From the Blue Community / Blue University UFLA – Federal University of Lavras in Brazil: Educational and interactive activities with public school students raise awareness of the importance of water.
Since 17 March, UFLA has been promoting educational and interactive activities with public school students to mark World Water Day, celebrated on 22 March. Over the course of two weeks, some 650 children learned about the treatment processes and daily analyses carried out at UFLA’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to ensure the quality of the university’s supply of this natural resource. Further visits are planned for next week.
Sixth-graders from the Paulo Lourenço Menicucci Municipal School visited the plant on the 27th to learn about a topic covered in their science classes. “We had already been working with them on this topic because of World Water Day. Last week they attended a lecture on the subject and now they’ve had the opportunity to take part in this activity”, says teacher Lucimara Bueno.
The students also took part in a quiz on water treatment and analysis. Gabriel was attentive and participative, and was one of the students who gave the correct answers. He said of the visit: “What interested me the most was the process of treating dirty water.” Ester also took part in the activities and loved them: “They are excellent, they showed us everything that happens here at the station.”
UFLA is recognised for its excellence in water management. In 2016, it was certified as a ‘Blue University’ by the global ‘Blue Community’ movement. Approximately 97 per cent of the water used on the Lavras campus is treated by the wastewater treatment plant.
Water Week at CApNedi
The Colégio de Aplicação Núcleo de Educação da Infância (CApNedi/UFLA) also held its Water Week from 17 to 21 March. Aimed at students in groups 4 and 5, the fun and educational activities were designed to make children aware of the importance of water for life and to encourage them to adopt a conservationist attitude.
