Alexandra children learn about water conservation
Alex's Grade 6 and 7 learners are already leading the fight for cleaner water, and school uniforms are keeping them in class to do it.
Learners at Ikage Primary School in Alexandra spent July 27 learning about water conservation through hands-on activities and demonstrations rather than textbooks.
The Water Rehabilitation and Awareness Fun Day, run by This Little Light NPC in partnership with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), targeted Grade 6 and 7 learners with the message that protecting local water resources is not just the government’s job, but it starts with them.
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The programme was first launched in February 2024, born out of two concerns identified by founder Sanele Kweyama: Alexandra’s water resources, badly affected by pollution and illegal dumping, and a generation of children who had come to see these conditions as normal.
“We believe that lasting transformation begins with education. Instead of waiting until children become adults to teach them about environmental responsibility, we chose to start while they are still young, curious and eager to learn,” Kweyama explained.
Since its launch, the initiative has reached more than 1 500 learners in various schools, including Zenzeleni Primary School. Rather than relying on lectures, Kweyama revealed that the programme leans on interactive demonstrations, comparisons of clean versus polluted water, water-saving games, recycling challenges and clean-up exercises, to make abstract environmental issues feel real and personal.
Also read: Ikage Grade 7s made career-ready for high school
“When we teach children the value of protecting water today, we are shaping the decisions they will make for the rest of their lives. They begin to understand that every drop of water matters, that litter has consequences, and that caring for the environment is ultimately caring for people.”
Kweyama said children who grow up understanding conservation often carry those values into adulthood and pass them on to their own children.
“Many children in Alexandra see polluted rivers every day, but unless someone explains what caused the pollution and how it affects people’s health, biodiversity and future water security, it simply becomes part of the landscape.”
The day’s programme extended beyond environmental education. This Little Light NPC also used the occasion to launch its Winter Relief Drive, distributing school uniforms to learners facing hardship this winter. “To many people, a uniform may seem like just another item of clothing. For a child, it represents dignity, belonging and hope.”
He said when children feel confident about how they look, they are more likely to attend school consistently, participate in class and believe in their own potential.
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