Water, Equality and Education - Amrita Gautam

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The world is changing fast. By staying curious and remaining confident in ourselves, we can learn new skills, tackle new challenges and achieve great things to make a difference in the world.

In this episode, you hear from a curious, passionate and beautiful mind who found her way from Nepal to Germany, a woman, who constantly explores and challenges herself to give back and grow her own expertise.

Amrita Gautam is a Civil Engineer from Nepal, currently pursuing her doctoral research at Technical University of Cologne (TH Köln), Germany. She worked with various ‘United Nations (UN) Organizations and Research Projects’ in Nepal, Germany, Mozambique, Brazil, Canada & USA.

As a Young Water Professional, Amrita has been involved in World Youth Parliament for Water; Youth for the Rhine, International Water Association and she is the President of Soroptimist International Köln Kolumba.

She was awarded with ‘Women with Vision 2018′, received Soroptimist International of Europe Scholarship Award in 2019 and got selected as Ambassador of Rising Smart Water Professionals (RiSWP/SWAN) in 2021. Alongside her ongoing doctoral research she has also founded a research initiative called drinkPani (www.drinkpani.net), which believes in ‘Shaping Digital Water Future’ and is now doing internship at Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA)/UN-Habitat, Bonn.

How water relates to equality

*Photo Credit:* https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/flipbooks/women-water-and-leadership/

“‘Water’ is the key medium of many ‘sufferings and solutions’ to deal with the real meaning of ‘Climate Action’.” Amrita Gautam

The key problem that Amrita’s on-going professional engagement is addressing- ‘The poor and unmanaged situation of the Water and Sanitation sector’, especially in the developing countries where ‘women and children’ are suffering the most.

As you get to hear Amrita’s story, you will start connecting the dots between Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Amrita started volunteering with the Soroptimist International many years ago.

Their vision is that women and girls will achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.

Soroptimist International celebrated its 100 year birthday in 2021, and as you listen to Amrita reflecting on the impact her volunteering had on her personal as well as her professional life you will come to understand that the organisation lives up to its mission, as it empowers both its beneficiaries as well as the people working within the organisation.

Since her early childhood, Amrita was intolerant of the things she could see in society in regards to gender discrimination. She spoke and raised questions wherever it was possible whether it was inside the family, or in school. Amrita’s parents are her big role models and always gave her enough space and platforms to learn about her rights and stand up for her dreams.

‘Our first school is our home’
AMRITA GAUTAM

What is the role of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation in all this? In this episode you will find out. You will also hear how Amrita managed to find a red thread bringing her many passions and projects together in a meaningful and impactful way.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts or any of your favorite Podcast players.

In this episode you will learn:

09:23 Amrita’s experience growing up in Nepal and how it has shaped her
19:15 Why giving up is not in Amrita’s goal list
23:30 How water relates to equality
31:42 Leadership – the challenges and hidden rewards
44:13 Amrita’s journey into volunteering with Soroptimist International
1:06:00 How she connects her volunteering work with Soroptimist with her professional work and research