Our Projects · Rain in the City

Boîte à PluieA Rainwater Learning Kit for Greater Geneva

Boîte à PluiE – Sensibiliser à l'eau de pluie autrement

A learning kit and trained facilitators to help children in Greater Geneva discover rainwater through science, play and art.

OngoingRain in the CitySeptember 2026 – August 2029
© IRHA
WhereGreater Geneva – schools, neighbourhood centres, nature centres and cultural venues
WhenSeptember 2026 – August 2029
WithGlobal Water Dances – Geneva, Caractère Inverti, J'aime ma Planète, La Libellule nature centre and Genève Cultive
Rainfall≈ 1,537 mm a year in Switzerlandnational average, World Bank; local figure to add

Targets

  • 5learning modules
  • 20facilitators trained
  • 1,125children reached through pilot activities
  • 40active "Rain Ambassadors"

The Challenge

Like many places, Geneva now swings between droughts and intense rain. Managing rainwater well has become a local question of resilience, education and community life. Yet most people know little about it. Since 2023, IRHA's PluiË activities have met strong interest from schools and neighbourhood centres. But IRHA cannot reach every child alone. Teachers and youth workers need ready-to-use tools.

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 Do

  • Develop simple, visual content on rainwater, based on science and adapted to children and to Geneva school programmes.
  • Turn tested PluiË activities into practical guides: rain walks, creative workshops, rain dances, stories, the "Vis ma pluie" exhibition and 3D modelling.
  • Produce a kit of five modules, on paper and online, with short videos.
  • Train 20 teachers, youth workers and volunteers, and support them as they run pilot activities with children.
  • Build a network of "Rain Ambassadors", with meetings and webinars to share experience and create new tools together.

Results

Expected results: – A five-module rainwater kit is designed and made available to teachers, youth workers and volunteers. – Trained facilitators run pilot activities with 1,125 children, with support from IRHA. – An active network of kit users shares ideas and good practice.

Progress so far: – By October 2026, the Fondation Leenaards (March 2026), the Ernst Göhner Stiftung and three public partners had confirmed their support. – In 2026, IRHA launched a call for proposals to design the kit.

  • A five-module rainwater kit is designed and made available to teachers, youth workers and volunteers.
  • Trained facilitators run pilot activities with 1,125 children, with support from IRHA.
  • An active network of kit users shares ideas and good practice.
  • By October 2026, the Fondation Leenaards (March 2026), the Ernst Göhner Stiftung and three public partners had confirmed their support.
  • In 2026, IRHA launched a call for proposals to design the kit.

Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.

“Little streams make great rivers.”

French proverbproverb: wording and translation to check with our local partner

On the Ground

Swipe or use the arrows, and click on a photo to enlarge it.

geneva city waterpond · © IRHA
Rainwater catchment system installed at the base of a tree in an urban area in Geneva Switzerland · © IRHA
Child spraying a rain tag on the pavement, Geneva, Switzerland · © IRHA

Partners and Funders

The kit is developed with Global Water Dances – Geneva, the ceramics association Caractère Inverti, J'aime ma Planète (education for sustainability), La Libellule nature centre and Genève Cultive. The Cantonal Water Office (OCEau), the Commune of Vernier and the Fédération genevoise de coopération (FGC) support the project. Funders: Fondation Leenaards, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, the Communes of Carouge and Collonge-Bellerive, and the Cantonal Office for Agriculture and Nature (OCAN).

Every Drop Restores

Help communities catch, store and use the rain.