Hygiene Managers and Water Storytellers

Hygiene Managers and Water Storytellers

Encouraging children to think critically about the importance of water security and conservation, and WASH, and identify how they protect their local water bodies from the harsh impacts of climate change and plastic pollution in New Delhi, India.

In August 2023, the team visited Delhi to extend the KATS: India project and continue our partnership with the Water Security and Sustainable Develop Hub at Newcastle University. This time around the KATS project worked with over 100 children and focussed on themes relating to water security, conservation and WASH. The aim of this project was to encourage children to think about the importance of water for health and well-being, and it’s cultural significance. It also worked towards empowering young people to create and perform impactful stories to encourage people to protect local water sources in their communities.

Priyanka and Jagdamba Camp

Elle worked with children from Priyanka Camp and Jagdamba Camp to become ‘Hygiene Managers’. In the first session we explored the importance of water and hand washing, and told the story of Mr. E-Coli – a nasty bacteria that can be spread through physical touch, coughing and sneezing, and contaminated water! We then participated in the ‘Glitter Experiment’ where the children got to shake as many glitter hands as possible… to see how quickly germs spread from person to person. In the second session, the children became scientists and used green paint to see the difference between washing their hands for 5 and 20 seconds. They then created colourful murals with slogans that spread the word about the importance of hand washing in their community.

Nizamuddin Basti

The KATS team also worked with children from Nizamuddin Basti to become ‘Water Storytellers’. In the session we discussed the cultural value of water and used VR to explore all the different kinds of biodiversity that live underwater. The children then went on a ‘field trip’ to their local Baoli, where a guide talked to them about the Baoli’s history, cultural significance and issues around flooding and pollution.

In the second session the children learnt about the importance of telling stories – especially when it comes to protecting local water sources. The children started to create their own superhero water stories around protecting the Nizamuddin Baoli. Their powers included the ability to zap litter from the water and to stop flooding! The children worked with a local theatre production company to bring their stories to life by creating an interactive performance.

A few weeks later the KATS Team returned…this time with over 100 members of Newcastle University’s Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub in October! The children got to perform their superhero stories, which communicated the message of the cultural significance of the Nizamuddin Baoli and why we should work towards protecting it from harm. The superheroes helped to clean the Baoli from pollution and plastics, and worked together to conserve it for future generations. The performance even included some songs – which colleagues from the Water Hub couldn’t stop singing for the rest of the conference!