DURATION: January 2025 – April 2025, May 2025 – June 2025, July 2025 – November 2025
Introduction:
Water convers 70% of our planet. However, in fact, only 3% of world’s water is freshwater and <1 % is accessible. Currently, many regions in the world are facing water scarcity. Penangites are the highest water consumer, albeit the fact that Penang is one of the water poor states with limited raw water resources. In 2023, the domestic water consumption per capita in Penang is approximately 384 L/ person/ day. The low domestic water tariff and the good daily water supply in Penang serves as the major factor that causes little or no awareness to use the water wisely.
This water awareness programme aims to cultivate a generation of water-wise children. Through engaging storytelling sessions and fun activities, children will be inspired to understand the sources of freshwater, the dangers of water pollution, and the critical importance of water conservation. By fostering a sense of environmental responsibility, we hope to create a community of young water protectors who will actively contribute to preserving the precious water resources.
Aim:
The main aim of the programme is to raise the water awareness in young children to create a water saving generation in Penang.
Activities:
The theme of this Water Awareness Programme is “H2O Heroes: Nurturing Young Water Guardians”. This target participants for this programme are the children aged between 4 to 12 years old. The Water Awareness Programme will be conducted for kindergartens and/or primary schools in Penang. The participants will be exposed to the water-related topics in two modules focusing on the (i) water resources and conservation and (ii) water scarcity and water saving. The proposed activities are as follow:
- Storytelling session
- Picture books: read and share
- Understand the topics of water resources, the importance of water in our daily life, water pollution, and water conservation.
- Raise the awareness of water saving.
- Activities
- Children share their thoughts on ways to save water.
- Answer questions on water-related topics in printed booklet.
- Do artwork on water uses and conservation and/or water saving or conduct water-related experiments.
- Contest of “Young Water Guardians”
- As the Young Water Guardians, the children will show their understandings in the importance of water for life, its resources and needs to be protected.
- The artworks (different ways of water saving/water conservation) will be shared on social media platform.
- Winners will be picked by the most likes from the community.
- At the end of programme, survey/quiz will be conducted to determine the effectiveness and impact of this programme on children and family.
Timeline/Flow:
| Date | Tentative Programme/Schedule |
| January- April 2025 | – Setting dates and venues of the programmes. – Module development – Planning and designing booklet and water-related experiments. |
| May- June 2025 | – Sending out invitations. – Registration. |
| July – November 2025 | – Water Awareness Programme (storytelling, activities and contest) |
Output/Outcome:
a) Immediate Outputs:
The immediate output includes:
- increased awareness among young children on the value of water and the importance of water conservation.
- At least 150 children will be educated in the water awareness programme through the storytelling session and activities.
- From the activities including the colouring/drawing contest, tips of saving water will be promoted to the children as well as their family.
b) Long Term Outcomes:
Children and parents will be more aware on the value of water and thus share and apply the knowledge (water saving tips) learned. At the end of each session, survey/quiz will be conducted to determine the effectiveness and impact this programme on children. It is expected to produce long term outcome in creating water saving society.
Expected Partnerships:
- PBAPP
- Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Pulau Pinang
- Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Kindergartens in Penang