On November 29, 2023, Water Watch Penang (WWP) successfully implemented the ‘Negalitres for Schools’ River and Water Education Programme at SJKC Chong Kuang. The program involved 34 students and 1 teacher and took place from 7:40 am to 9:10 am.
Mr. Hanson Yeoh, the WWP Programme Officer, along with assistance from volunteer Ms. Yeoh Zhi Ru, began the session with a presentation covering the organization’s history, objectives, and past projects. Subsequently, the students explored global, national, and local water crises, with a focus on Penang as a water-scarce state, highlighting that its primary water source is Sungai Muda in Kedah. As SJKC Chong Kuang is from the Seberang Perai Selatan (Southern) District, Mr. Hanson also highlighted water disruption issues in the area at Taman Seruling Emas and Taman Widuri. He stressed the importance of using water wisely in the affected area to ensure better water pressure. Overall, ensuring water security requires a collective effort from everyone.
In addition, the students were introduced to techniques for capturing river macroinvertebrates, serving as bioindicators to assess the river’s cleanliness. During the session, captivating images that showcased intriguing macroinvertebrates, including dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, and stonefly larvae, caught the students’ attention.
Moreover, Mr. Hanson emphasized a range of water-saving strategies applicable to both the school and students’ homes, specifically highlighting the impact of the automatic push taps installed in their school as part of the ‘Negalitres for Schools’ Programme.
Throughout the educational session, quizzes were conducted, and students who gave correct answers were acknowledged and rewarded with Water Watch Penang’s coloring books as tokens of appreciation.
Water Watch Penang expresses its appreciation to SJKC Chong Kuang for their cooperation and permission in organizing 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