The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has launched a new water action project — an intensive education programme that addresses water, environmental issues and careers.

This new water action project, implemented by WESSA Eco-Schools, will transform the department’s existing school-level Baswa le Meetse (Youth in Water) Awards programme. The Baswa le Meetse competition and awards is a ministerial project that has been active since 2003 and which aims, through the medium of arts and drama, to recognise the role of young people in educating society about integrated water management, sanitation, health and hygiene related issues.

The Department of Water and Sanitation WESSA Eco-Schools project will now add a new dimension to Baswa le Meetse so that this competition forms part of a water education programme that will encourage water conservation and the wise use of water resources.

 

Participation

The new Department of Water and Sanitation and WESSA Eco-Schools Awards will be open to all registered Eco-Schools from grades R to 12. Participating schools will be required to set up a water action project that should aim to include the entire school and members of the local community, and the intention of the practice-based focus of the competition is to promote meaningful action and the application of sustainable practices.

WESSA has been working with the department in the achievement of their Vision 2020 Water Education Programme, and in 2013 the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme was selected by the to assist in deepening the learning and the implementation of sustainable practices around water at schools. The international Eco-Schools Programme itself has been implemented in the country by WESSA since 2003 and is funded nationally by Nampak and PetroSA.