Women are often underrepresented in the engineering field, and water is no exception. Women play critical roles in all aspects of water management, yet they are visibly missing from the dialogue and often only depicted as victims and users. Images of women as decision makers, managers, and stewards are very hard to come by. Through the #WaterWomen campaign Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) collected images that illustrate these important roles and tell the stories of women as invaluable to the decision-making process.
If you can see it, you can be it
While the campaign highlighted women who serve as water leaders in their communities, SIWI hopes that seeing women in decision making roles in water will also encourage girls and other women to view themselves as change makers.
More than 150 photos collected
“I was amazed to see the reach of the campaign. I am humbled by how many pictures we received, and by how many took up the challenge to change the way we view women in water,” said Ms. Kanika Thakar, Communications Officer at SIWI and responsible for the #WaterWomen campaign.
After analyzing more than 150 entries, the jury selected six winning photos that will be prominently displayed at World Water Week. The six winning photos can be seen below:
Yudi Espinal works every day to find a solution to the water problems in her community by being an active participant of a micro-watershed council in the Goascorán River Basin. The image reminds us that stakeholder mapping is an integral part of effective water management and that women like Yudy are crucial to that process. Photo Courtesy of IUCN
Pioneering fecal sludge treatment in Indonesia: Ikaturi Wulandari is responsible for bacterial analysis and supervision of a fecal sludge treatment plant in Banda Aceh. In this photo, Ikaturi is not only challenging the roles that women can play in science and health, but she also reminds us that wastewater continues to be an issue for all water managers to address. Photo by Alasdair Jardine / BORDA
As a young mother, Rani Barukaum’s (right) two children frequently fell sick due to unsafe water. Today, Rani works as an advocate in her community, explaining the link between water and health and has encouraged an investment into two water stations. Rani can be seen throughout her village, Ambedkar Nagar, passionately explaining the virtues of safe water, personal hygiene and sanitation and conducting water quality testing. Photo by Sanjit Das / Safe Water Network
Jannie is on the front lines of climate adaptation at Skanderborg Utility, Denmark. She works with (and sometimes inside) sewer systems solving problems and creating solutions for the future. The equipment Jannie wears, the job she is doing, the knowledge she is wielding are all evidence that women can, and do, fill the same roles as men.
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, works to sustainably improve rainfall through cloud seeding. The photo of Alya discussing strategies with the plane’s captain tells a story of women’s empowerment that is often underrepresented and serves as a reminder of the diversity of water management solutions available. Photo courtesy of UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science
Dr. Christine Pappas (left) leads the Water Resources Policy and Management Master’s degree at East Central University in USA. She encourages students, such as Sarita KC (right), to gain real-life experience by monitoring local streams. This photo challenges traditional roles while also underscoring the importance of sharing knowledge with future leaders. Photo by Bipin Shiwakoti
To view the #WaterWomen gallery visit us at World Water Week or see www.siwi.org/waterwomen.
