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Surge partners with DEWA and UAE Water Aid to create a new generation of water aware UAE youth
Surge, a global non-profit organisation delivering safe and sustainable water and sanitation projects, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) have begun a water conservation awareness campaign in schools across the UAE. This educational programme is a cooperation between the organisations to educate junior and primary government and private school students about sustainability issues and create a new generation of water conscious citizens.
The Gulf region is one of the world’s most water scarce regions, and uses desalination to ensure water security. With almost 663 million people globally not having access to clean drinking water and over 2.4 billion people lacking in basic sanitation needs, Surge’s programme ‘Water: The Global Passport’ will teach over 3,600 students the importance of water conservation during the 2017-2018 academic year.
Marita Peters, Executive Director, Surge Middle East, says: "We know water consumption is an issue highlighted in the UAE’s Vision 2021 and given growing populations, water supply is a serious concern,” she said.
According to Linda Merieau, Director of Education Programs at Surge, “The Surge programme has shown 93 per cent of students take the message home and share it with parents and family members and over 81 per cent of students make a change in their daily habits. The most common changes to daily routines include: turning off taps when brushing teeth, using less water washing hands and dishes and taking shorter showers. Children are the future, so we must ensure they are conscientious water stewards,"
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO, says: “DEWA’s agreement with Surge is based on DEWA’s vision to become a sustainable world class utility and supports the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create a sustainable future for the UAE. By working closely with organisation such as Surge on key projects, DEWA is able to achieve these ambitious goals to support the growth of the Emirate of Dubai, for generations to come."
Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia, says: “Suqia’s projects intend to find lasting solutions to water scarcity around the world, to combat poverty and disease, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We aim to promote the efforts of the UAE, which play a leading global role in addressing the challenges facing the world, including water challenges, as well as the UAE’s prominent presence in providing support and humanitarian aid.”
About the programme
Each student will receive a water passport that will be stamped after completing every stage of the educational journey by participating in the activities promoting environmentally-friendly behaviours, conservation of natural resources and how to reduce water wastage.
The students are treated to an interactive and immersive agenda consisting of four simultaneously run group activities, called My Water Footprint, Water Wars, Race for Water, Seeds of Hope, which include thought provoking games, crafts and written activities designed to encourage the students to conserve natural resources and reduce water wastage.
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