventually, we were left with the feeling that the day was a few hours too short because after four months of planning and several days of setup, the raft race just passed us by. Fortunately, there was the after raft party, where many exhausted, glittering and dancing people were laying in each other’s arms laughing.

Text: Emilia Kröger Photos: Jan Lops

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

CREWLOVE // KÖLN

PONG

CREATES WATER

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

PING

REW LOVE: It is of utmost importance to Viva con Agua and each crew lives it in its own way. One example of an initiative that stands for crew love is the Viva Movimiento from Cologne.

If you’re wondering now: „Viva Movi … what? “ – Here comes a brief explanation: More than four years ago and within in the frame of a university project, the Cologne Crew turned the table tennis round-robin from a schoolyard activity into a tournament that takes place in Cologne clubs. Et voilà – Viva Movimiento was born and unites sports, fun and sense of purpose.

their cooperation, Viva Movimiento wouldn’t have become what it is today. The last few years have shown (e.g. the round robin tournament at the NWT 2018) that Viva Movimiento is no longer just a Cologne thing but that it can also bring different Crews together – according to the principle: It’s only Crew Love when it’s shared.

Such a tournament requires organization which already starts weeks and months before the event. Everyone can help – from old stagers in table tennis to organizing talents. The drive of volunteers, who are up for a non-commercial event of this size, is a clear demonstration of what Crew Love and team spirit can achieve. Without the Crew and Text: Leah Gries, Alan Wanke Photos: Steffen Z. Wolff 15

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

HAVE A GLASS OF WATER WITH MOGLI

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

„CHANGING SOMETHING IS NICE“

Singer Mogli does not only make music. With her friend Mia Forsch, she designs sustainable fashion her label madekind. The 25-year-old tries to live sustainably in her private life as well. She has been collaborating with Viva con Agua since last year. How did you get to know Viva con Agua and why do you support the vision WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER? I've known Viva con Agua for many years from festivals and concerts. I thought it was smart how the deposit containers help use the sometimes widespread inertia of people to do something good. Viva con Agua probably collects significantly more donations in this way than through sympathy. This is also one of the main reasons why VcA and I match very well: We focus on positive energy. Both VcA and I try to change things with optimism.

How do you deal with the topic of water? What has changed since you got to know Viva con Agua? We simply have to turn on the tap for infinite water supply. At a young age I have already travelled to countries where things don't work that way, so my awareness was raised. My recent trip to Ethiopia with VcA raised this awareness anew. In daily life, I try to save water and drink tap water. I find it important to sensitize all people, not only those who live under different circumstances. Music is one of the three universal languages of Viva con Agua, touching and uniting people from all over the world. How do you feel about that as a musician? In Ethiopia, I made music with two people I didn't know before. Yaye, Samuel Yirga and I accepted the challenge to write a song together - and it worked.

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

How do you assess the influence you have as a singer and influencer on your audience and what is your responsibility toward the fans? I realize that my influence is a lot bigger than I initially thought. I live sustainability in many areas and partly advocate it on social media. But I want to avoid lecturing anyone. I just show how I do it, how much I like it and how easy it is for me to live in a more sustainable way. I demonstrate that I make an effort but that I am not perfect either. If I tried to do everything right I would be so bitter that I didn't have any positive energy left. I more and more realize that people are not just interested in my music. And I have the feeling that I was able to motivate many people already.

at the beginning of January. With what impressions were you left after this trip? I found two very good friends. One of them is Yaye, who said something very beautiful to me at the end of the trip: He thanked me for my courage. He said that he believed that many people would not see how hard I try to stay positive and that many thought it was always easy for me. He wished me a lot of strength to keep on shining light into the world. Someone thanking you for waking up in the morning and trying to be a positive person is very moving. And it is a beautiful motivation that will remain with me for a long time to come. What are your wishes for the future? I hope that Viva con Agua and I will enthuse even more people with our positive energy, and that a lot more people understand how much fun it is to make a positive effort and how beautiful the feeling of changing something is. Many think that the first step is so difficult. But you just have to get started. I hope many people will realize this.

