{"id":1793,"date":"2026-06-22T21:35:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T21:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/?p=1793"},"modified":"2026-06-22T21:46:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T21:46:49","slug":"bridging-waters-a-pen-pal-dialogue-on-sdg-6-inequality-and-water-realities-in-india-the-drc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/bridging-waters-a-pen-pal-dialogue-on-sdg-6-inequality-and-water-realities-in-india-the-drc\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging Waters: A Pen Pal Dialogue on SDG 6, Inequality, and Water Realities in India & the DRC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This letter exchange between two pen friends from India and the Democratic Republic of Congo explores contrasting yet interconnected realities of water access under SDG 6. Through personal experiences and reflections, it highlights scarcity, abundance, inequality and pollution, while emphasizing shared challenges, youth involvement, and the urgent need for collective, sustainable solutions to ensure safe water for all.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SONAM RAJ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Charmant,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you\u2019re doing well! I\u2019ve been really looking forward to writing to you and sharing some thoughts from my side of the world. Since we\u2019re exploring SDG 6 Clean Water andSanitation, I thought I\u2019d reflect on what \u201csafe and accessible water\u201d truly means in the Indian context, especially through both urban realities and my own field experience during a Rural camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, SDG 6 is not just about having water available it\u2019s about ensuring that the water is safe, affordable and accessible to everyone, every day. It connects directly to health, dignity, education and livelihoods. A person may survive without many things but not without clean water. Yet despite progress, water insecurity continues to affect millions in India both in cities and villages often in very different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In urban areas, the issue is less about absolute scarcity and more about quality, inequalityand access. Many cities face severe groundwater depletion, irregular municipal supply and contamination due to aging infrastructure. For instance, in metropolitan cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, people often depend on private water tankers because piped supply is either insufficient or unreliable. However, this creates an economic divide those who can afford it buy clean water, while others are forced to rely on unsafe sources. In informal settlements and slums, families often queue for hours at public taps or use shared water points, which increases the risk of contamination and waterborne diseases. Even where water is available, it is not always potable, leading to widespread dependence on bottled water or home filtration systems, which again adds financial burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most alarming urban issues is water contamination. Industrial waste, sewage leakage and poor waste management often pollute water sources. For example, the Yamuna River in Delhi is heavily polluted, affecting not only ecosystems but also communities relying on it. Similarly, in many cities underground pipelines run close to sewage lines, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. This shows that urban water challenges are deeply linked with governance, infrastructure and planning failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While urban problems are complex, my experience during a rural camp in Hurwa village Jharkhand gave me a much more personal understanding of water scarcity. In Hurwa, safe drinking water is not just a challenge it is the biggest daily struggle. The village lacks a reliable piped water supply and most households depend on hand pumps or wells. However, the water quality is often questionable with issues like turbidity iron content and possible contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember interacting with families who had to walk long distances early in the morning just to collect water. Women and children are primarily responsible for this task which takes up a significant part of their day. This not only affects their health but also limits children\u2019s time for education. In some cases, during summers the water sources dry up, forcing villagers to depend on distant or unsafe alternatives. It was eye-opening to see how something as basic as drinking water can dictate the rhythm of daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One particular instance that stayed with me was a conversation with a local resident who mentioned that during peak summer, the hand pump in their area stops working and they have to rely on a neighbouring hamlet\u2019s source. This creates conflicts and long waiting times. Moreover, due