The “Negalitres for Schools” River and Water Education Program was successfully held on 5 September 2024 at SK Padang Tembak, organized by Water Watch Penang (WWP). The event ran from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and involved around 40 Standard 6 students and 3 teachers. The program aimed to increase students’ understanding of global water issues and the importance of conserving water. Presenters for this program included three trained facilitator cum interns — Ms. Fatin Amira, Ms. Husna, and Ms. Khor Ci Shan—along with two WWP Education Officers, Ms. Atiqah and Ms. Fatin Azahara.
Ms. Khor Ci Shan gave a brief introduction to the program, including the goals and completed projects of WWP. Through her interactions with the children, she provided insightful knowledge about the causes of global water crises and their impacts on humans.
Next, Ms. Fatin Amira continued the presentation by explaining the regional and local water crises to the students. They also learned that Penangites use the most water of any state in Malaysia, as the low cost of water in the area encourages water wastage.
Following that, Ms. Husna explained the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of evaluating water quality, as well as the roles that rivers play in society. To help them better understand their daily water consumption, students were taught how to calculate water bills.
They also learned how to properly use water-saving taps and were introduced to various water-saving strategies and gadgets. Participants took part in quizzes, and those who answered correctly were rewarded with books or water bottles from WWP.
‘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 its gratitude to SK Padang Tembak for collaborating with WWP on this educational event. For further inquiries, please contact WWP’s Executive Manager, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, at hong.wwp@gmail.com, or reach out to WWP directly at +6019-5751253.