You make quiet, rather melancholic music that makes people think. But many lyrics also deal with positive and joyful experiences from your travels. How do you make the connection between the beauty of nature shown in your videos and the melancholic music?

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

The song is about female empowerment, a part of it is in Amharic for the girls who live in the project area. Yaye translated my lyrics and complemented them, and then we all sang together. We also performed the song on site, on Yaye's farm. That was new to me. Everyone stayed after the concert, there was a bonfire, a DJ played and everybody was dancing. It was a special project and I am sure it'll result in an amazing video.

Everything I do is melancholic. I wrote the entire last album â&#x20AC;&#x17E;Wandererâ&#x20AC;&#x153; on a trip from Alaska to Mexico. I was inspired by my environment and loneliness there. I am currently making completely different music. My EP, which was released in March, was created in the studio entirely. I tried to lock out all my impressions, meaning I just use and let out what's inside of me anyway. I make melancholic music because I think we all have a sad core. As an artist, it is my ultimate goal to be as authentic as possible. Getting closer and closer to this core. That's probably why my music gets increasingly sadder. Defeating fear is the aim of my Mogli cosmos. As already mentioned, you paid a project visit to Ethiopia with Viva con Agua and Goldeimer

Interview: Claudia Gersdorf Photos: Stefan Groenveld (P. 16), Isabel Hayn (P. 17)

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

OLÁ MOÇAMBIQUE! In the capital Maputo a group of activists has come together and is about to found the next autonomous charitable all-profit organization in East Africa.

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

Ever since 2010, our family member Viva con Agua Switzerland has been supporting water projects in the northern part of the country which in the south borders on South Africa. The Swiss organization Helvetas executes the projects. Together, Helvetas and Viva con Agua have been able to create significant change – which has been very well received: Our approach of utilizing the universal languages of music, sports and art in Maputo, the capital, has taken roots; a group of young activists has combined their efforts to establish our work in Mozambique in the near future. „The local crew has already connected the topics of water, sanitation and hygiene with a positive connotation in the public eye through different events and art as well as activated people to engage in this work,“ says Caroline Jänisch, CEO of Viva con Agua, who visited the project this past spring in order to get an onsite overview of the collaboration. Viva con Agua Mozambique has high potential to structurally evolve into an active network and continuously reach more people with the shared vision. „Due to this positive development we have decided to also support the water project Oratta in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique with funds of the German organization.“ In connection with the events of World Water Day 2019, a heterogeneous group consisting of Viva con Agua Switzerland and Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. as well as Viva con Agua Arts visited Maputo. There, they also met with Biché Carimo who founded the local group. „Together we visited a school in Maputo and played Football 4 WASH with the kids“, says Biché. „In doing so, the universal language of football is used in different units – to interactively learn how much fun it is to know about water, sanitation and hygiene. In the future, we want to apply this concept to more schools around Maputo.“

Text: Micha Gab Photo: Andrin Fretz 18

The group also visited the project areas in the north where Helvetas and local partner organizations implement WASH projects (WAter, Sanitation, and Hygiene). „Helvetas is a very competent and reliable project partner with many years of experience in the country“, says Chris Wiebe, founding member of Viva con Agua and in charge of water project coordination. „The past collaboration with Viva con Agua Switzerland has been super. This is why we are happy to be able to foster the potential here even more.“ A close cooperation with the local population and administration is an important driver of the project. By involving local WASH committees through which the members of the community can be engaged, the project is perceived as their own. The WASH committee president in the community of Nachere, Camina Silva, emphasizes: “It is important to create awareness for the issues of sanitation and hygiene. In order to do so, we visit the families and explain the correlations.“ The use of music, dance and theater has an especially positive effect. A shadow was cast upon the field trip by the cyclone Idai, which swept over Mozambique at the end of March and left devastation, particularly in the central part of the country. The consequences of this natural disaster will be felt in Mozambique for years to come. The project regions of Viva con Agua were not touched by the cyclone. However, our compassion goes out to all those affected, and we want to express our gratitude to organizations and persons who have since then provided (emergency) aid: Thank you for your efforts! This occasion has strengthened our decision to expand into long-term projects in the north of the country – even if these areas were not primarily hit by the cyclone. „We are convinced that, especially at this time, positive activation and engagement are needed to assure long-term access to clean drinking water – in general, by making more people aware of the issues concerning drinkable water“, says Carolin Jänisch.

