The Water Explorer initiative is run by UK charity Global Action Plan (GAP) and aims to highlight the importance of water conservation on a global level.
The winner, Springfield School’s student-led eco-club, has helped to raise awareness of and address a range of environmental issues and has grown from just three members into a school-wide initiative.
The club took on a range of activities related to water conservation including installing water butts at the school and using the collected water to grow their own food.
The club also hosted a focus day for year 7s during which drama students made a film about what the world would look like without water.
A school-wide Water Festival, including a film about water shortages in the developing world and their impact on children, was attended by 460 students and was covered by the local media in Portsmouth.
The judges of the award particularly praised Springfield’s “Phil the Bag” scheme, for which students were encouraged to bring in old clothes to donate overseas and also to swap clothing items between themselves.
The aim was to highlight the fact that clothes manufacturing is one of the most water intensive manufacturing processes.
Water Explorer is a free, fully resourced online programme for schools and youth groups and sets a range of water-based challenges for eight to 14-year-olds.
Springfield School competed against 147 other teams to win their place in the UK finals, where they had to then present their work to a panel of expert judges including those from GAP, WaterAid, STEMnet and HSBC.
Teacher Katy Micklewright said “Our eco-club took part in the Water Explorer programme to make a difference in school and around the world. I am very proud of these eco-warriors for their hard work and commitment. The students took leadership of Water Explorer and for them to present (to the judges), deeply understanding the water issues they are addressing, is amazing.”
For further information, visit www.waterexplorer.org