The ‘Negalitres for Schools’ River and Water Education Programme was successfully organised at SMJK Phor Tay on April 29, 2024 by Water Watch Penang (WWP). Running from 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM, 205 students and 2 teachers were actively participated in the event. The program’s objectives were to introduce students to the importance of responsible water consumption and then explore local and worldwide water concerns. It was led by WWP Programme Officer Mr. Hanson Yeoh and supported by WWP intern Ms. Nur Atiqah.
Mr. Hanson began the session by explaining the objectives and past projects of the organisation. A comprehensive discussion of the regional, the state, and global water challenges was held by the participants, who emphasised the pressing need for a united effort to address the water shortage. Mr. Hanson also discussed Penang’s cheap water rate and how it may cause water-wasting habits, which is a crucial local concern. He underlined that despite having the lowest water price and limited water resources of any state in Malaysia, Penang uses the most water.
Students also learned about the biological, chemical, and physical factors of assessing the quality of river water. Participants learned about the damaging impacts of chemical pollution on rivers and the importance of macroinvertebrates like prawns, crayfish, and nymphs in showing ecosystem health during the session.
Additionally, the program includes classroom activities for students, requiring them to bring their own water bills and calculate their daily water consumption, aiming to enhance their awareness of personal water usage. The session proceeded with quizzes, and those who answered correctly were rewarded with gifts from WWP as a gesture of appreciation.
WWP extends gratitude to SMJK Phor Tay for graciously hosting this informative session, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in cultivating a generation of environmentally conscious individuals. For further inquiries, please contact WWP’s Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com, or directly reach out to WWP at +6019-5751253.