100 000 pupils pledge to be water heroes
100 000 are taking ‘save water’ messages into their homes
IN a bid to create more awareness of the crippling Cape water crisis, 100 000 pupils have pledged to be water heroes. This was part of the initiative by the Department of Water and Sanitation, Miss Earth SA, Operation SA and 100 schools across the province, including those in Gugulethu, Lavender Hill, Atlantis, Paarl and Langebaan.
International climate activist and #Save-Water Ambassador Catherine Constantinides said: “We engaged almost 100 000 children who have pledged to become our very own #WaterHeroes.
“We have been inspired by the level of engagement and commitment. We witnessed innovation and creative ideas at some schools who have already started to address the water crisis,” she said.
#SaveWater Ambassador Yusuf Abramjee said: “We are already seeing a ripple effect,… children have taken the #Save-Water #EveryDropCounts messages into their homes and communities.”
Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said his department was proud to partner with civil society organisations and corporates aligned in the vision of conserving water.
“We need to increase our water-saving efforts. We will continue to engage communities and all sectors of society,” said Ratau.
#SaveWater has over 120 ambassadors who have recently volunteered to drive the message. The volunteers include community activists, television, radio and sport personalities.
Abramjee said that in the run-up to World Water Day on March 22, a round table discussion would be hosted in Cape Town.
“To drive the #SaveWater #EveryDrop-Counts message, communities are being engaged, leaflets distributed and the department this week also launched ‘Drop The Block’. Residents are encouraged to put blocks in their toilet cisterns to #SaveWater with every flush,” he said.
Another online campaign initiated is the #EmptyBucketChallenge, where photos of an empty bucket of water are displayed being poured over the head.
“We want every citizen to pledge to #SaveWater because #EveryDropCounts. The campaign is viral already on social media. “We have to spread the message and we encourage all South Africans to join us,”said Abramjee.