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

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KIDA KHODR RAMADAN & JANIN ULLMANN portrayed by Marco Fischer for Viva con Agua 20

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WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

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NIKEATA THOMPSON & MILKY CHANCE portrayed by Marco Fischer for Viva con Agua 23

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

JÈRÔME BOATENG & LARY portrayed by Marco Fischer for Viva con Agua 24

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZIN 2019

WATER FOR ALL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO UGANDA

„THEN THE MAGICAL MOMENT CAME – THE WATER MOMENT“ During a project trip to Uganda, Viva con Agua heard about a community whose borehole was broken and which had been without access to water for eight days. Francis Mugoya, Program Coordinator of VcA Uganda, reports on a spontaneous repair and the joy of the people as the first drop flowed.

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO UGANDA

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

ater is a human right, so we claim! But what happens when you spend a few days without access to this basic right? Science says you can get by for a few days. A small community in the north east part of Uganda gave us the not so good experience first-hand.

To put it in perspective, Karamoja is one of the least developed places in Uganda. The region has Moroto as its capital and everything good about the region happens here. However, two hours east of Moroto is a small community of about 400 inhabitants on the border of Uganda and Kenya. It would take you the journey on the road to appreciate how isolated the community is. Then the community borehole broke down. The community resorted to buying jerrycans of water from the next community, at least 20 kilometers away. But this new resort to accessing water was out of reach for many locals. The communitys biggest treasure, cattle, suffered the most from the thirst.

Welthungerhilfe got to know about the issue eight days later. They reacted with the urgency required. With support from the Viva con Agua funding, the aim was to rehabilitate the borehole as soon as possible. On the ninth day. We arrived and met the local leaders, half an hour before the rig truck with some handpump mechanics arrived. All over a sudden excitement came along. With the arrival of the truck, everyone knew that their liberator had arrived. Mothers with their kids, elders and youths gathered with the hope that their borehole would finally work again. All the mechanics wanted was to realign the pipes that connect the hand pump to the source, and to replace the broken ones. But they realized they had forgotten one of the bolts. So they had to drive back to Moroto to pick this one bolt and to continue with the rehabilitation. While we generally knew of the two hours drive to Moroto and back, it never occurred to us how it would feel. Waiting three to four hours felt like eternity. By then, the excitement was all down.

GOYA IS FR ANCIS MU RDINATOR AM COO

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FEC TIV TH ER E, A DE HT WA S B ROUG WATE R W ELL N. O TI UP ´S ATT EN TO TH E GRO JECT IT H TH E PRO TOGET H ER W E HUNGERHILF T L E W ER TN R PA D AND WA S IN IT IATE TH E R EPA IR . MON IT OR ED

Finally the mechanics arrived. The work resumed and they unlocked the whole borehole and replaced the pipes. During this process, the mechanics had a lot of support from the locals. It was one really supportive community, the best I’ve seen at that. For the next three hours, screws, pipes, bolts and drives took the attention. It was exciting to witness the whole process of removing the faulty pipes and connecting new ones. Then the magical moment came – the water moment. The first drop of water since nine days blew the community into flames of excitement. They knew now, for sure, that the water is coming to the community again! After fixing all the pipes and replacing the outer frame, it was now left for the first pump. And after half a dozen pumps later, drops and then streams of water flowed. Shouts of joy engulfed the community. It was a moment to step back and just enjoy the happiness that came

along every pump of the borehole. A group of ladies got together and performed some traditional celebratory dance and sang in appreciation. Meanwhile, the lines of jerrycans had already filled up from all corners of the borehole. It was joy to watch. But for all of us, it was primarily satisfying to watch the whole process. And it was moving to learn that the community hadn’t had water for nine days, and now the handpump mechanics had fixed it. Water was flowing, Life was reborn. It was an enriching moment to know and appreciate how your efforts as a VcA supporter can help a community in rural Uganda, and to connect to the vision of Viva con Agua. We may not have solved all the challenges of the community, but at least they have water now. Every‑ thing else can wait, but not water, because water is life. WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

