Since 2018, the AIC Dominique Prize for Sustainable Development has been awarded every two years to innovative initiatives set up by AIC volunteers who integrate into their actions to tackle poverty a specific element dedicated to protecting the planet. In response to the call for projects for the Dominique Prize 2024, we were happy to receive 12 projects, of which 5 were from Africa, 4 from Latin America, 2 from Europe and 1 from Asia. These projects confirm that there is growing awareness of this important issue within the AIC network, which we are delighted about.
After carefully reading and studying the projects received, the members of the jury selected the following winner:
AIC-Mexico, Querétaro: Rainwater harvesting and storage for the community of Las Viguitas
The aim of the project is to harvest and store rainwater to reverse the negative consequences of water shortage for the families in this district. The community lives in a remote semi-desert region that offers few employment prospects. Water shortage is the greatest difficulty for the residents, as it leads to health problems, creates hygiene issues and makes it difficult to grow vegetables. In the first phase of the project, the local volunteers helped the residents install rainwater collection tanks for 15 families. Thanks to funding from the Dominique Prize, another 15 families will also benefit from these tanks as part of the second phase of the project.
Left: training women to maintain the rainwater harvesting and storage system. Centre and right: installation of tanks for 15 families during the first phase of the project.
In the video below, the Querétaro volunteers describe how the project started:
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Below is a brief overview of the other projects received for the Dominique Prize 2024:
AIC-Bolivia, Trinidad: Training 20 families (150 people) to grow fruits and vegetables to improve the daily diet of the residents of the “Las Maravillas” district.
AIC-Burundi, Gitega: Contributing to the fight against poverty by promoting beekeeping, the creation of honey tree nurseries and the production and marketing of bee products.
AIC-Central African Republic, Bangui: Providing food and nutritional assistance to beneficiaries, through the production of vegetable proteins.
AIC-Colombia, Cali: Making therapeutic and didactic material for children with disabilities using recycled fabrics. Recyclable textile material is also transformed into useful objects, which are sold to raise funds for the occupational therapy program designed for the children.
AIC-Italy, Matera: Promoting the reuse and recycling of textiles to encourage a circular economy. The project also aims to raise children’s awareness of the need to respect the environment and avoid waste.
AIC-Madagascar, Manakara: Improving the living conditions of women and their children by creating a green space for planting fruit trees (bananas and papayas) and coffee plants. These activities will make women more self-sufficient and improve the diet and health of the children and the whole community.
AIC-Nigeria, Abuja: Cultivating the Moringa plant for its recognized medicinal virtues, and selling products made from Moringa in order to improve the quality of life of the community.
AIC-Nigeria, Lagos: Ending hunger and associated health problems through small-scale farming for 30 families in the Ikorodu area.
AIC-Peru, Lima: Contributing to the reduction of CO2 by planting 300 trees in the “Park Mirador la Nueva Rinconada” located in the district of San Juan de Miraflores, in order to improve the quality of life of the local residents. Flowers will also be planted to attract pollinators.
AIC-Spain, Manzanares: Collecting and sorting second-hand clothes in a clothing bank to encourage responsible consumption. The clothing bank is also a meeting point for vulnerable people in the community.
AIC-Vietnam, Phan Thiet City: Sustainably producing fish sauce, wine, soap and reusable bags in order to reduce community poverty and support environmental sustainability and community development.
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