If rivers could speak, what would they say?
What if a river could speak? What would it tell us about the landscapes it flows through, the people who depend on it, and the pressures it faces? On 17 September, Join For Water invites you to explore these questions during a special Water Café in Ghent.
Imagine receiving a letter from a river. Perhaps the River Lys would tell us about everything it encounters along its journey. The Scheldt might speak about drought, pollution or the changing climate. Or a small stream in your neighbourhood might remind us how vital healthy water ecosystems are for people and nature.
During this International Water Café, we give rivers a voice and listen to the stories that connect people and water across the world.
When rivers write to each other
At the heart of the evening is a unique exchange of River Letters between the Mpanga River in Uganda and the Mayo-Chinchipe River, which flows along the border between Ecuador and Peru.
Through these letters, rivers become storytellers. They speak about the ecosystems and communities they sustain, the challenges they face and the people working to protect them.
In one of its letters, the Mayo-Chinchipe writes: “What hurts you, hurts me. What makes you happy, makes me happy. Because water is one. We are the blood of the same Earth.”
Together with Join For Water colleagues from Africa, South America and Belgium, we will reflect on these stories and on the people and communities who dedicate themselves every day to protecting rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
Give your river a voice
And we would love to hear from your river too. Choose a river, stream or creek from your area and imagine what it would say if it could write us a letter.
What has it witnessed? What is it worried about? What does it hope for? What does it want us to protect? Write your own River Letter and send it to us before the Water Café. During the evening, we will bring together stories and voices from rivers near and far.
You can send your River Letter to info@joinforwater.ngo or by post (just imagine!) to:
Join For Water ngo, Flamingostraat 36, 9000 Ghent – Belgium
Join the International Water Café
Come and listen, exchange ideas and discover how rivers connect people and ecosystems across continents.
When: 17 September, 7:00 PM
Where: Mondiaal Huis, Ghent
Please register in advance so we know you’re coming and can give you a warm welcome 👉🏽 Register for free for the International Water Café
Timing:
19:00: Doors open and drinks
19:30: Inspiring river stories
20:45: Drinks and networking
Participation is free, but a voluntary donation is warmly appreciated. Your contribution helps support Join For Water’s work with communities around the world to protect water and nature.