Text: Francis Mugoya Photo: Papa Shabani, Markus Schwer (P. 28) 29

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VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

TRIP TO ETHIOPIA

„THE COUNTRY IS FULL OF GOOD IDEA S“ Fynn Kliemann, DIY-artist, web-designer, musician and jack of all trades was part of a Viva con Agua field trip to Ethiopia at the beginning of 2019. His wish: getting his hands dirty and building a water well with the help of John’s rig. Why this didn`t quite work out as planned and what made a lasting impression in spite of this, he tells us in an interview with his travel mate and VcA founding member Michael Fritz. What connects you to Viva con Agua? The love for people, the lust for adventure and thirst.

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

How did you prepare for this trip? I looked at photos and watched a documentary. It all seemed pretty overwhelming, but I still wanted to see for myself.

Building toilets was the kickoff for Goldeimer in Ethiopia and Viva con Agua Ethiopia is also still in the development stage. Yaye Gezu is playing a decisive role. What is your impression of him? Never before have I gotten to know someone in such a short time that I liked so much. Yaye is the boss, the string-puller, the coordinator for everything. He is the first to jump out of the car and clear the way when there’s a traffic jam; the first to come up with somebody who can pump up a ball so we can play soccer at the school. And he is our voice, translating our thoughts and making them heard by the people. He is an honest, incredibly loving human being and at the same time a doer who gets everything done. He is unbelievably important for the project. How did you perceive the Ethiopian culture?

With which expectations and wishes did you travel to Ethiopia? Above all I hoped to dive honestly and deeply into the society and culture and not simply do a tourist trip. This wish was completely fulfilled. And I wanted to get to know the people and everyday life and its challenges. To be honest, I had planned on working hard for at least a week to drill a well from start to finish. But it turned out not to be as easy as I imagined it. At home, when I build something, sometimes things break or don’t work out the way I had hoped. That doesn’t really matter. Here it is different. If I had broken the drill, we would’ve had a serious problem. So, it was probably good that the chief driller Melkie Gebru did the work. I agree with that. Which other projects were implemented onsite? We built a toilet with Goldeimer, which I was allowed to paint. That was great. We also visited many project sites, connected with people – that was awesome. I think the people thought so too. At least I always had the feeling of being wholeheartedly welcome there.

First and foremost, very welcoming and loving. It is easy to connect with the people because they are extremely open. The fact that they all always eat out of one dish I find awesome by itself. This brings you closer and it is something that is very rare in Germany. Or shaking hands, body contact when greeting someone – it’s not as anonymous as we‘re used to. You pull each other closer, touch at the shoulders. It’s more physical and somehow feels good. What I also noticed: the culture, the country, the people – everything is full of good ideas. I walked through there and on every corner I discovered a good idea or was inspired. My impression: Maybe Addis Abeba could become the new New York. You said that you always pay attention to the musicality of people. What did you notice in this respect? I especially like it when it’s unplugged, when ten school kids dance in a circle, one of them banging a drum and everyone is out of control. It generally sounds amazing, you can simply hear the

Interview: Michael Fritz Photos: Brian Jakubowski (P.33), Stefan Groenveld (P. 34), Markus Schwer (P. 35) 32

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love for music. When the children were singing, clapping and dancing, I recorded everything and will definitely make it into song. What I also find musically exciting is daily life. When you walk through the markets or some backyard or villages or towns you hear banging everywhere, someone shouting, something squealing and cracking. There are so many fun sounds that I just want to sample. Some of them I recorded with my phone, let’s see what can be done with that. The stuff on the radio I didn´t warm up to, but what I saw live is very attractive. Have you ever danced so much in ten days? I haven’t danced as in my entire life as in this week. Every movement of the shoulder is dancing for me. See, I am doing it again already. Yeah, that was a lot for me, but beautiful.