to lack of awareness and resources water is often consumed without proper filtration or boiling, leading to frequent cases of diarrhoea, stomach infections and other waterborne diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at broader Indian realities, several real-life cases highlight the severity of the issue. The Chennai water crisis of 2019 is a striking example, where the city literally ran out of water and people had to depend entirely on tankers. Similarly, in regions of Rajasthan and Bundelkhand, drought-like conditions force people to walk kilometers for water. On the other hand, in states like Bihar and West Bengal, groundwater contamination with arsenic and fluoride poses serious health risks. These examples show that the problem is not uniform it varies across geography but remains deeply rooted in structural challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these issues, there are also positive efforts and interventions. Government initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission aim to provide piped water connections to every rural household. Programs focusing on rainwater harvesting, watershed management and community participation are slowly making a difference. In urban areas, there is increasing awareness about water conservation, recycling and sustainable usage. NGOs and social enterprises are also playing a key role in spreading awareness and implementing low-cost filtration solutions in underserved communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From my perspective, achieving SDG 6 requires a multi-dimensional approach. Infrastructure development is important but equally crucial is community awareness, behavioral change and efficient governance. People need to understand the value of water conservation and policies must ensure equitable distribution. Technology can also play a transformative role whether through smart water management systems in cities or affordable purification methods in rural areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a deeper level, access to clean water is about equity and justice. No one should have to choose between affordability and safety. Whether it\u2019s a child in an urban slum or a family in a remote village like Hurwa, everyone deserves the same basic right to clean drinking water. My experience in the rural camp made me realize how privileged many of us are and how urgent it is to bridge this gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would love to hear about your perspective on water and sanitation in your region. What challenges do you see and what solutions are being implemented there? It would be really interesting to compare how different countries are addressing SDG 6 and what we can learn from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking forward to your thoughts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm regards,
Sonam Raj<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARAKA BISIMWA Charmant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RD Congo\/BUKAVU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le 22 Avril 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 toi, my PenFriend SONAM RAJ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J’aimerais que vous sachiez combien vous lire est un grand plaisir, je suis quelqu’un de tr\u00e8s motiv\u00e9 \u00e0 interagir avec les autres quand il s’agit d’\u00e9changer pour acqu\u00e9rir une certaine connaissance et donner son point de vue sur un \u00e9change scientifique, mais je crois l’\u00eatre encore plus lorsque l’\u00e9change est centr\u00e9 sur la ressource en eau, consid\u00e9r\u00e9e comme abondante sur notre plan\u00e8te mais en r\u00e9alit\u00e9 tr\u00e8s limit\u00e9e. Entre d\u00e9fi de carence en eau, acc\u00e8s In\u00e9quitable et pollution courante de cette ressource pr\u00e9cieuse que vous vivez en Inde, Je constate qu’il y a des points des convergences & divergences entre nos deux milieux de vie et persuad\u00e9 que cet \u00e9change va beaucoup enrichir notre compr\u00e9hension non seulement sur le plan scientifique mais aussi Social au sujet de la ressource en eau dans nos diff\u00e9rents milieux de vie. Recevez mon opinion et r\u00e9flexions avec grand amour et int\u00e9r\u00eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au fait j’ai toujours cette conviction selon laquelle ; la nature est bas\u00e9e sur les d\u00e9s\u00e9quilibres, \u00e0 chaque fois que vous observez un fait dans un coin du monde rassurer vous qu\u2019un notre coin vie son contraire tout simplement, l’exemple typique est celui entre nos deux nations en termes de r\u00e9partition de la ressource en eau. Pendant que vous parlez de la surexploitation des nappes phr\u00e9atique, voir leurs ass\u00e8chements \u00e0 une certaine p\u00e9riode en Inde, ici en RD Congo m\u00eame les eaux des surfaces peine \u00e0 \u00eatre exploit\u00e9es \u00e0 leurs potentiels maximale tellement qu\u2019elles sont tr\u00e8s abondantes. Vous ne pouvez pas vous imaginez