Inclusivity: hand in hand, side by side

Inspired by the example of our co-founders, Franco Traverso and Dario Traverso, Inclusivity is one of the cardinal values of Genius Watter, upon which the company has been growing: inclusivity, indeed, is one of the cornerstones of our actions.

Franco Traverso’s recent TEDx Talk, “Inclusivity, the key to making dreams come true”, explores the theme of inclusivity, which he has passed on to his partners over his 42-year career in the solar photovoltaic field. Inclusivity means a lot, in particular, Franco highlights the importance of asking for permission and engaging local populations through education.

Back in the ‘80s, in Burundi, a country located in East Africa close to Tanzania and Rwanda, Franco took care of the realization of the highest photovoltaic pumping system in the world back then (height: 250m) that served 5000 people.

Without involving the local tribe and talking to their leader, involving them in the decision-making process, and asking them for help during the construction phase, this project would not have seen the light of day. It would have been impossible to ensure water to the local villages and save women long trips for water without their contribution.

Franco, and we with him, have learned that it is not the quality of the technological systems that matters but the quality of the human relations you build while developing the project.

For every project, there is a story behind it. An entrepreneur, an association, a community that struggles for disposing of something as simple as clean water when they need it. Each project is a unique story that emerges and must be understood in order to achieve the goal.

What happens then?

You realize that your goal is the same as that of the person telling their story and you find out that you can walk side by side towards your common destination, sharing the entire route. This is what happens in every Genius Watter project.

In Varandinha, Cape Verde, an archipelago off the Senegal coast in the Atlantic Ocean, Franco and his son Dario decided to train the local youngsters on the new solar desalination plant, installed in 2020. The hope of the local farmers, who were ready to leave their barren lands, was instead rekindled by this solar desalination plant, which is not only a source of water, but has become a source of wealth and job creation.

By sharing knowledge, together with the local people, we could bring something bigger than ourselves to life.

Inclusivity is embedded in our DNA: we cannot be what we are without it. We work together with communities, utilities, entrepreneurs, and suppliers, relying on them as partners that contribute to the fulfillment of our mission and that grow with us, each following their own vocation.

Inclusivity means for us “active respect”: it is a healthy and enriching meeting and discussion between human beings from different backgrounds, every day, in order to make water something not exclusive, but rather something that unites us all and makes our lives fertile soils for any aspiration.