What will be the first thing you tell your wife when you get home? Oh, there are so many things. What impressed me most was probably the evenings when everyone really starts to open up. When you talk to everyone and the language barrier doesn’t matter anymore you start laughing together and the people start telling more about themselves, fascinating stories, and sometimes also talk about hard, sad things. Travelling through a country and experiencing its uniqueness is amazing, but the best moments are those intensive encounters, the personal things that you get to know. That’s how you become familiar with people and culture – and it makes a difference, that’s what sticks with you: personal conversations. Fynn, thanks so much for being part of this!

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INSTEAD OF WOOL SWEATERS

HAVING A GLASS OF WATER WITH LESLIE CLIO

SOFA CONCERT The musician Leslie Clio played a sofa concert on World Water Day 2019 in front of just 20 people in Berlin. With her performance she wants to show: It is cool to support a good cause.

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

How did you get to know Viva con Agua and why are you supporting the vision WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER? Because I’m from Hamburg, I was able to witness Viva con Agua´s development right from the start. For 13 years there has been no way not to have heard about you guys. At the time of my first tour you had asked me if I wanted to collect returnable beakers with you at my concerts. I think it`s great that Viva con Agua is such a young brand with such fresh idealism and new energy. The approach is so tangible. Which role does water play in your life? I get around in Asia and Africa a lot. Last year, there was a drought in South America and all the taps in the airports were shut off. These are situations where you realize what a shortage of water really means. It’s an absolute privilege in Germany that water simply flows out of our faucets. That’s why I stand behind Viva con Agua one hundred percent. Music is one of the three universal languages that Viva con Agua uses to touch and connect people from all over the world. As a musician yourself, how do you feel about this? The essence of music is to build bridges and bring people together. Music has existed as long as mankind has: Just like humans began creating tools, they started making instruments. It lies in human nature to make music together. Because music can happen anywhere, it will always build bridges. Musicians have a great influence over their fans. Do you feel the responsibility that comes along with this influence?

Interview: Claudia Gersdorf Photo: Ralph Penno 36

With everything I do, I ask myself: How would my younger self react to this? How do I want to be perceived by younger people? Music can be very formative. For me it was Lauryn Hill, Alanis Morrissette or Nelly Furtado – all women who influenced me, who were idols and role models. Now, I might be a role model for others not only with my music but also with my character. I see this as a chance and I want to communicate that it’s cool, for example, to get involved in something. Everyone who stands is in the public eye, no matter if musician or influencer, should be aware of his or her impact as a role model and handle this with care. For a while now, strong women have been a hot topic. How, in your opinion, can the visibility of strong, successful women be raised? on this matter. There are more than enough successful women that have to say something about this; however, they also need to be asked. People don’t call me up to do an interview about feminism and that’s okay, but I generally think that this topic should be addressed more. It’s like female quotas: They exist, but they also have to be rendered visible. The concert action week MUSIC CREATES WATER revolving around the World Water Day combines a charity event with fun, music and culture. You were actively engaged in 2019 as well. How was it for you? I think the connection of a charitable cause with fun, music and culture is essential and necessary. In the end, it’s simple psychology: People like to give if they receive something in return. So, it’s easy for anybody be involved in an activity that is fun. It probably wouldn’t even change if you got something in return that you don’t even need, like instead of a sofa concert you’d get eight wool sweaters. Well, in the end sofa concerts are a little cooler than wool sweaters, I guess! So, carry on, I think it’s brilliant!

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

ART CREATES WATER

ART FOR THE Viva con Agua utilizes the universal languages of music, sports and art. After all, they connect people all over the world and often speak more than a thousand words. Art works in specific ways though. It’s different than dance or football. It’s tangible.

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But how can art be used to create clean drinking water? By combining fun and games with a message. In communities in which Viva con Agua supports projects this means: A painted toilet cabin generates more identification and fascination than a grey block of cement. When colors and images remind you to wash your hands, it fosters hygienic behavior in the long run. Particularly at schools, art creates a tangible reference to rather abstract topics such as clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Especially when students can be active alongside the artists! Thus, art moves those who really embody change: children, youths, young adults. They are the concentrated potential for a positive future.