que  la ville de Bukavu dans laquelle je vis mesure 63km\u00b2 de superficie mais elle est travers\u00e9e par quatre  rivi\u00e8res urbaines, une tr\u00e8s grande rivi\u00e8res transfrontali\u00e8re et un Lac, \u00e0 cela s’ajoute les avantages que nous jouissons de notre climat tropical et les tr\u00e8s grande couverture foresti\u00e8res   faisant que nous ayons la pluie une bonne partie de l’ann\u00e9e, ce qui aide \u00e0 renforcer les eaux de surface ainsi que les eaux de nappes, aujourd’hui mon pays  la RD Congo regorge jusqu’\u00e0 plus de 50% de l’eau douce de l’Afrique. Cependant, je suis choqu\u00e9 de constater que dans un pays, dans une ville comme la mienne le m\u00eame probl\u00e8me d’in\u00e9galit\u00e9s d’acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la ressource en eau y est constant, j’\u00e9tais t\u00e9moins de ce ph\u00e9nom\u00e8ne lorsque je faisais mes recherches bas\u00e9es sur la gestion de la ressource en eau dans ma ville  l’ann\u00e9e pass\u00e9e dans le cadre de l’obtention de mon dipl\u00f4me de baccalaur\u00e9at , pendant que dans certains quartiers l’eau potable \u00e9tait disponible 365\/365 jours de l’ann\u00e9e il y a d’autres quartiers qui faisaient les m\u00eame 365 jours sans que l’eau ne coule de leurs robinets, ce qui conduit au d\u00e9placement \u00e0 de tr\u00e8s  longues  distances pour les  m\u00e9nages qui n’ont pas des moyens financiers n\u00e9cessaire pour acheter les eaux min\u00e9rales en bouteilles pour s’en servir comme eaux des boissons. Les eaux destin\u00e9es aux travails m\u00e9nagers ne causent pas trop probl\u00e8me aux m\u00e9nages car dans chaque quartier on retrouve facilement au moins deux ruisseaux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peut-\u00eatre que vous serez curieux de savoir pourquoi malgr\u00e9 une telle abondance de ressources en eau dans ma r\u00e9gion il y a toujours cette in\u00e9galit\u00e9 d’acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la ressource en eau. Pour vous faire comprendre cela je vais revenir \u00e0 l’une de vos r\u00e9flexions dont j’\u00e9tais tr\u00e8s  convaincu disant que \u00ab l’ODD 6 ne se r\u00e9sume  pas seulement \u00e0 la disponibilit\u00e9 de l’eau mais veux \u00e9galement garantir que l’eau soit accessible, abordable et s\u00fbr pour tout le monde, cela chaque jour car quelqu’un peut survivre sans plusieurs choses mais pas sans l’eau \u00bb cette r\u00e9flexion me renvoie \u00e0 l’autre pr\u00e9occupation majeure dont nos deux r\u00e9gions partagent en commun \u00e0 part l’acc\u00e8s in\u00e9quitable, c’est la pollution.  Malgr\u00e9 l’abondance de la ressource en eau dans ma r\u00e9gion, la pollution est un facteur qui limite l’acc\u00e8s \u00e0 cette ressource, des rivi\u00e8res qui devraient \u00eatre consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme des vecteurs des vies humaines sont aujourd’hui h\u00f4tes des maladies fatales, tellement que le probl\u00e8me de pollution est devenu persistant et sans solution durable la r\u00e9silience commence \u00e0 faire croire que \u00ab Mukongomani hakufaki na microbe \u00bb une phrase swahili courante dans ma r\u00e9gion qui veut dire que \u00ab un congolais ne meurt jamais des microbes \u00bb . Bien que cette responsabilit\u00e9 soit partag\u00e9e entre les m\u00e9nages et industries, je crois que la classe dirigeante (gouvernement) est au centre de cette pollution car il rel\u00e8ve de leur devoir \u00e0 faire respecter les textes l\u00e9gislatifs relatifs \u00e0 la protection de l’environnement et les Objectifs de d\u00e9veloppement durable dont notre gouvernement a fait engagement de faire respecter. Imagez-vous que ma ville qui regorge plus de 1 300 000 habitants il est facile de faire jusqu’\u00e0 une heure de marche sans apercevoir une poubelle publique, pourtant certaines recherches men\u00e9es en son sein montrent que 2.3kg de d\u00e9chets sont produits par personne chaque jour, ainsi la majorit\u00e9 de ces d\u00e9chets produits sont jet\u00e9s dans des caniveaux pour finir dans le rivi\u00e8res et lac plus tard ce qui expose ces \u00e9cosyst\u00e8mes \u00e0 la pollution en mati\u00e8re organique et micros plastique. Les m\u00e9nages accentuent cette pollution par les d\u00e9versements directes   des mati\u00e8res f\u00e9cales venant de leurs toilettes dans les rivi\u00e8res, les industries   non seulement elles polluent mais vont jusqu’\u00e0 cr\u00e9er une forme de concurrence avec les m\u00e9nages en terme de consommation de sorte  qu’en cas des limite en stock au niveau de la REGIDESO qui est la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 charg\u00e9e de la distribution des eaux dans mon pays, les industries restent prioritaires vu la  somme tr\u00e8s colossale d’argent qu’elles font gagner \u00e0 la REGIDESO.  