eThekwini Municipality - CITY LEARNERS SHARE WATER SAVING IDEAS2016-03-07 Learners from over 180 schools across the Municipality today gathered at the Durban City Hall to discuss water and sanitation issues. The summit was held under the theme “Water is Life! What can young people do, particularly students, to ensure future water sustainability?â€
Ahead of the annual National Water Week Campaign, the student water and sanitation conference raised awareness around the importance of conserving and protecting water resources. The City’s Student Water and Sanitation conference comes at a time when the country is faced with a drought crisis. Speaking at the student water conference, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pamela Tshwete, said drought is a complex physical and social process. She said it is of high demand that we use our future leaders as key role players to readdress water scarcity in different approaches. The City afforded the youth an opportunity to value and realize the importance of water from their perspective. Pupils from different schools presented good tips on how best the Municipality can reduce non-revenue water (water-loss) and illegal use of water, and how the City can recycle water by means of desalination. Some of the youth proposed, as the solution, the building of more dams. Mayor James Nxumalo commended the educators and learners for their commitment to partnering with the City in its quest to finding solutions, particularly during these challenging times of drought. This is in line with the City’s desire to reach out to various stakeholders so that the citizens will take ownership of the decisions and policies that are adopted by the City. Sithengile Secondary School and KwaCutshwayo Primary School scooped the first position for the best presentations. Seluleko Ndlovu, a learner who presented on behalf of Sithengile Secondary School said it was a great honour to be given an opportunity to share ideas to conserve water. “I am humbled to know that our ideas and solutions will make a difference for the people of eThekwini. Such gatherings prove, to us that youngsters have potential to govern the country one dayâ€, he said. Other categories included best models and best designed posters. St Francis College got away with an award for the best model and Mason Lincoln Special School received an award for the best designed poster. At the conference, students also collectively formulated strategies to better address the future environmental sustainability in the country. Others elaborated on the importance of implementing Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals. This Goal aims at ensuring availability and management of water and sanitation for all. The City believes that the engagement and involvement of learners will benefit residents of eThekwini, as they expected to ensure that there is no environmental degradation in the near future. Hence, Water and Sanitation Unit wanting to ensure that the youth provide solutions with regard to the difficulties that are water and sanitation related. ENDS. Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Head, Tozi Mthethwa. For more information members of the media can contact Gugu Sisilana on 031 311 4855 or email: gugu.mbonambi@durban.gov.za or Princess Nkabane on 031 311 4818 or princess.nkabane@durban.gov.za |
eThekwini Municipality - CITY LEARNERS SHARE WATER SAVING IDEAS
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