G O O D S W AG Viva con Agua Arts also transforms art into clean drinking water. The social business has the motto ART CREATES WATER and is the organizer of the Millerntor Gallery in the football stadium of FC St. Pauli in Hamburg: Once a year, national and international artists transform – with the assistance of many volunteers – the Millerntor Stadium into a lively, pulsating microcosm supporting WATER FOR ALL.

ESTIK A A SHENAFI MILY ARTISTS OF OU R FA M

IS ON E OES NOT A B E BA . H E D IS DD A M O FR ART T US WITH HIS R O PP U S LY ON E N A FI TRIP S. A S H CT JE O PR , DU RING R ANSL ATOR ES IN A S A T IN A A LSO PITCH U IVA CON AG TIME LOCA LIZE S V ES V O PR A AND ADDIS ABEB NCT IONS HOW A R T FU IN A G A E M A N D TI NIVER SAL TOR, A S A U A S A CONN EC N G UA G E .

Text: Micha Gab Photos: Lea May (P. 38-42), Stefan Groenveld (P. 43), Simon Fessler (P. 43)

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PE ESTE R N CO N TO TH E W F COM PA RISO A D EM A R K O IS IS TH E TR AO S M SOCIET Y – TH O TIST FR ST R EE T A R A , IVA IO V N H IT A CR TACT W E IN TO CON M CA E H . O T O PAUL ILLERN R OUGH TH E M R TH A U G CON A TE D MU R A LS D HA S PA IN GALLERY AN RG. IN HA M BU

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HAVING A GLASS OF WATER WITH JOSÉPHINE SAGNA

„I WANT TO SPARK EMOTIONS“ Joséphine Sagna – painter in her adopted home Hamburg – came to Viva con Agua via the Millerntor Gallery. In her work, she deals with the subject of the feminine identity, considering black women in particular.

say: „I will paint a painting and then it is clear that this or that will happen within the viewer.“ Everyone will have their own inner cinema. But giving this first impulse, that is what art definitely can do. How can art mediate the water topic?

Do you remember the first time you noticed Viva con Agua?

WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER

It must have been during the time when I first came to Hamburg. I’m actually from southern Germany and didn’t come across Viva con Agua there. Here in Hamburg the bottled mineral water was suddenly everywhere – I knew this must be a good project. How did you connect with the Millerntor Gallery? First, I went to the Millerntor Gallery as a visitor und felt this vibe, it was amazing. I thought, okay, how cool would it be, to be part of this with my own art, showing my work to such a big crowd – and have the opportunity to donate to a good cause. So, I applied and luckily it worked out right away. Has something changed in the way you deal with water since you know Viva con Agua? I’ve actually always been quite aware of water issues. Mainly because I was in Senegal as a child and in the rural areas where my grandparents lived, I saw that buckets are used to shower and that water has to be fetched from somewhere. This experience – that clean water does not just always f low out of a faucet – made a deep impression on me. Through Viva con Agua these memories came back to me and then I started drinking more tap water and consciously realizing what a luxury that is.

We are all different, but we all need water to live. Same as air. In this we are all the same. You can work with this. In your art you primarily deal with images of women. Why? The image of the female, particularly the black woman, intrigues me for an obvious reason: I am one. I also believe that women in the media and art are underrepresented. That is why I try to put confident women on my canvases. In all colors. This is important to me. I paint women not only brown, black or dark but in as many colors as possible. I believe you can still recognize that my paintings deal with black women. But only when you take a closer look. I hope that I can develop multiple layers as well as an openness, which invites everyone to have their own thoughts about the respective image. How does painting mainly black women move your audience? At the last Millerntor Gallery it was absolutely fascinating to observe the direct reactions to my wall. I spent so much time in front of the wall and listened to people talking about it. Mostly, the reactions were joy and laughter. The viewers also became thoughtful and started discussing. Exactly what I was hoping for: that I can spark emotions with my paintings and invite people to think without feeling constricted or exhorted. How important is spontaneity for your art?