Lors d’une visite dans une industrie Brassicole de la place dite BRALIMA j’\u00e9tais \u00e9tonn\u00e9e de l’information disant que cette industrie \u00e0 elle seule peut aller jusqu’\u00e0 consommer deux millions de m\u00b3 par semaine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aujourd’hui, je reste convaincu qu’il est vrai que la ressource en eau est tr\u00e8s limit\u00e9e car plus de 95% de cette ressource reste renferm\u00e9 sous forme Saline dans les oc\u00e9ans mais, je peux aller jusqu’\u00e0 parier que si le peux qui est \u00e0 notre disposition pour notre usage \u00e9tait reparti \u00e9quitablement on ne parlera pas aujourd’hui des probl\u00e8me d’acc\u00e8s, si seulement on vivait dans un monde o\u00f9 r\u00e9gnait la paix, l’amour, la mutualit\u00e9 positive et sans hypocrisie on ne serait pas entre des discuter des probl\u00e8me li\u00e9s \u00e0 la ressource en eau maintenant car l’acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l’eau potable serait une grande urgence vu sa n\u00e9cessit\u00e9, souviens toi que l\u2019eau est plus importante de sorte que personne ne peut s’en pass\u00e9e durant son vivant. Je suis convaincu que les budgets investis dans des guerres, dans la technologie qui permet de fabrique des drones explosifs capables de survoler des centaines des Kilom\u00e8tres pourrait permettre dans un monde o\u00f9 r\u00e9gnait la paix et la mutualit\u00e9 de d\u00e9placer l’eau de pays qui en ont en abondance vers ceux qui pr\u00e9sentent des carences. H\u00e9las !! Cette logique semble \u00eatre beaucoup plus impossible que possible. Il est alors important de comprendre que la solution durable de probl\u00e8me que traversent nos r\u00e9gions viendra de nous-m\u00eame et nulle part ailleurs, je tendais \u00e0 faire porter le plus grand poids \u00e0 la classe dirigeante dans le paragraphe pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent mais, il est important de souligner que l’action de tout un chacun compte pour surmonter le probl\u00e8me li\u00e9 \u00e0 la protection et l’acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la ressource en eau. C’est vrai que chez vous en Inde m\u00eame la quantit\u00e9 disponible cause aussi probl\u00e8me mais ici en RD Congo il suffit juste de limiter la pollution pour r\u00e9soudre le probl\u00e8me d\u2019acc\u00e8s jusqu\u2019\u00e0 90%. De m\u00eame que chez vous en Inde, c\u2019est un grand soulagement de voir que plusieurs initiatives s’observent d\u00e9sormais dans ce cadre dans ma r\u00e9gion, entre recyclage des d\u00e9chets plastiques en pav\u00e9s et des d\u00e9chets organiques en en biogaz et engrais, plusieurs jeunes gagnent aujourd’hui non seulement leur vie sur le plan \u00e9conomique mais contribuent \u00e9galement \u00e0 la protection de la ressource en eau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J’aimerais beaucoup avoir une id\u00e9e sur le r\u00f4le que joue la jeunesse dans la protection de la ressource en eau dans ta r\u00e9gion mais aussi avoir ton opinion sur la responsabilit\u00e9 de la classe dirigeante (gouvernement), industries et m\u00e9nages dans la crise d’acc\u00e8s et de pollution de l’eau que travers ta r\u00e9gion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cordialement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votre PenFriend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARAKA BISIMWA Charmant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SONAM RAJ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Baraka,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you are doing well. Thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful letter. I truly enjoyed reading it and I appreciate the depth of understanding and reflection you shared about water resources in your region. Your observations about the abundance of water in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the challenges of unequal access and pollution were both enlightening and thought-provoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is fascinating to learn about your city Bukavu and its rich natural water resources, including rivers, a lake and the benefits of a tropical climate with frequent rainfall. It is quite surprising, yet deeply concerning, that despite such abundance, there is still inequality in access to clean and safe water. Your explanation clearly highlights an important reality that availability of water alone does not guarantee access. I strongly agree with your reference to Sustainable Development Goal 6 which emphasizes not only the availability but also the accessibility, affordability and safety of water for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my region in India, the situation is quite different yet there are some similarities as well. Unlike your region many parts of India face water scarcity especially during the summer season. Groundwater is one of the primary sources of water here and it is being over extracted at an alarming rate. Borewells and tube wells are widely used but due to excessive use, groundwater levels are continuously declining. In many villages and towns, wells dry up during peak summer, forcing people to depend on water tankers or travel long distances to collect