Book draws out Brazil's clean water project

"This work highlights the importance of access to clean water and symbolizes another chapter in the cooperation between Brazil and China. I was delighted to see how Jin's texts and the illustrations by Brazilian artists complemented each other, creating a cultural bridge that reinforces the unity around a common purpose: transforming lives through clean and safe water," Pedro Saad, CEO of Brazilian Art and Culture Production Company, says.

Bruna Schroeder, mother of Serena, 4, from Campinas, likes to read the books to her daughter.

"They deepened my understanding of the importance of this essential resource and the positive influence that desalination has brought to the community. It was powerful and eye-opening to read about the reality of those who live with limited water resources," the mother and social investment producer at Insituto CPFL says.

Before the project, more than 3,000 residents from about 800 households in a village in Joao Camara had difficulty gaining access to safe drinking water. Affected by the semi-arid climate, the local groundwater has a bitter taste due to high salt content and is not safe for drinking.

Under the community's arrangement, water was delivered in remote locations on certain days with people getting up early in the morning, pushing trolleys to the water delivery truck and waiting in line. It took about six hours to bring the water back.

When the workers from the State Grid Brazil heard about the water crisis after the company started manage CPFL Energia in 2017, they decided to carry out the public welfare project to desalinate the brackish water. In early 2021, the project was signed and confirmed with a total investment of 9.6 million yuan ($1.32 million) and began construction in August the next year.