2020 Vision for Water and Sanitation Education Programme (2020 VfWSEP)

2020 Vision for Water and Sanitation Education Programme was initiated in 1996 with the aim to strengthen awareness on integrated water resources management. Learners were identified as the target group for the Programme based on the fact that you “Educate a child to educate the nation”. The Programme is advocated through eight (08) projects and five (5) of them are in the form of competition (Action Projects). All the action projects run from district to provincial adjudications which culminate to National Adjudication every year.

Through this Programme the Department of Water and Sanitation aims to cultivate water saving culture hoping to ultimately change the mindsets, attitudes and behaviours of water users for a sustainable water resources management across the country.

2020VfWSEP Aims and Objectives

• To promote water and sanitation education and create awareness about integrated water resources management, sanitation and water services through schools.

• To empower educators and learners to enable them to implement water and sanitation projects.

• Promote careers in the water sector.

• To infuse water education into the curriculum.

• To promote behavioural change after the implementation of action projects.

• To enhance collaboration in the water sector with relevant stakeholders.

The Programme’s eight (08) projects are:

1. Curriculum Support (CS)

It is the core of 2020 VfWSEP and was initiated with an objective of integrating water education to the main stream curriculum. The project has Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) aligned resource materials from Grade 1- 9. The project mainly entails the empowerment of educators on water and sanitation issues through educator workshops. During the workshops the educators are engaged on the water and sanitation activities that are on these resource materials.

2. South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP)

It is a collaboration project with Sweden aimed at encouraging active participation of youth in integrated water resources management. Grade 9- 11 Maths and Science learners identify water or sanitation challenges in their schools or communities; develop inventions or awareness projects to bring solutions. The project serves as an incubator for the Learning Academy, a departmental unit that manages bursaries.

Each year the national winners proceed to the Annual International Competition held in Sweden during the first week of September. South Africa is proud to have produced two international winners in the past 10 years.

3. Aqua Enduro (AE)

AE is an initiative aimed at addressing the skills shortage in the scientific and engineering disciplines targeting Grade 11 learners. It seeks to identify learners who not only have passion for water and sanitation but also the determination and discipline it takes to pursue careers in the water sector. AE stems from the World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) celebrated yearly in October to highlight the importance of monitoring the drinking water quality. It runs from district to national level with bursaries awarded for the provincial winners.

4. Public Speaking (PS)

The project started in 2010 with first bursaries being awarded in 2011. It targets Grade 10- 11 Maths and Science learners and is done in a debate format whereby learners are given a theme to research on. Each team is comprised of three speakers, i.e. 1st speaker doing introduction, 2nd speaker covering content and 3rd speaker responsible for conclusion. It runs from district to national level with bursaries awarded for the provincial winners.

5. Baswa Le Meetse (BLM)

This project targets Intermediate Phase whereby learners convey water and sanitation messages through art. It has five categories, namely: Music, Drama, Poetry, Praise Poetry and Poster. It runs from district to national level with prize money being awarded for provincial and national winners.

6. Intervention Project (IP)

It is a project that targets all the previous winners of the Programme. It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on integrated water resources management. The school identifies water or sanitation challenge/s, map up possible solutions to address the identified challenge/s. School visits prior to the National Adjudication are conducted to assess water and sanitation projects. During National Adjudication educators make Power Point presentations showing casing their success stories on how they have become the schools with best water and sanitation practices. Three best schools win prize money sponsored by Water Research Commission (WRC).

7. Career Promotion (CP)

Through this project DWS promotes careers in the sector with the aim of recruiting learners to pursue water and sanitation careers. During career promotion sessions learners are provided with information on the careers available in the sector, relevant documents, etc. 2020 VfWSEP Provincial Co- ordinators directly secure dates with schools or liaise with Department of Education (DoE) district officials to get their schedule of career promotions.

8. Celebration of Special Days (CSD)

These are special days that are aligned to the existence of the Department, e.g. National Water Week, Wetlands Day, Sanitation Week, Hand Washing Day etc. These special days are celebrated nationally whereby various water and sanitation massages are disseminated through various platforms. 2020 VfWSEP Provincial Co- ordinators are expected to annually align their plans with Provincial Communications Unit. All schools are encouraged to annually honour these special days.