EPTB Vidourle raises awareness of flooding among thousands of students through interactive and educational workshops
© EPTB Vidourle – EPTB Vidourle raises awareness among thousands of students.
Since the devastating floods of 2002, EPTB Vidourle has been actively involved in preventing flood risks. As part of the Vidourle Flood Prevention Action Program (PAPI Vidourle), an educational system has been set up to raise awareness among young students of the dangers of flooding and strengthen their risk culture.
Each year, CE2, CM1 and 5th grade students benefit from a full day of educational workshops. These activities include discovery outings, role plays, scientific experiments and work on a 3D model of the Vidourle watershed. These activities allow us to better understand the functioning of hydraulic developments and the issues linked to floods, locally called “Vidourlades”.
Concrete example in Sommières:
On Monday January 6, 2025, CM1 students from La Condamine school explored the phenomenon of flooding using a 3D model. They simulated floods by positioning infrastructure (bridges, dikes, houses) and observed the damage caused by the water. These workshops also allowed them to discover the water cycle and learn about safety instructions in the event of flooding.
Since 2004, nearly 39,000 students from schools located in the Vidourle watershed have participated in these educational days. The project, financially supported by the State (FPRNM up to 80%) and the EPTB Vidourle (20%), is coordinated by the Mayane Education association, based in Montpellier. Logistics, particularly student transport, is provided by the company Keolis Languedoc, located in Nîmes.
