"WE’RE REALLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO DRINK FROM A TAP HERE BUT I WANT TO HELP THOSE THAT CAN’T DRINK SAFE WATER"
On Wednesday 22nd of January, WaterAid visited the Wilberforce Primary School, in Queen’s Park to teach them about the importance of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
The visit was part of the school’s involvement in A Future without Rubbish’s project which educates children about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and protect the environment. This assembly follows one arranged for Thames Water last year. It was also one of the ways in which the school delivers an Education and Character –which encourages pupils to become responsible and compassionate individuals.
Elizabeth Sparrow from WaterAid gave an educational and inspirational talk on WaterAid’s work. It is transforming lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. Pupils were made aware of the places around the world where children don’t have access to clean water and asked to think about how lucky they were to live in London, where clean drinking water, decent toilets and good hygiene are normal, everyday things.
Elizabeth said: “I very much enjoyed visiting Wilberforce School. I hope that I was able to bring WaterAid's work to life by sharing with the children the effect that the water and sanitation crisis has on children around the world and exploring the simple solutions that are helping solve the crisis.”
Year 3 teacher, Mark Jackson, said, "It was great to see the children so engaged and to realise how lucky we are to have clean, safe water. We have already started to plan ideas on how we, as a school, can support Water Aid."
Khadijah, a Year 5 pupil, explained, "I really enjoyed the assembly about Water Aid and want to help. We're really lucky to be able to drink from a tap here but I want to help those that can't drink safe water."
The project A Future without Rubbish awards pupils with a ‘500ff’ stainless steel flask (which can be reused and recycled infinitely) for their involvement in all aspects of waste, from plastic to wonderful clean water.
As a thank you to Elizabeth, she was awarded a flask - becoming an Agent for A Future without Rubbish, together with the Wilberforce Primary School & Millbank Academy pupils, DEFRA’s Chris Preston and the Environment Secretary.
Wilberforce Primary Headteacher Claire Macfie said “We are very much looking forward to welcoming WaterAid back to the school in the summer term. Our Wilberforce Eco-Council will put their creative hats on and organise the event. Thank you to A Future without Rubbish for organising today’s assembly!”
Iolanda Alexandru, A Future without Rubbish representative: “It was educational and inspirational to have WaterAid this morning. We are very much looking forward to the next event with WaterAid and A Future without Rubbish on the 4th of February, atMillbank Primary.”