Earthwatch Australia, Swarovski Waterschool partner on water education
by Cecilia Harris
In a collaboration set to boost water conservation awareness in young students in New South Wales and Victoria, Swarovski Waterschool is partnering with Earthwatch Australia’s Kids Teaching Kids on a new water education program.
Swarovski Waterschool is a global water education initiative that empowers young people and their communities to become water stewards by providing tools and training specific to local water challenges.
Now active in Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, India, Thailand, Uganda and the US, the initiative has supported the water education of 740,000 students at 2500 schools since 2000.
The Australian collaboration will teach pupils from 15 schools in Western Sydney and metropolitan Melbourne about the importance of water and the environment, focusing on the unique water challenges Australia faces.
Swarovski Foundation Chair Nadja Swarovski said empowering young people about water is crucial to ensuring more sustainable behaviours in future.
“Swarovski Waterschool is delighted to partner with Earthwatch Australia on this fantastic new program in the greater Sydney area,” she said.
“Teaching young people to treasure and protect the world’s most precious resource is critical if we are to safeguard our world for future generations, and Kids Teaching Kids’ peer teaching approach is a powerful way of empowering them to be the driving force of change.
“We look forward to seeing the graduation of Australia’s next generation of environmental leaders.”
Transformational education
Participating students will learn from teachers and scientists, and connect with local water authorities, government bodies and environmental organisations.
The program also aims to increase understanding of the cultural and social value of water to First Nations people, with students sharing their insights with more than 2000 peers across the country at Kids Teaching Kids events.
Earthwatch CEO Cassandra Nichols said the Kids Teaching Kids program is a transformational experience that empowers young people to protect our natural environment.
“By partnering with Swarovski, the next generation will become leaders, teaching peers and the broader community about the importance of water, an invaluable resource to our communities,” she said.
“Students are empowered to become environmental stewards, creating on ground action projects to conserve water into the future.”
The program also contributes to three of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, including Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Partnership for the Goals.
