The ‘Negalitres for Schools’ River and Water Education Programme, hosted by Water Watch Penang (WWP), was conducted at SK Bukit Gelugor on August 15, 2024, and involved 50 students and 5 teachers from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The event was facilitated by WWP Programme Officer Ms. Fatin Azahara, Ms. Nur Atiqah, and their interns, Ms. Nurul Husna, Ms. Nurl Fatin and Ms. Khor Ci Shan. This initiative was designed to foster responsible water usage and to clarify and explain further about both local and global water issues.
Ms. Fatin Azahara began by presenting WWP’s objectives and led an in-depth discussion on regional, national, and international water challenges, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing water shortage. She pointed out that despite Penang having the lowest water rates in Malaysia, it still has the highest water consumption. The students received a briefing on the worldwide state of water resources, with a focus on the difficulties faced by African countries in securing clean water. Additionally, they learned about the health risks of consuming contaminated water out of necessity. As part of the program, students were also taught and guided on how to calculate their water usage from their water bills.
During the second part of the session, Ms. Atiqah explained to the students how to evaluate river water quality and underscored the significance of macroinvertebrates as indicators of ecosystem health. Students engaged in activities where they calculated their daily water consumption, which helped them become more aware of their personal water use. At the conclusion of the session, quizzes were conducted to reinforce the lessons, and students who provided correct answers were given a notebook by Water Watch Penang as a token of appreciation.
‘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).
WWP extends thanks to SK Bukit Gelugor for hosting the session and emphasizes collaboration in nurturing environmentally conscious individuals. For further inquiries, contact WWP’s Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com, or reach out directly to WWP at +6019-5751253.