Water Watch Penang (WWP) successfully executed the ‘Negalitres for Schools’ River and Water Education Programme at SJKC Kong Min Pusat on November 1st, 2023.The programme involved 33 Standard 6 students and 1 teacher, taking place from 12:50 pm to 1:20 pm.
Hanson Yeoh, the WWP Programme Officer, along with support from the Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, commenced the session by presenting the organization’s history, objectives, and previous projects. Subsequently, the students were introduced to the global water crisis, with a particular emphasis on the challenges faced by African nations in accessing clean water, using the storybook “The Water Princess” as a narrative tool.
Next, the session continued with discussions about the national and local water crises, with a specific focus on Penang. Mr. Hanson further engaged the students by inquiring about the availability of raw fresh water in Penang. Initially, the students assumed that Penang had an abundance of water resources. However, their surprise became evident when Mr. Hanson revealed that a significant 80% of Penang’s water originates from the Muda River in Kedah.
Additionally, Mr. Hanson drew attention to a range of water-saving strategies applicable to both the school and students’ homes, with the aim of deepening their understanding of water conservation. One of the strategies mentioned is the installation of an automatic push tap in the school under the ‘Negalitres for Schools Programme,’ which helps reduce water waste by automatically closing the tap a few seconds after being used.
During the educational session, quizzes were held, and students who provided correct answers were rewarded with Water Watch Penang’s t-shirts as tokens of appreciation.
Water Watch Penang expresses gratitude to SJKC Kong Min Pusat for granting permission and cooperating in facilitating this educational talk at their school.
For additional information, please reach out to WWP’s Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com, or contact WWP directly at +6019-5751253.
‘Negalitres for Schools,’ launched on March 22, 2022, was coordinated by WWP in partnership with Intel Corporation and CLEAN International, with collaboration from Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and PBAPP. This project is fully funded by CLEAN International Inc. and Intel Corporation and is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Penang State Education Department. Local partners include the Penang State Government through Penang Green Council, PBAPP, and the Green Educators Workgroup (GREW).