Students tap into Third World struggle

Children at Mount Tarcoola Primary School took a small glimpse into a world where finding clean drinking water isn’t as easy as turning on the tap.

As part of World Water Day last week, students set out on a 7km walk in an attempt to represent the distance some children must travel daily to find water.

Also celebrating their waterwise status, students set out on the course mapped around their school in an effort to raise awareness and funds.

Year 5 teacher and waterwise co-ordinator Suzie Speed said the event also tied in with lessons the students had been learning in class.

“Every day, women and children are forced to walk approximately 10,000 steps just to collect water in some of the world’s poorest communities,” she said.

“The students have been learning the difference from us just being able to turn on the tap and the 50km each week other women and children walk to find water.”

Some students also tried to hold a 10-litre container of water during the walk, equivalent to what others would carry back to their communities daily.

The meaning behind the one-day walk was not lost on the primary school-aged children, with 11-year-old Ava Williams commenting she now had a greater appreciation for water.

“After we learnt about what people in other countries have to go through just to get water, it made me feel sad that for us it’s just so easy,” she said.

“They have to walk kilometres to collect water for their families that’s often really dirty.

“All we have to do is turn the tap and we have clean water.

“It made me want to do something to help and that’s why we’re all doing the walk today.”

For more information on the water challenge or to donate, visit the website at www.waterchallenge.org.au .