From September 8 to 12, 2024, the Water Watch Penang successfully organized five Water Education and Awareness Programs at five schools in the Bachok District, Kelantan. These schools are participants in the Rainwater Harvesting System Project in the state.
The primary objective of these educational sessions was to raise students’ awareness of global, national, and state-level water issues, as well as the benefits of using rainwater as a clean secondary water source for daily use. During the program, the Water Watch Penang team demonstrated the operation of the installed rainwater harvesting systems at the schools and introduced the UV system that supplies clean, drinkable water.
Ms. Siti Nornazuan (Wawa), the Project Assistant, served as the lead facilitator for the education program, with support from Dr. Hong Chern Wern, the Executive Manager of Water Watch Penang, who attended the sessions on September 9, 10, and 11, 2024.
Several schools provided positive feedback regarding the use of rainwater. For instance, students from the boarding schools of SK Kandis and SMK Kandis mentioned that they no longer frequently return home during weekends, as they now have access to clean water for bathing and daily use. Previously, students had to go home weekly due to the poor water quality in the hostels.
Here are the schools and the number of students who participated in the Water Education and Awareness Program in the Bachok District, Kelantan:
- SK Kandis (September 8, 2024) – 200 students (Standard 4 to 6) and five teachers
- SMK Gunong (September 9, 2024) – 25 students (Form 4)
- SK Bakong (September 10, 2024) – 400 students (Standard 1 to 6)
- SK Gunong (September 11, 2024) – 27 students (Standard 6)
- SMK Kandis (September 12, 2024) – 30 students (Form 4)
Water Watch Penang extends its gratitude to all the schools that participated in these educational sessions.
The Rainwater Harvesting Project in Kelantan is a green initiative funded by Clean International and Gravity Water, coordinated by Water Watch Penang. Supported by the Ministry of Education and the Kelantan State Education Department, this project seeks to encourage the use of rainwater as a sustainable alternative source of clean water for schools. For more information, please contact us at info.waterwatchpenang@gmail.com.