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Pluie de Poésie and "Water and the City" workshops, Geneva

Pluie de Poésie

IRHA's first awareness projects in Geneva: poems that appeared on pavements only in the rain, and workshops that helped children read water in their city.

CompletedRain in the City2017–2018
© IRHA
WhereCity of Geneva – 8 poem sites, including Parc des Bastions and the Pont de la Machine
When2017–2018
WithThéâtre Am Stram Gram, the GIAP after-school teams and the City of Geneva
Rainfall≈ 1,537 mm a year in Switzerlandnational average, World Bank; local figure to add

Results

  • 8poems on 8 sites

The Challenge

In Geneva, rain is usually seen as a nuisance. Yet in many countries where IRHA works, rainwater is a good-quality resource. Once collected, it can change daily life for women and communities. IRHA wanted Geneva residents, and especially children, to look at rain differently and to understand how water and the city are linked.

Average monthly rainfall and temperature in Switzerland, 1991–2020
Rain in Switzerland: about 1,537 mm a year, mostly all year round. Source: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (observed 1991–2020) and World Bank average precipitation.

What We Did

  • With stencils and a water-repellent paint, painted 8 poems on pavements across the city. The poems were offered by the Théâtre Am Stram Gram and became visible only when wet.
  • Launched "Pluie de Poésie" on 12 October 2017 at the Parc des Bastions, in the presence of the Mayor of Geneva.
  • Invited people to visit the sites in the rain, or with a bottle of water, and to share photos online. 360° photos of the sites followed.
  • Ran a cycle of four workshops with GIAP after-school teams: the water cycle and the city; urban walks and a 3D model of their surroundings (two sessions); and building a mini rainwater collector for a house.

Results

  • Passers-by stopped, read the poems and talked with the team. Many residents then contacted IRHA with their reactions.
  • The paint is designed to leave no toxic traces and faded within a few months.
  • Children learned to observe and describe their own neighbourhood and its water.
  • These projects paved the way for PluiË, which brought rain tags back to Geneva in 2024.

“We built a model and placed all the elements on the map: trees, houses, buildings.”

Zoé, workshop participant (old IRHA website, "Workshops" page)

On the Ground

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Rain tag revealed by the rain on a pavement in Geneva, Switzerland · © IRHA
Child spraying a rain tag on the pavement, Geneva, Switzerland · © IRHA
Dance performance near the Jet d’Eau in Geneva raising awareness on water issues with IRHA partners · © IRHA

Partners and Funders

Poems: Théâtre Am Stram Gram. Workshops: GIAP after-school teams, with support from the City of Geneva's schools and childhood service. Funding for Pluie de Poésie: the City of Geneva's Agenda 21 – Sustainable City service and the Loterie Romande.

Resources

No downloadable document yet.

From Our Blog Archive

archived posts: to re-publish on the new site, then update these links

Related Projects

PluiË – Rain in the City, Genevasince October 2023 (first phase 2023–2024, second phase 2025–2026)Boîte à Pluie – A Rainwater Learning Kit for Greater GenevaSeptember 2026 – August 2029

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