My Initiative: Clean Water For All Guilherme Rizzo
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Volunteered for "Gerando Falcoes" during my early high school years and really understood what life was like in Brazil's worse slums and how each Brazilian played a role in the critical future of our country.
IS Projecto Connectando RealidadesThrough my work with the Non-profit I met a kid from a slum who I became friends with, hearing his stories inspired me to give back. He expressed concern over the drinking water he had access to. I had big dreams and created a plan to combat Brazil's water crisis. (CLICK** english translation of slideshow on odd pages)
I implemented the United Nations sustainable development goals into my dream of placing water filters in Brazilian Slums. I realized the SDGs are for people to utilize, for people to follow and create impactful initiatives. My initiative stuck out and I became close friend to the ambassador of the youth of the UN- Daniel Del Valle Blanco.
I participated in the United Nations Youth forum and learned from successful leaders from the entire world, speaking about youth led initiatives in their countries. I used all the knowldge that I learned to implement into my own.
United Nations Youth Forum: (Photo Gallery)
I began to do more and more research. Interning at the doorsteps of our nation's biggest freshwater reserve-The Great Lakes. At the Great Lakes Environmental Center I learned how the US government managed and collected data of our drinking water. Something Brazil had failed in doing. (Photo Gallery)
I reached out to Acqualive, a Brazillian-American high-end water filter company to create a supersized, electricity free, easy maintenance, indestructible water filter. Their CEO, Sydney Rodriquez excitedly agreed to provide filters at cost and after months of collaborating, paper work, fundraising, planning and gathering information on the slum's families. (link)
I successfully fundraised for the water Filters:
Information on 50 families receiving the filters (click):
GO FUND ME DESCRIPTION
Em Português Abaixo
Hi Everyone,
My name is Guilherme Rizzo, a 16-year-old Brazilian-American student currently studying at Greenwich High School in the United States. I’m reaching out to share an initiative that is deeply meaningful to me, and I’m asking for your support to help make it a reality.
The Cause:
During my high school years, I have been volunteering with Gerando Falcões, Brazil’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to defeating poverty through education, innovation, and technology. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to connect with kids living in favelas, Brazil's most underserved communities.
One of the most impactful projects I’ve been involved in is called “Connecting Realities”. In this project, I was partnered with Juan, a young boy from a favela. Over three months, we talked daily, learning about each other's lives. Together, we identified a critical issue in his community: the lack of clean water.
The Problem:
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet many families in Brazilian favelas are still struggling to obtain it. In São Paulo, it’s estimated that 50% of hospital cases could have been prevented if clean water were available in homes. This is a problem that needs urgent attention.
The Solution:
We dreamt of a solution: providing water filters to ensure that everyone in the favelas has access to clean, safe water. Our dream is now becoming a reality.
Acqualive, a technology company specializing in deep hydration and water treatment, has generously partnered with Gerando Falcões to produce the first 50 water filters at cost. The initial phase of this project will begin on August 15th in Favela Barra de São Miguel, where we’ll closely monitor the impact on the families over the next year.
How You Can Help the Families in Favela Barra De Sao Miguel:
To make this project successful and expand it to more communities, we need your support. Your donation will help cover the costs of producing and distributing these essential water filters. Every contribution, no matter how small, will bring us closer to ensuring that every family in the favelas has access to the clean water they deserve.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to read about our campaign. With your help, we can make a real difference in the lives of many families. Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with your network to help us reach our goal.
Together, we can bring clean water to those who need it most.
Sincerely,
Guilherme Rizzo
Greenwich High School Student
Volunteer, Gerando Falcões
Delivery Day!!
50 Water Filters in new homes:
Water Filters.movStatement on Journey and Initiative "Water for All":
Statement on Journey and Initiative "Water for All":
Favela São Miguel, São Paulo, Brazil. It's 11:42 am, and I'm lifting a heavy water filter from my demonstration for the community. I stepped over a cracked wood floor & ducked under a cardboard door to place the filter on the kitchen counter between a range and a sink. Pedro, a 3-year-old wearing a dirty Superman cape, asks me in Portuguese, "What are you doing?" "I'm installing this water filter so you can be as strong as Superman," I replied. He stretched his arms up like Superman and hugged me.
I moved from Brazil to the U.S. during elementary school, with little English and a passion for making people smile. Although I left friends and family behind, each time I returned, I saw worsening conditions in crime, homelessness, and infrastructure. Living in the USA while my country was hurting didn't feel right. I always felt the need to help.
During my freshman year, a video from Gerando Falcões, Brazil's largest nonprofit, popped up on my Instagram. Their mission is to defeat poverty and place all favelas in a museum before colonizing Mars. Wow. That caught my attention.
Determined to help, I reached out and learned they needed translations for the international website. For two years, I translated brochures, proposals, and documents for initiatives to generate positive change. I started the junior international branch, recruited teens, edited videos, and posted them on social media to expand our reach.
A few months later, McKenzie Scott donated $6 million to the NGO, using the material I had translated. My jaw dropped. I was thrilled to know that my work made a true impact.
After celebrating our success, we brainstormed our next steps, and I knew I could do even more. Next, we created a project called "Connecting Realities," creating partnerships between Brazilian teens living in different realities to discuss the 16 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Juan, my partner from a Brazilian slum, told me about his community's lack of access to clean water. UN goal #6: "Ensure access to water and sanitation for all."
I discovered that 50% of hospital cases in São Paulo could be prevented if the patient had clean water at home, but the government ignored the issue. Other groups in our program had interesting ideas, but I wanted a more tangible impact. I knew I had to help Juan.
I contacted Acqualive, a water filter company founded by Brazilian-American Sydney Rodrigues. Impressed by my determination, he agreed to provide filters at cost. I installed one in my kitchen and hosted an event to introduce the filter to friends, selling filters to generate profits for my cause. My work caught the eye of the UN Youth Ambassador, who also supported my initiative and invited me to the U.N. 2024 Global Youth Forum, where I learned about other youth-led initiatives worldwide and how they are successful.
In my typical fashion, I reached out to GLEC, a water lab in Michigan, and arranged a three-day shadow experience. I also proposed an independent study for my senior year titled "Global Water Quality: Problems, Data, and Possible Solutions" to create a research website to raise awareness and support.
After working on logistics with Acqualive and Gerando Falcoes, such as contracts, taxes, and delivery, I launched a GoFundMe campaign targeting the Brazilian-American community. I raised $6,000 to distribute the water filters to 50 families in the Favela São-Miguel. This was just the beginning; after monitoring results for a year, I hope to expand across the country.
After I installed the filter on Pedro's kitchen counter, his mother thanked me with tears in her eyes. At that moment, I felt like I was the one wearing the Superman cape. A sense of accomplishment filled my heart with joy. Looking black, I now realize this experience completely transformed me. Researching, innovating, and working together helped me transform a community—the first of many to come.
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