29th JULY 2023 – Water Watch Penang (WWP) successfully conducted a river and water education programme for SJKC Poi Eng Penang at the Penang Botanic Gardens on 29th July 2023. SJKC Poi Eng is also one of the registered schools under the Negalitres for Schools Programme.
The education programme was an interactive and hands-on practical river activity which aims to educate the participants about the water crisis on a global, regional, and local level, and the essential role of rivers as one of the water resources.
A total of 37 students ranging from standard 3 to standard 6 (including children of teachers) as well as 11 teachers and three staff participated in the programme from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. WWP Executive Manager Dr Hong Chern Wern served as the programme’s lead facilitator with assistance from four students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Ms Ong Ke Shin, Mr Sharvind Sivan, Mr Yee Jean Chai and Ms Tew Yi Lin.
WWP President Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng commenced the programme by welcoming the participants and introducing WWP, followed by a talk from Dr Hong in which he outlined some global and Penang’s water issues as well as the importance of water conservation to the participants.
The river activity was separated into two sessions. The first session was the physical and chemical assessment which is to analyse the quality of the river water, including measuring pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite. The second session was the biological assessment which is to determine the Biological Water Quality Index by using the catch and release method to compute the number of macroinvertebrates species found. The participants were divided into four groups with a facilitator each to guide them on the assessments.
At the same time, Yellow Pictures, a production house based in KL, also came to Penang to shoot a documentary about Water Watch Penang and its activity since its inception in the year 1997. This documentary together with other environmental initiatives in Penang, will be aired via Astro AEC in conjunction with the 66th National Day of Malaysia.
For more information, please get in touch with WWP Executive Manager, Dr Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com or contact WWP at +60 19-575 1253.
