Every Drop Counts campaign
Water is essential for agricultural production and food security. It is the lifeblood of ecosystems, including forests, lakes and wetlands, on which our present and future food and nutritional security depends. Growing water scarcity is now one of the leading challenges for sustainable development. This challenge will become more pressing as the world's population continues to grow, their living standards increase, diets change and the effects of climate change intensify.
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) regions’ fresh water resources are among the lowest in the world: The quantity available per capita have decreased by two-thirds during the last 40 years and is expected to fall over 50 percent by 2050. Ninety percent of the total land in the region lies within arid, semi/arid and dry sub/humid areas, while 45% of the total agricultural area is exposed to salinity, soil nutrient depletion and wind or water related erosion. At the same time, agriculture in the region uses approximately 85 percent of the total available freshwater.
The 'water we eat' daily through the food we consume is much more than what we drink. Did you know, depending on the diet, we need 2 000 to 5 000 litres of water to produce the food consumed daily by one person? Evidence suggests that two-thirds of the world population could be living in water-stressed countries by 2025 if current consumption patterns continue. To achieve a #ZeroHunger world by 2030, we need to take action now.
Reducing a person’s individual water footprint, combating collective and individual water misuse, overuse, and waste and is essential everywhere. However, It is critical in countries where water is dramatically rare and on the verge of depletion if we want to ensure a sustainable future to our societies. This approach emphasizes that water sustainability begins with prevention (reducing water misuse and waste) and requires adaptation. This campaign is linked to three very important themes: innovation, youth and women, which are currently considered top priority themes.
Therefore, #EveryDropCounts - Water is life. Water is food. Water is your responsibility. The Every Drop Counts campaign aims to raise awareness on the rising issue of water scarcity, the importance of combating misuse and overuse of water, and the adoption of sustainable water practices.
About the contest
In the framework of the regional Water Efficiency, Productivity and Sustainability in the NENA countries’, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) are calling on children and teens, from ages 5 to 14, living in the 19 countries in the NENA countries, to use their imagination and create a poster that illustrates what water means to them and their community and why every drop of water counts.
The poster drawing contest by kids for kids on Every Drop Counts is an opportunity to share realities of the importance of water on the lives of thousands of people worldwide in terms of combating misuse and overuse of water in your country, the adoption of sustainable water use and the understanding on the concept of every drop counts. The contest will also help raise awareness for other kids/adolescents/youth who live in other parts of the world and might not know about the impact and importance of water on the people and their role on using water sustainably.
The objectives of this contest are:
- Create colorful artworks that tell a story, while giving visibility to the on-site and off-site impacts of water scarcity and promotion of water sustainability.
- Raise awareness about the urgent need to combat misuse and overuse of water in your country.
- Raise awareness of the importance of using water sustainably and ideas of good water practices.
- Promote educational activities, engagement and participation of children and schools in water.
- Develop empathy/understanding between children of the world.
- Reflect on the different types of challenges posed by water regarding food security, human health and the environment.
How to take part
Submit your drawing in a poster format illustrating the cause, impacts, and/or solutions of water scarcity and water sustainability. The aim is to raise awareness of this water threat and the need to conserve water, with the motto "Every Drop Counts – Water is Life. Water is your Responsibility".
All young people who care about nature and water and want to take part in this challenge are invited to participate, with special regard to those that face the impacts of water scarcity where they live or that want to promote the values of sustainable water use. Schools around the world can also compete.
The competition is divided into the following categories:
- Category A | age range between 5-10 years old
- Category B | age range between 10-14 years old
Requirements
- Each participant and/or group of participants can only submit one entry.
- The drawings must be an original work of the participant/s.
- Poster entries may be drawn, painted or sketched using pens, pencils, crayons or charcoal, or using oil, acrylic or watercolour paint, as well as mixed media. Digitally created artworks are also allowed*.
- Drawing may or may not include text. If text is used, no more than 25 words or 100 characters can be accepted.
- Working on an A4/A3 or A2 sheet is recommended, to make it easier for the scan and upload of the poster design. If the drawing is larger, a digital photo of the work may have to be taken in order to successfully digitalize and upload the photo file.
* Parents and/or teachers can help the youngest participants in understanding the dynamics of water scarcity.
Submission and deadline
Submissions should be sent by 15 April 2022 through any free file transfer service/platform (i.e. Google drive, Share drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox) to [email protected] and include the mandatory Registration form – accessible on Google forms.
Only digital files will be accepted – please do not send any physical posters.
Evaluation and awards
A Selection Committee composed of members from FAO will evaluate all poster submissions, and the final decision will be announced by FAO on FAO regional website and the WEPSNENA webpage, as well as on some social media channels. The finalists will be chosen based on creativity and originality, quality of the informational content, technical and scientific proficiency, and artistic/visual impact of the poster.
- The top 5 drawings in each category (10 drawings in total) will be selected for the shortlist by the screening committee and notified by the end of March 2022. Shortlisted candidates will receive a certificate for this achievement.
- Winners will be promoted on FAO social media and website and by FAO offices around the region. Winners will also receive a Certificate of Recognition and a surprise gift bag***.
*** When winning posters are published, only the first initial, full family name (or school/institute) and country of origin will be published. No other personal information about the contestants will be published or shared
Terms and conditions
- Copyright of materials submitted remains with the respective participants, and copyright owners will be credited accordingly.
- Minors must have the permission of their parents or legal guardians to participate in the contest.
- By submitting your entry, you consent to the drawing being uploaded on digital platforms, and distributed via social media channels.
- FAO does not accept responsibility for, or endorse the views of the contestants.