water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, pollution is a major concern in India as well. Rivers, lakes and ponds are often contaminated due to the discharge of untreated sewage, industrial waste and solid waste. In many urban areas drainage systems carry waste directly into water bodies without proper treatment. In rural areas lack of awareness and proper waste management systems leads to dumping of garbage and even open defecation near water sources which further pollutes them. As a result, even when water is available, it is not always safe for drinking or domestic use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You asked about the role of youth in protecting water resources in my region. I am glad to share that the youth are increasingly becoming aware and actively involved in addressing these issues. Many students, NGOs and local youth groups organize awareness campaigns to educate people about water conservation and the importance of keeping water sources clean. Activities such as river cleaning drives, tree plantation programs and community meetings are becoming more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, many young people are promoting practices like rainwater harvesting, which helps in conserving water and recharging groundwater levels. In schools and colleges, students are encouraged to participate in environmental clubs where they learn about sustainable practices and take initiatives at the local level. Social media has also played an important role in spreading awareness and motivating more youth to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In India, there are also several government initiatives that involve youth participation. Programs like \u201cJal Shakti Abhiyan\u201d focus on water conservation and encourage community involvement. Campaigns such as \u201cCatch the Rain\u201d promote the idea of collecting and storing rainwater where it falls. These initiatives have helped in increasing awareness and participation especially among young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the responsibility of different stakeholders, I completely agree with your views that the solution to water-related problems requires collective effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, the government has a major responsibility to ensure proper water management. This includes developing infrastructure for water supply, ensuring equitable distribution and implementing strict laws to prevent pollution. Governments must also invest in wastewater treatment plants and promote sustainable water management practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, industries play a significant role. While industries are important for economic growth, they must also act responsibly by treating their waste before releasing it into the environment. Industries should adopt water efficient technologies and reduce excessive consumption. Strict monitoring and penalties for violations are necessary to ensure compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirdly, households also have an important role to play. Individuals must use water wisely, avoid wastage and adopt practices like reusing water wherever possible. Proper disposal of waste is essential to prevent pollution of water bodies. Awareness and behavioural change at the household level can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was particularly inspired by the initiatives you mentioned in your region, such as recycling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

plastic waste into paving blocks and converting organic waste into biogas and fertilizers. These are excellent examples of how environmental challenges can be turned into opportunities for sustainable development and livelihood generation. Such initiatives not only help in reducing pollution but also create economic benefits for local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your idea about global cooperation and sharing of water resources is very idealistic and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

inspiring. However, as you rightly mentioned, achieving such a level of cooperation in today\u2019s world is quite difficult. Therefore, it becomes even more important for each region to focus on local solutions and responsible management of available resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, your letter has helped me gain a deeper understanding of the water related challenges in your region and also reflect on the situation in my own country. Despite the differences in availability, both our regions face common issues of inequality and pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This shows that water management is not just a technical issue but also a social and governance challenge. I firmly believe that with increased awareness, responsible behaviour and collective efforts from governments, industries and individuals especially the youth we can work towards ensuring sustainable and equitable access to water for all. Thank you once again