Empowering Schools and Youth Through Water Education and Sustainability
ERWAT’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) team, led by Neo Tlhaku, proudly participated in the official opening of the 2025 Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP) National Adjudication. The WSEP, a national initiative led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), aims to advance sustainable water and sanitation practices through school-based education and stakeholder collaboration.
ERWAT’s involvement reflects its commitment to environmental stewardship, youth empowerment, and integrated water resource management in support of national development goals.
Promoting Behavioural Change and Sector Awareness in Schools
The Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP) plays a vital role in fostering a culture of water conservation and responsible sanitation practices in schools and communities across South Africa.
Programme objectives include:
- Promoting water and sanitation education and awareness
- Empowering educators and learners to implement water and sanitation innovations
- Encouraging youth-led water and sanitation projects in schools
- Promoting careers in the water sector
- Integrating water and sanitation topics into school curricula
- Driving behavioural change through action learning
- Strengthening collaboration between schools and sector stakeholders
Through WSEP, schools become active platforms for change—helping to instill environmental responsibility in the next generation of leaders.
ERWAT’s Role: Advancing Water Stewardship Through Youth Engagement
As a municipal water services provider, ERWAT brings technical insight and strategic support to community-based educational efforts like WSEP. Participation in the 2025 programme reaffirms ERWAT’s role in:
- Supporting water literacy at grassroots level
- Empowering the next generation of water professionals
- Encouraging sustainable thinking and environmental action in youth
- Strengthening partnerships with public sector and educational institutions
By actively engaging in the WSEP adjudication process, ERWAT continues to invest in the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s water resources.
A Shared Vision for Future-Focused Water Care
ERWAT remains dedicated to initiatives that strengthen environmental education, particularly among young people. By supporting DWS-led programmes like WSEP, the organisation helps build a future where every learner understands the value of water and contributes to preserving it for generations to come.
