GAUTENG.- Rand Water’s environmental brand, Water Wise, is running edutaining programmes to teach children about the importance of protecting water and the environment; and to mould Water Wise citizens.
The programmes are aligned to the school curriculum and compliment various subjects taught at school.
The classroom programmes entail topics ranging from pollution and wetlands, to the water cycle and water purification. Learners get to conduct Water Wise experiments, water quality and quantity audits, and tour Rand Water’s water treatment plant – thus getting exposure to different settings where water and the environment take centre stage.
On average, close to 429 classes are attended every year, each taking 3-4 hours of learning. This equates to 46 452 learners and teachers being reached by the programme annually.
The team also produces a range of Water Wise education materials that teachers can use in the classroom, both electronically and as hard copies, i.e. posters, brochures, lesson plans, CDs, videos, etc.
Through this initiative, the Water Wise Team has been recognised by the International Water Association (IWA). In 2008, the team won the “Marketing & Communications Award”, becoming the first African winner of the award. This was followed by winning the category for “Best School Information Programme” and receiving a Highly Recommended nod in the “Customer Services Activities” category in 2010. 2016 saw the team receiving the “Marketing and Communications Award” and the team then went on to win the “IWA Project Innovation Award”.
The three Water Wise classrooms are situated at the Rand Water Nature Centre, alongside the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in the south of Johannesburg; the Rand Water Vereeniging water treatment plant, as well as the Jewish National Fund Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre in Mamelodi. Interested schools are encouraged to contact the Water Wise Education Team for bookings at waterwise@randwater.co.za.
In line with Covid-19 regulations, the Water Wise classrooms are currently closed. They will reopen once it is safe to do so. A wide range of electronic education material is available at https://www.waterwise.co.za/site/home.html, which is FREE to download and use in the classroom.
For media enquiries please contact Justice Mohale on 083 417 6999
Email: jmohale@randwater.co.za
