The Union of Religious Congregations in Jordan--in cooperation with the German Agency for International Corporation (GIZ), the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation--held a two-day workshop on July 28-29 on "Community Water Awareness Initiatives", as well as on the role of ecclesiastical institutions and religious orders in raising awareness on the proper use of water through launching several initiatives, especially in educational institution.

In attendance were Rosary Sister Cecile Hijazeen, head of the Union of Religious Congregations, GIZ representatives, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, and director of the project Ms. Jumana Al Ayed.

The workshop included several sessions that dealt with the situation of water in Jordan in addition to water from a Christian perspective. The discussion focused on practical guidelines for curtailing consumption, introducing rational behavior in dealing with water, the concept and forms of community initiatives, and how to launch and design such initiatives.

At the outset of the workshop, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader paid tribute to the prevailing cooperation among  the German Agency for International Corporation, the CCSM, and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation regarding raising awareness on the efficient use of water in cooperation with religious institutions.

Fr. Bader recalled the past eight years of cooperation which began with a five-day visit by priests and imams to Germany designed to get acquainted with the prevailing environment-related projects, especially those dealing with energy exploitation projects in churches and mosques in Germany. He also referred to the book titled, "Water: A Christian Perspective" which was issued after the Department of Awqaf and the Department of Ifta' had issued a book on water in Islam.

Fr. Bader hoped that there will be future scholarships designed to specialize in the subject of water. He added that His Holiness Pope Francis noted six year ago in his encyclical  "Laudato si" that part of the world's water problem is attributed to education and culture which can be traced back to the lack of awareness of the danger of wasting and polluting water which directly affects the quality of life, social justice, and global peace.

Mrs. Jumana Al Ayed made a pictorial presentation of the stages of cooperation between the Union of Religious Congregations and the German project specialized in improving the efficiency of water use.

For her part, Sister Cecile Hijazeen thanked all parties that have held lectures and launched valuable initiatives for the Union of Religious Congregations in Jordan.