for your meaningful letter. I truly look forward to continuing this exchange and learning more from your experiences and perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With warm regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pen friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonam Raj<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER <\/strong>4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARAKA BISIMWA Charmant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RD Congo\/Bukavu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeudi, 21 Mai, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 toi My Penfriend Sonam Raj<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cher Sonam,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Je me dis souvent que les th\u00e9matiques bas\u00e9es sur la ressource en eau font parties des th\u00e9matiques les plus complexes \u00e0 aborder mais, je dois avouer que la fa\u00e7on dont je viens d\u2019acqu\u00e9rir en si peu de mots la situation de la ressource en eau en Inde commen\u00e7ant par sa faible quantit\u00e9, passant par sa pollution et acc\u00e8s in\u00e9quitable jusqu\u2019\u00e0 avoir une id\u00e9e sur sa pollution est tout simplement impressionnante. Cela prouve qu\u2019en face de moi il y a un correspondant tr\u00e8s pertinent mais aussi passionn\u00e9 par la ressource en eau. Comprenez que c\u2019est un grand plaisir et une immense joie pour moi d\u2019\u00e9changer avec quelqu\u2019un de ton calibre pour m\u2019aider \u00e0 enrichir mon niveau de connaissance sur la ressource en eau, surtout d\u2019un pays comme Inde qui semble avoir certaines r\u00e9alit\u00e9s diff\u00e9rentes compar\u00e9es \u00e0 la RD Congo en termes de disponibilit\u00e9, bien qu\u2019il y ait des r\u00e9alit\u00e9s communes comme l\u2019acc\u00e8s in\u00e9quitable et la pollution de cette ressource tr\u00e8s capitale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

En comparant nos deux pays, je constate que ; les d\u00e9fis li\u00e9s \u00e0 la ressource en eau constituent un grave probl\u00e8me dans ton milieu de vie alors qu\u2019ils restent encr\u00e9s parmi les situations compliqu\u00e9es et paradoxales ici chez moi. Je m\u2019explique, chez vous en Inde non seulement la ressource en eau est en quantit\u00e9 limit\u00e9e mais, il y a \u00e9galement les probl\u00e8mes de pollution qui viennent s\u2019y ajouter, en suivant la logique on comprend que le probl\u00e8me d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019eau que travers ta r\u00e9gion est en grande partie li\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019interaction entre sa quantit\u00e9 limit\u00e9e et la pollution qu\u2019elle subit. La combinaison de tous ces facteurs transforme les d\u00e9fis li\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019eau en des probl\u00e8mes tr\u00e8s graves et complexe dans ta r\u00e9gion. Pendant ce temps, ici chez-moi alors que nous vivons dans un pays qui regorge jusqu\u2019\u00e0 plus de 50% de l\u2019eau douce de son continent (Afrique) et profitant en plus de la fr\u00e9quentation des pluies en abondance suite aux vastes for\u00eats qui couvrent son territoire, le probl\u00e8me d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019eau se fait toujours remarquer. Cette situation para\u00eet tr\u00e8s paradoxale et compliqu\u00e9e quand on attend parler simultan\u00e9ment dans une r\u00e9gion une abondance en scandale de la ressource en eau et l\u2019acc\u00e8s non satisfaisant de la population \u00e0 cette m\u00eame ressource. Cependant, entre les probl\u00e8mes tr\u00e8s graves auxquels vous \u00eates en train de faire face en Inde et le paradoxe que nous sommes en train de vivre en RD Congo, il est bien de constater que le socle de tous nos malheurs n\u2019est pas \u00e0 chercher trop loin car il est bien connu \u00ab c\u2019est la pollution \u00bb, que \u00e7a soit dans nos milieux ruraux avec les r\u00e9sidus agricoles mal g\u00e9r\u00e9s, l\u2019utilisations excessifs des engrains et produits phytosanitaires ou dans les milieux urbains o\u00f9 la situation est plus accentu\u00e9e avec la mauvaise gestion des d\u00e9chets m\u00e9nagers et industriels ou encore des rejets polluants  produits en grande quantit\u00e9 qui  finissent plus tard dans les rivi\u00e8res par ruissellement ou alors dans les nappes phr\u00e9atique par infiltration. Bien que nous connaissions d\u00e9j\u00e0 la cause, il est tr\u00e8s effrayant de constater \u00e0 quel point la pollution s\u2019accentue jours apr\u00e8s jours, si rien n\u2019est fait nous risquons de vivre l\u2019affaire dans les prochaines ann\u00e9es dans nos pays \u00e0 croissance d\u00e9mographique tr\u00e8s acc\u00e9l\u00e9r\u00e9e car, plusieurs recherches indiquent que l\u2019accent que connait la pollution de la ressource en eau est en parfaite corr\u00e9lation avec la croissance d\u00e9mographique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e9j\u00e0 que nous connaissons que le grand probl\u00e8me