Representatives from over 200 environmental organisations, government bodies and institutions, including HSBC, were in Stockholm for World Water Week.

Officials from HSBC hosted a special event in conjunction with the bank’s environmental partners to highlight the achievements and impacts of the five-year HSBC Water Programme. HSBC Malta’s Catch the Drop is part of the programme.

From its onset, the water programme sought to tackle the water challenge on a number of key levels: water provision, protection, education and scientific research. So far, the programme has already provided sanitation to 1.9 million people, supported conservation action across 530,000 hectares of wetland and engaged over 8,000 people in citizen science.

Closer to home, the Catch the Drop has continued reaching out to new communities by sponsoring an expanded number of summer clubs as well as activities at Skolasajf, all embodying the themes of water conservation.

Skolasajf participants from 48 schools in Malta and 10 in Gozo are estimated to have taken a better understanding of water conservation issues after joining these educational activities.

The campaign will also be organising a summer concert themed ‘Water is life’ at Teatru Rjal on Wednesday, featuring Junior Eurovision winner Destiny Chukunyere.

HSBC Malta CEO Andrew Beane said: “At HSBC Malta we believe that educating young people about water scarcity will help them become responsible citizens in a Malta driven by sustainability. Water, after all, is vital to building healthy communities and developing national economies.”

Launched in 2012, the programme is a five-year, US$100m partnership with Earthwatch, WaterAid, World Wildlife Fund and over 50 other NGOs.