“Today, I learned how water is used very differently depending on whether you have plenty of it or not. Although I already knew it shouldn’t be wasted, now I see it from a different perspective. I was surprised by how easy it is to pollute water and how difficult it is to clean it.”

After learning about the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea, seeing the challenges a young girl like herself faces in accessing water in African villages, and experiencing firsthand how easily water can be polluted, Yolanda now thinks differently. She is one of the students who participated last year in the Aquanauts activities—an initiative that proves, year after year, the transformative power of knowledge and experience in shaping young people’s relationship with water.

The Aquanauts, defenders of water workshops started in schools and were later integrated into the Let’s Make a Deal initiative with Hilton Grand Vacations. Over nine years, we have shared the importance of water conservation with more than 8,500 children and young people through 335 workshops.

The Aquanauts activities are structured into a series of workshops designed to raise young people’s awareness of the importance of understanding and respecting the water cycle—not only for their present but, most importantly, for their future.

The values we promote are essential for transforming global society, particularly in the industrialized world, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A typical Aquanauts session consists of three workshops led by a professional biologist. The first is a discussion about the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea, based on the documentary Aral. The Lost Sea, directed by filmmaker Isabel Coixet for the Foundation.

The second workshop explores the historical relationship between water, hygiene, and pollution and their consequences for public health. The session concludes with a hands-on activity in which students pollute water using common household products and then build a simple physical filter with everyday materials, learning the basic principles of water purification.

In the third workshop, students analyze pollution in aquatic environments. They collect samples from a beach and later examine them using appropriate scientific instruments.

Our experience has allowed us to identify eight key values in the world of water, which form the core mission of Aquanauts. These principles are the Foundation of a fair and inclusive education and align with the quality education promoted by SDG 4.

1. Respect for Nature
   A deep belief in protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems gives students a new perception of the natural environment, fostering an active commitment to its conservation.
2. Understanding the Future
   Intergenerational solidarity in water management is crucial for achieving fair and universal access to water. Teaching children to value water as a limited resource helps ensure its availability for all, both today and in the future.
3. Curiosity for Learning and How Things Work
   Innovation and knowledge-based solutions are increasingly vital. Adapting to climate change and mitigating its effects depends on research and innovation in water management. Encouraging curiosity in young people inspires them to seek and understand technological and social solutions to improve water access and quality.
4. Courage to Make Decisions
   Leadership in water management is essential. Changing the water culture requires people who can make informed and responsible decisions, even when difficult. Understanding this from an early age is crucial for shaping future generations.
5. Empathy for Others
   Equitable access to water and sanitation is a human right that must be understood and defended. Empathy fosters global awareness of inequalities in access and the need for inclusive policies that leave no one behind. Climate change and increasing water stress threaten this right, making it a major challenge in the future.
6. Experiencing Teamwork
   Water governance must be fully participatory. Collaboration is a determining factor in each of our projects: proper water management requires cooperation between governments, communities, and the private sector. Promoting teamwork from an early age strengthens the ability to find collective solutions to water challenges.
7. Loyalty to Peers
   Loyalty translates into a commitment to the community and water and environmental conservation. Children who learn to be loyal to their group can extend that value to the shared responsibility of protecting water and overcoming crises together.
8. Critical Thinking
   Economic policies related to water require an informed and analytical society. Developing the ability to combat misinformation from an early age is essential to firmly advocate for sustainable solutions.

Global awareness of the importance of including water as a key factor in coordinating any international strategy has been growing in recent years. These values form the Foundation of a cultural shift in water management, where education and social awareness are essential to ensuring water security and sustainability.

Aquanauts is an experience that transforms the way young people perceive and value water. By learning, experimenting, and reflecting, they become agents of change. Their commitment today shapes our future.