A global tradition of annual activities commemorating World Water Day every March, launched by the United Nations in 1993, continued in the UAE this year through TOGETHER 4 WATER events, which educate children about the water cycle, water challenges facing the world and water preservation through fun, hands-on pedagogical activities developed by its global NGO partner Project WET.
In 2016, Nestlé Waters and Project WET are giving children the opportunity to become water heroes by putting what they learn about water into action. With the help of Nestlé Waters employee volunteers, children are designing and implementing their own water conservation projects, and telling the story of their year-long experience through video diaries in select countries.
Initiatives in the UAE have so far reached nearly 22,000 active participants among students and teachers in schools across the country over the past six years.
In its first Nestlé in Society report for the region in 2015, Nestlé Middle East committed to “promote healthy hydration as part of a healthy lifestyle,” vowing to “further implement our healthy hydration awareness programs for teachers and kids providing a better understanding of the benefits of water as key to healthy hydration.”
“Water is a precious resource that is shared among individuals, farmers, industry, the environment, and others,” said Walid Zamamiri, Nestlé Waters Operations Manager in the UAE. “Raising awareness about the importance of water amongst our employees and the local communities in which we operate on World Water Day is one of the ways we bring our commitment to water stewardship to life.”
Five specific Project Wet activities are conducted in the UAE: Blue Planet, Incredible Journey, Aqua Bodies, A Drop in the Bucket, and 8-4-1 One for All, all of which aim to lead children through a process that allows them to understand the importance of water in people’s lives, teach them that human actions affect water, and educate them on how to protect and preserve it.
“Nestlé Waters is committed to being a good steward of the water resources we share,” concluded Zamamiri. “We ensure our operations are efficient and proactively collaborate with others on initiatives that preserve water resources over the long term. We also improved our water efficiency globally by 19% over the last five years.”
In the Middle East, Nestlé has since 2009 reduced absolute water withdrawal by 6% across its factories in the region, while production volume increased by 62%.
About World Water Day
World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. It has been held annually since then. More information is available on the following website:
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/home/en/
In 2015, over 1,000 Nestlé Waters employees and close to 25,000 children from 30 countries participated in these events.
For more information, please contact:
Lynn Al Khatib
Nestlé Middle East
[email protected]