Moduopo Primary and Green Development Foundation celebrate Water Month

The Moduopo Primary School in Thembisa and the Green Development Foundation (GDF) recently hosted a wetland clean-up event to celebrate Water Month and raise awareness about protecting water resources.

Under the guidance of the programme director and Mrs Township SA 2025, Tiny Taukobong, learners from Moduopo and Emmangwenyi primary schools, Jiyane Secondary and Thembisa High School came together on March 27 to positively impact their community.

Various stakeholders supported the event, including the CoE, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training College and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.

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Principal Selokela Malema of Moduopo Primary School highlighted the school’s commitment to environmental protection, particularly in Thembisa, where pollution and overcrowding from informal settlements pose significant challenges.

“We want our learners to be environmentally aware and responsible. This clean-up is a step in that direction,” said Malema.

Learners show their creativity through poetry, dance, and music performances focused on saving water, using it responsibly and protecting wetlands.

The boys from Moduopo Primary captivated the audience with an energetic gumboot dance, and the Jiyane Secondary learners presented findings from an experiment testing the cleanliness of their school’s water supply, which they confirmed was safe.

One Grade Four learner said she learnt the importance of cleanliness, not littering and using water wisely.

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A Grade Seven learner said she now understood the need to conserve water and maintain a clean environment.

Following the performances, the learners went to the wetlands in Esselen Park, where they did a clean-up.

They collected bags of litter, helping to teach the community about keeping wetlands clean to ensure a healthier environment for people and wildlife.

Acnite Manganyi, a manager in the communications department at the GDF, commended the successful initiative.

“Today demonstrated the power of partnerships. Stakeholders from various departments and four schools came together to commemorate Water Week through a clean-up and trash hunt, where learners actively searched for waste and were later rewarded with promotional items,” said Manganyi.

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Environmental teacher and the co-ordinator at Moduopo Primary, Christina Lephalala, appreciated the initiative’s impact, “There was a lot of litter around the wetlands, and many people do not understand that wetlands are a crucial water source. As SA continues to struggle with water shortages, these wetlands could be vital in the future,” said Lephalala.

“We want to instil environmental consciousness in our learners, helping them realise that by taking care of these resources now, they are securing a better future.”

The event fostered awareness and action, reinforcing the need for continued efforts to protect water resources for future generations.