Schools Across the County Join the Initiative

Since its first public appearance on World Water Day 2024, Small Giants Water has gradually grown into a movement for changing habits. The key to sustaining this movement lies in forming an emotional connection with the values of the region—values we simply must be proud of.

Fostering a sense of belonging within the local community, as well as care for one’s home in a broader sense—and even concern for the future—ultimately leads to a genuine love for one’s region. This, in turn, can truly set in motion a wheel of change that makes a visible difference.

Children and Young People Are the Drivers of Change

This year, Small Giants Water introduces new developments by bringing educational institutions across the county into the initiative, while actively working on improving the accessibility, protection, and promotion of water as a vital resource—not only for our lives, but also for our identity.

As many as 13 primary and secondary schools, from Tisno to Knin, now proudly bear the title of Guardians of VSmall Giants Water, along with the Polytechnic in Šibenik.

A large number of children attended lessons dedicated to the topic of water throughout March. The initiative owes special thanks to the entire teaching staff of the participating schools, as the spring term is particularly demanding due to numerous school activities and student preparations.

Beyond education, a lasting impact remains in schools through visual reminders of belonging to the Small Giants. School sanitary facilities are marked with charming water-saving stickers, while notice boards feature informative posters specially designed to engage young people. The most noticeable signs of participation are the distinctive labels displayed at the entrances of school buildings; however, this status goes far beyond a merely symbolic affiliation.

List of Schools – Guardians ofSmall Giants Water

1. Elementary School Petra Krešimira IV, Šibenik

2. Gymnasium Antun Vrančić, Šibenik

3. Vocational School, Šibenik

4. Tourism and Hospitality School, Šibenik

5. Medical School, Šibenik

6. Catholic Elementary School, Šibenik

7. Polytechnic in Šibenik

8. Elementary School Brodarica

9. Secondary School Ivan Meštrović, Drniš

10. Elementary School Vjekoslav Kaleb, Tisno

11. Elementary School Domovinske zahvalnosti, Knin

12. Secondary School Lovro Monti, Knin

13. Vocational School Kralj Zvonimir, Knin

An open invitation remains for other schools in the county to join—feel free to contact us at info@vodamalihdivova.com.

Messages That Resonate Are the Ones That Drive Change

In today’s communication landscape, capturing attention is a real challenge—especially when it comes to younger generations growing up in a digital world. That is why, from the very beginning, the initiative has focused on using clear, concise messages that convey surprising facts when engaging with young people.

Here are some of the messages we share—because they are hard to forget:

• A person who drinks exclusively from plastic water bottles will, over the course of a year, “consume” an amount of microplastics equivalent to the size of one plastic bottle.
  This is due to the quantity of micro-particles that detach from plastic packaging and diffuse into the drink/water—amounts that are legally permitted.
  
  
• Up to 3 deciliters of crude oil are “hidden” behind every plastic bottle of water, considering the transportation costs, which are largely carried out by trucks.
  
  
• As much as 3 liters of water are used to produce a single plastic bottle (for water or other beverages).
  
  
• A plastic bottle can be recycled a maximum of 5 to 6 times. Sooner or later, its final destination is a landfill.
  
  

Our water, our freedom (in Croatian)

The only real way to break this vicious cycle of consumption together is to give up buying plastic bottles. However, it is easy to make declarative recommendations—or even impose bans—but without offering a suitable alternative, we will not achieve real behavioral change.

That is why, through education and awareness, we aim to encourage a shift from a single-use mindset to reusable bottles. Supporting this transition is an established network of water refill stations, along with numerous participating locations across Šibenik-Knin County, where you can refill your reusable bottle with a welcoming smile.

While the world is ablaze with conflicts in which fossil fuels play a major role, a quieter struggle for water is also unfolding across the globe. Let us make a wise choice and encourage ourselves, our families, and our communities to take a step toward preserving water—as a foundation for peace, security, and the survival of those rare parts of our planet where life flourishes in such a unique way as it does here.