We often speak of the universal languages sport, music and art. In your opinion, how does art bring people together? Of course, one must differentiate: All people that see an image will perceive it differently. You can’t

Spontaneity is super important. I would say that a large part of my work depends on it. Of course, the topic isn’t chosen randomly and I put a lot of thought before starting to paint, but the process of painting itself is infused with spontaneity. Espe-

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cially in the beginning when it’s about choosing the colors. Most times, I am working on several canvases at the simultaneously and star by intuitively choosing colors for the backgrounds. Not until I feel content with my background, do I start working more consciously and use this „pool of women“ that I have gathered over time. I do contemplate what would fit the background best, but the last decision is a spontaneous one.

street artists to people offering workshops to musicians. The MTG is so multi-facetted and there is so much you take home. It’s not just „ok I’ll exhibit my paintings and show some of my stuff“, but I also get something back. During the days of the MTG, I always had the feeling that all participating members were growing into a family. What do you wish for in the future considering your art?

What is special about the MGT for you? For me, it is completely different than a classic exhibition. Much more intensive. There are so many interesting people and artists there with whom you come into contact. The spectrum ranges from

I want to continue to communicate love trough my paintings, share the happiness that I feel when I paint and also create awareness and trigger inner cinemas in my viewers – and all of that for as long as possible.

Interview: Micha Gab Photo: Sebastian Heemann 45

ANTICIPATION The Millerntor Gallery

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An art, music and culture festival in a football stadium? This is only to be found at Millerntor Gallery. Since 2011 the Millerntor stadium of the FC St. Pauli football team is transformed into a colorful one-ofa-kind art gallery full of street art, photography, and sculptures during the team’s summer break. For four days international artists exhibit their work in all of these genres.

And most importantly: A large part of all proceeds of sold art flows directly into Viva con Agua’s WASH projects. The Millerntor Gallery 2019 opens its doors between July 4-7 in the FC St. Pauli Stadium.

But that’s not all. Concerts, readings, film screenings, a great deal of different interactive options and, of course, the visitors make the Millerntor Gallery a very special festival. The Gallery was initiated by Viva con Agua and FC St. Pauli and it is made possible by hundreds of volunteers, who assist with the planning and execution of the event with joy, bravery and endurance.

Something new is coming. Something big. The number 13 will play a special role. It is a feeling, a way of life, a new movement. A new gang is in town. With much love and trust. A project full of joy, music and art. Viva con Agua-style at its best! From Hamburg into the world.

Villa Viva

ANTICIPATION The Festival Summer with Viva con Agua

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Every summer thousands of Viva con Agua’s supporters trade the comfort of their homes for the most scenic festival camp sites. Between May and November our refundable cup hunters reach out at around 200 music festivals, cheering on their favorite bands, rocking in the mud and in the most creative and joyful ways generating awareness for one vision: WATER FOR ALL – ALL FOR WATER. It is hard to imagine the festival scene without Viva con Agua. Up to 35 supporters roam around the festival grounds with colorful wheelie bins and flags, and activate the festival goers to donate their refundable beakers and experience the Viva con Agua spirit. In 2018 they danced, celebrated and donated cups together at around 200 festivals. With different activities like information desks, wheelie bins, artist shout-outs onstage or public talks we were able to generate 222,326 Euros in donations for our projects in Ethiopia. Du möchtest selbst aktiv werden und gemeinsam mit Viva con Agua auf diversen Festivals die Fahne für sauberes Trinkwasser schwenken? Dann melde dich einfach unter pool.vivaconagua.org an, stöbere nach deinem Lieblingsfestival und erzähl uns in deiner Bewerbung, warum du Teil der VcA-Festivalcrew sein möchtest. You want to become involved with Viva con Agua yourself and show your colors for clean drinking water? Then just sign up at pool.vivaconagua.org, browse for your favorite festival and tell us in your application why you want to be part of the festival crew. On this note – a giant thank you in advance to all event organizers that grant us access to the most amazing concerts, to all the musicians who lend us their voices and speak out LOUD for clean drinking water, to all the happy festival goers who generously donate and support our work and last but not least our thousands of voluntary supporters for their tireless commitment. We are looking forward to dancing with you this festival season, spreading a great deal of happiness. Text: Valeria Michaelis Photo: Lars Jockumsen (P. 46) 47

VIVA CON AGUA MAGAZINE 2019

IMPRINT VIVA CON AGUA-MAGAZIN

Viva con Agua activates and inspires – for a world without thirst!

