Water is essential to life, yet it's a resource that is often taken for granted, second only perhaps to the oxygen we breathe. As climate change heats up the planet, water scarcity will become an even graver concern, especially for cities like Athens, where rainfall is mercurial and long periods of heat are guaranteed. 

ACS Athens alumnus Giorgos Sachinis has made it his mission to help address these challenges, both as the Director of Innovation and Strategy for EYDAP, Greece’s largest water supplier, but also a producer with the Urban Dig Project, which hosted a creative theater production earlier this spring entitled “ΔΙΨΑ” (translated to “Thirst.”) 

The production aimed to educate the public about the challenges facing Athens and to promote awareness of the importance of water conservation efforts through a creative lens in an effort to help audiences understand the challenges on an emotional level. The show drew elements from the true story of a family in the Aegean and worked to connect human thirst with that of the Earth. A poetic, musically-driven delirium highlights the sun, the sea, the wind, the Earth, and precious fresh water in a story of the confrontation between thirsty man, reality, and the imagined. 

As an ACS Athens alum, Sachinis is well-placed to tackle this issue. He has worked in the water sector for more than 20 years and has been involved in a range of water-related projects, including the implementation of water conservation measures and the development of innovative water technologies. Through his work at EYDAP as a civil engineer, Sachinis is leading efforts to address water scarcity in Athens and promote sustainable water use practices.

The theater production was an excellent opportunity for the ACS Athens community to learn about the issue of water scarcity in Athens and to support the work of fellow alum Giorgos Sachinis.