Meet the Cork women educating others on how to get 'wise about water'

HELPING to replace climate despair with active action is at the core of a new business launched by two Garrettstown-based friends.

Elaine Moynihan and Katie McShane are at the helm of WiseWater, an organisation set up to promote wellbeing and active citizenship through the connection of water.

Both women are hugely passionate about water, and are year-round sea swimmers and surfers. They previously made headlines when they built a boat in memory of Katie’s sister Saoirse, who passed away in 2011, and took part in the Ocean to City — An Rás Mór.

They are both youth and community workers and while water plays a big role in their day-to-day life, it has also been a part of the voluntary work they do, taking communities to the sources of rivers to raise awareness.

In a light-bulb moment last year, the pals decided to see if they could make a living from their passion as well and WiseWater was born.

At WiseWater, they provide fun and engaging environmental and wellbeing education to schools, youth and community groups as well as workshops to corporates.

Ultimately, they offer a six-week primary school programme that teaches young people about the inter-relationship between water and keeping well, how we need water, and how water needs us.

“There is so much doom about the biodiversity and environmental crisis, but fundamentally there’s also a disconnection to nature, our aim is to ignite a spark of connection, create something to celebrate, to get excited about, and inspire genuine care for the environment,” said Elaine.

She said they weren’t about ‘bringing panic’ to the situation, even though Ireland is in a ‘water crisis’.

“Even though there’s an abundance of water in Ireland, if you look at any EPA report you’ll see that water quality is declining so there’s no room for complacency,” she said.

They also want to build an idea that ‘we’re all part of the one well’, and they encourage people to think in terms of ‘world water’ and to help foster a sense of responsibility for our shared environment.

We want people to have a systems thinking approach, to realise that, while we may not be in a crisis presently, we need to begin to change our behaviour now.

EDUCATION

The school programmes they run are for 5th and 6th classes along with Transition Years and are very hands-on.

Uniquely, through engaging interactive activities and multisensory experiments, students discover the vital connection between preserving our water environment and nurturing our personal wellbeing.

“What we want to show is that to take care of the environment, we have to also take care of ourselves, so we help illustrate the co-relation between things like self-awareness and water awareness, the resilience of water, and the importance of being resilient ourselves,” said Elaine. “It’s a combination of learning how to care for ourselves, to respect ourselves and respect the environment. In our fast-paced lives, we often find ourselves in a constant state of adrenaline.

“Research increasingly emphasises water’s ability to calm and alleviate stress. Ultimately, water is fundamental to our wellbeing, to life,” she said.

THEIR MOTTO

‘Every drop counts’ is WiseWater’s motto.

“So we want young people and all society to start thinking about water differently and not taking it for granted just because it easily comes out of our taps,” said Elaine.

Simple actions like turning off the water when brushing our teeth and considering how we can begin to use water wisely.

“We believe that providing engaging and thought-provoking education to young people can help make waves of positive change. They share what they’ve learned with siblings, parents and grandparents, creating a ripple effect in water awareness and conservation.

“It’s the same with picking up coastal rubbish, if everyone picks up a few pieces, you’ll see a difference,” said Elaine.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

The business is in its infancy but Elaine and Katie were accepted to be part of the current Ignite programme at UCC, an award-winning business incubation programme supporting recent entrepreneurs turn good ideas into great businesses, which is a huge endorsement.

MARKING WORLD WATER DAY

World Water Day take place on March 22 and this year’s theme is ‘Water for Peace’, which focuses on the critical role water plays in the stability of our future world.

WiseWater are hosting a beach clean-up on the morning of Saturday, March 23, on Garrylucas beach (next to Garretstown) from 11am and hope as many people as possible will turn out on the day to create a large human peace symbol which will include the collected beach plastics.

Garrylucas beach was chosen as directly opposite lies an important wetland, Kilcoleman salt marsh, that is at risk of being developed upon.

The local Courcey’s Sustainability group has been advocating for the protection of this crucial natural habitat due to its rich biodiversity.

The Wild Wellness Collective Sauna is supporting the event by offering a free sauna session on the day for those who fill a bag with beach rubbish.

“Our mission is to get as many people as possible (all the family, young, old, and teens) on the beach making a stand together to protect and care for our water environment,” she said.

“We want to attract as many people to the event as we can, to create a ripple of curiosity and an awakening about our water environment. It is an event to highlight that ‘every drop counts’ and together we can make a difference,” said Elaine.

To find out more about the event or to book a WiseWater workshop, visit www.wisewater.ie or follow updates on linkedin.com/in/elaine-moynihan-336b61292