Youth get their hands dirty to ensure cleaner water resources
The annual Clear Rivers Campaign serves as a call to action for ordinary members of the public to play an active role in cleaning up water resources. Learners from HTS Potchefstroom and Botoka Technical School in Ikageng took on the challenge of cleaning large parts of Wasgoedspruit as well as the banks along the Mooi River.
The saying “many hands make light work” was on full display at the Trim Park on Thursday, 20 July.
An initiative from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in collaboration with members of the JB Marks Local Municipality saw volunteers as well as learners and teachers at Botoka Technical High School and HTS Potchefstroom clean up at the Trim Park.
The cleaning took place alongside the Wasgoedspruit as well as parts of the Mooirivier, which has been a place where littering has been quite commonplace.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
This initiative forms part of the DWS Clear Rivers Campaign as well as the 67 Minutes for Mandela Day initiative. The annual Clear Rivers Campaign which coincides with Mandela Month in July, serves as a call to action for ordinary members of the public to play an active role in cleaning up water resources.
The acting Deputy Director: Corporate Services, Mr George Dilima, emphasised the importance of maintaining, protecting and caring for water resources.
“The objective of the Clean Rivers campaign is to undertake a collaborative effort and actively engage communities as well as promote and create ongoing awareness and education on protecting our water resources. Fostering volunteerism among communities is actively encouraged as part of a proactive approach to protecting our rivers, streams, wetlands, and other water ecosystems, given the drought that still persists in large parts of the country.”
A culture of volunteerism is also something that this campaign aims to create. The learners who partook in this clean-up definitely had a fantastic time during this early morning clean-up session. They also gained a new perspective on the importance of environmental matters.
“We believe that through creating awareness in local communities such as the community of Potchefstroom, we are encouraging you to play a key role in protecting water resources within your communities,” stated Dilima.