Olà Moçambique Viva con Agua is an international network of people and orgaPUBLISHER: Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V.

nizations who strive for securing safe access to drinking water

Head of Communications / Pressesprecherin (V.i.S.d.P.):

and basic sanitation.

Claudia Gersdorf In 2006, the charitable organization Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli Register of associations: VR 19145

was brought to life. In the meantime, more than 10,000 supporters

Neuer Kamp 32

who, through countless all-profit events, collect donations for

20357 Hamburg

WASH-projects worldwide – amongst them artists and musici-

Phone: +49 (0) 40-412 609 15

ans. With Welthungerhilfe and local partners, this movement

E-mail: kontakt@vivaconagua.org

has already reached 2.5 million people in WASH projects (WAter, Sanitation, Hygiene).

Press: vivaconagua.org/presse Read online: issuu.com/vivaconagua

Besides Viva con Agua in Hamburg, we also have founded the Viva con Agua Stiftung (Viva con Agua Foundation) and locally

CHIEF EDITOR: Claudia Gersdorf

active Viva con Agua associations in Uganda, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland as part of our internationally active network. Beyond that, we support the hived social businesses Viva con

CONCEPTION & DESIGN:

Agua Wasser Gmbh, Viva con Agua Arts gGmbH and Goldeimer

Micha Gab, Claudia Gersdorf, Bastian Henrichs, Moritz Meier

gGmbH whose activities all support drinking water and sanitation projects of VcA.

EDITORS: Roxana Becker, Valerie Bülow, Claudia Gersdorf, Bastian Henrichs

WASSER FÜR ALLE – ALLE FÜR WASSER!

AUTHORS:

DONATION ACCOUNT:

Roxana Becker, Valerie Bülow, Michael Fritz, Micha Gab, Claudia

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V.

Gersdorf, Leah Gries, Emilia Kröger, Francis Mugoya, Alan Wanke

IBAN: DE58 2005 0550 1268 1351 81

COPY EDITING:

Online at vivaconagua.org/spenden

BIC: HASPDEHHXXX Roxana Becker, Bastian Henrichs CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIPTS: ADVERTISEMENT / SALES: Claudia Gersdorf, Moritz Meier, Johannes Tomczak

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. is an approved charitable organization registered in Germany. For donations of up to 200 euros the bank receipt is a valid contribution receipt for tax

DESIGN & ART DIREKTION:

purposes. But even for small amounts we are happy to send you

Johann Zimmer

a contribution receipt. In order to do so we will need your full address. We guarantee not to pass your data on to third parties.

IMAGES: Roxana Becker, Bastian Henrichs, Micha Gab, Claudia Gersdorf

WE THANK ALL BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO FULLY FINANCE THIS MAGAZINE WITH THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ulf Duda, Simon Fessler, Marco Fischer, Andrin Fretz, Stefan Groenveld, Isabel Hayn, Sebastian Heemann, Brian Jakubowski, Lars Jockumsen, Jan Lops, Lea May, Ralph Penno, Alexander Schliephake, Markus Schwer, Papa Shabani, Steffen Z. Wolff COVER IMAGE: Andrin Fretz TRANSLATION: Sarah Wendt, Hanna Waegner

WE THANK MINX-PRINT FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

ART CREATES WATER ART IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. IT CREATES AWARENESS, IT TOUCHES PEOPLE, HELPS TO CONVEY IMPORTANT HYGIENE MESSAGES AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER BEYOND CULTURAL BARRIERS. VIVA CON AGUA ARTS IS A SOCIAL BUSINESS OF VIVA CON AGUA AND USES ART AS A VEHICLE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MOBILIZE FUNDS FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

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