reste la pollution car elle limite l\u2019acc\u00e8s de la population \u00e0 cette ressource que \u00e7a soit en Inde ou en RD Congo, aux lieux de continuer \u00e0 d\u00e9battre de la gravit\u00e9 de ce probl\u00e8me je crois que le plus important serait de nous tourner vers les pistes des solutions durables. Il y a une tendance qui continue de me choquer jusqu\u2019aujourd\u2019hui, au fait j\u2019ai cette habitude de lire les articles et ouvrages scientifiques bas\u00e9es sur la ressource en eau, je peux t\u2019avouer qu\u2019en parcourant la plupart des ouvrages on peut comprendre facilement pourquoi jusqu\u2019au jourd\u2019hui le probl\u00e8me de pollution de l\u2019eau n\u2019a pas toujours trouv\u00e9 de solution durable et facilement accessible \u00e0 tout le monde, il est tr\u00e8s choquant de constater comment la partie r\u00e9serv\u00e9e aux pistes de solutions ne prend que 2 ou 3 pages dans des ouvrages comptant entre 20 \u00e0 plus de 100 pages, comme quoi la plupart des scientifiques trouvent plaisir \u00e0 d\u00e9couvrir et parler des probl\u00e8mes li\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019eau  et leurs gravit\u00e9s mais laissent aux oubliettes la recherche de solution. A un certain moment il faut croire Albert Einstein qui avait dit que \u00ab la solution \u00e0 un probl\u00e8me n\u2019est jamais loin \u00e0 la source de celui-ci \u00bb, si la m\u00eame passion et \u00e9nergie utilis\u00e9es pour d\u00e9couvrir et parler des probl\u00e8mes li\u00e9s \u00e0 la pollution de l\u2019eau \u00e9taient appliqu\u00e9s aussi pour la recherche des pistes de solution on n\u2019en serait pas ici aujourd\u2019hui. Cette initiative de The Global PenFriends m\u2019a particuli\u00e8rement touch\u00e9, surtout avec son approche bas\u00e9e sur l\u2019\u00e9change au tour des Objectifs D\u00e9veloppement Durable dans lesquels la ressource en eau est \u00e9galement align\u00e9e. Nous faire part de la situation que travers nos r\u00e9gion \u00e0 travers cette correspondance est quelque chose de tr\u00e8s int\u00e9ressant et passionnant, \u00e0 travers vos lettres j\u2019ai senti non seulement un \u00e9tudiant qui explique \u00e0 un autre la situation difficile que travers sa r\u00e9gion mais j\u2019ai senti \u00e9galement un citoyen qui est profond\u00e9ment touch\u00e9 par cette situation catastrophique li\u00e9e \u00e0 la ressource en eau et qui aimerais sans doute voir la situation se d\u00e9rouler d\u2019une fa\u00e7on all\u00e9g\u00e9e et am\u00e9lior\u00e9e. Pour esp\u00e9rer au changement dans nos r\u00e9gion \u00e0 l\u2019avenir, je trouve important de commencer par nous questionner d\u2019abord sur notre apport au niveau personnel dans la r\u00e9solution de ce probl\u00e8me li\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019eau avant de nous projeter sur ce que devraient faire nos proches, nos concitoyens ou nos dirigeants, je suis totalement d\u2019accord avec la r\u00e9flexion d\u2019un artiste de mon pays au nom de Youssoupha qui avait dit que \u00ab le manque des solutions aux probl\u00e8mes que nous vivons r\u00e9sulte du fait que nous voulons tous changer le monde au lieu de commencer par nous changer d\u2019abord nous-m\u00eame \u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cher Sonam, \u00e0 travers nos \u00e9changes je viens de vivre une exp\u00e9rience tr\u00e8s passionnante et enrichissante, gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 cette correspondance je viens d\u2019apprendre beaucoup sur ta r\u00e9gion et j\u2019esp\u00e8res que c\u2019est le cas pour vous \u00e9galement. Si une telle occasion se pr\u00e9sentait encore, je serais tr\u00e8s content de discuter avec toi de fa\u00e7on d\u00e9taill\u00e9e sur les diff\u00e9rentes pistes de solution possible \u00e0 proposer dans nos deux r\u00e9gions qui travers des probl\u00e8mes complexes d\u2019acc\u00e8s et de pollution de la ressource en eau. En attendant, il demeure important de nous rappeler que le vrai changement commencera par la prise de conscience et l\u2019action individuelle avant de compter l\u2019apport des diff\u00e9rents autres acteurs (nos proches, gouvernement, \u2026). C\u2019est avec une grande insistance et conviction que je vais fermer ce chapitre en disant \u00ab OUI, nous sommes capables de contribuer \u00e0 la r\u00e9solution de ce grand probl\u00e8me li\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019eau que travers nos r\u00e9gions. Mon ami, Soyons ses ambassadeurs, soyons ses acteurs de d\u00e9veloppement durable que nos soci\u00e9t\u00e9s \u00e9prouvent besoin aujourd\u2019hui \u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cordialement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votre PenFriend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARAKA BISIMWA Charmant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This letter exchange between two pen friends from India and the Democratic Republic of Congo explores contrasting … <\/p>\n

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