The ‘NEGALITRES FOR SCHOOLS’ education talk, organized by Water Watch Penang (WWP), took place at SJK (T) Bukit Mertajam on September 26, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This event was attended by a total of 30 students from Standards 4 and 5, accompanied by 1 teacher, Ms. Poorani.
Dr. Hong Chern Wern, the Executive Manager of WWP, initiated the session by providing a brief introduction to Water Watch Penang’s objectives, its previous initiatives, and ongoing activities.
Subsequently, the trained facilitators, Ms. Naaga Lechume and Ms. Divya Sree, both interns at WWP, conducted the session fully in Tamil language. They explained to the students regarding water-related concerns extending beyond Penang, covering global, national, and local water challenges. They also explored various innovative technologies and strategies for conserving water resources, along with explaining the process of evaluating river water quality.
There were two notable educational segments during the event, one focusing on water bill calculation and the other on river macroinvertebrates. The students were guided on how to calculate their daily water usage by referencing their household water bills. In this activity, the students using a large amount of water per day were identified and encouraged to start conserving water in their residences. Additionally, students were educated on how macroinvertebrates are captured and identified to assess the health of the river ecosystem. Engaging videos featuring nymphs from stoneflies, dobsonflies, and dragonflies piqued the students’ curiosity.
Furthermore, towards the end of the program, students were presented with PBAPP Water Saving Videos with the goal of instilling water conservation habits. Quizzes were held intermittently to test the student’s knowledge with prizes awarded to the students who answered correctly. Additionally, students received the Water Saving Guidebook, courtesy of PBAPP. Water Watch Penang extends its appreciation to SJK (T) Bukit Mertajam for allowing the organization to arrange and execute the Negalitres for Schools Programme.
Negalitres for Schools,’ launched on 22 March 2022, was coordinated by WWP in partnership with Intel Corporation, CLEAN International, and in collaboration with Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and PBAPP. This project is fully funded by CLEAN International Inc. and Intel Corporation and is also supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Penang State Education Department. The local partners involved are the Penang State Government through the Penang Green Council, PBAPP, and the Green Educators Workgroup (GREW).
For more information, please contact WWP Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com or contact WWP at +6019-5751253.