The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs is running an educational campaign entitled ‘Catch the Drop’, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation to avoid water scarcity problems in Malta and other countries.

Around 18 Skolasajf centres and a number of independent summer schools are currently participating in the campaign, which was launched last February.

The UN World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22, inspires events across the world.

This year, national activities were organised highlighting the need for ‘clean water for a healthy world’.

Follow-up activities encouraging the efficient use of water continued throughout the scholastic year and summer.

A booklet was compiled to help educators organise activities. Fun water activities and a competition appear in the booklet, along with a ‘Learn, think, act’ page encouraging children to watch the Catch the Drop DVD and to discuss issues such as water scarcity.

An important point highlighted is that producing potable water is energy-intensive, since more than half the water we consume is desalinated sea water. