Canada Water Week is a celebration of water from coast to coast to coast, held annually the third week of March to coincide with World Water Day, March 22nd. Observed internationally, World Water Day is an opportunity to increase awareness of and to learn more about water related issues, and to inspire both organizations and individual citizens to take positive action to make a difference.
To mark World Water Day 2017, Nestlé Waters Canada is proud to announce their ongoing funding partnership for the Project WET Canada program in Ontario. Project WET’s mission (Water Education for Teachers) is to promote water education to reach children, parents, teachers, and community members, and empower them to take positive action to solve water-related issues. Through this partnership, Nestlé Waters Canada is supporting the education of Ontario youth about the importance of water stewardship.
“Project WET Canada appreciates the funding and support in-kind during 2016 from Nestlé Waters Canada which allowed us to train 15 new Project WET Facilitators and develop our five existing Facilitators to become Trainers-of-Trainers. In addition to this foundational Facilitator Leadership Workshop, eight Project WET workshops were delivered to 150 educators. Using a multiplier of one educator reaching a minimum of 25 youth with water education, we estimate that over 3,750 more youth were reached last year through classroom instruction and though outdoor, environmental education centres. Over 180 youth were reached through direct delivery of Project WET learning activities in the Guelph area last June. Beyond the direct delivery of water education, eight outreach events were held to promote Project WET water education to more than 345 environmental educators at environmental conferences,” said Russell Boals, Director of Project WET Canada.
The 2017 sponsorship will provide Project WET learning materials for seven new educator workshops to reach a projected audience of 180 classroom teachers and environmental educators. In addition, several more water education events are planned for direct delivery to youth. Project WET Canada will also be able to complete the work begun last year on readying a French Project WET module for printing, with 20 learning activities suitable for use in Francophone schools and with French Immersion elementary students.
“Nestlé Waters Canada is a very proud supporter of Project WET Canada. We believe in a scientific and fact based approach to groundwater management. Working with Project WET Canada allows us to reach educators across Canada and to give thousands of youth a fact based water education,” said Andreanne Simard, Natural Resources Manager with Nestlé Waters Canada.
Globally, Nestlé has been the largest private donor to the international Project WET Foundation for decades. Project WET reaches millions of children in more than 50 counties across every continent and works in partnership with UNESCO, USAID, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Water Council.
