Herzlia High initiates Water Summit for Cape schools

Schools around Cape Town were invited to send a teacher and two pupils to attend. Experts in the field were also invited.

The Water Summit took place on February 15. Among the guest speakers was Karen Shippey, chief director of environmental sustainability for the Western Cape, who addressed those attending about the water supply situation in Cape Town.

Plant the Seed, a non-governmental organisation that supports greater agency, critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, creativity and citizenship in pupils, ran breakaway sessions. The pupils had to report back on how their schools were dealing with the water crisis and reducing water consumption.

The afternoon closed with an address by Dr Kevin Winter from the University of Cape Town’s Future Water Institute.

The highly successful summit saw 80 pupils and teachers attend from various schools – including Rondebosch Prep, St Cyprian’s, Bishops, Wynberg Girls High, Belgravia High, Cape Town High, DSK (Deutsche Internationale Schule), Peak View Primary School, Sans Souci, Bridge House, Somerset College, Sea Point Primary, Alexander Sinton High School.

The drought committee will document the outcomes from the conference and distribute this to all the schools that attended.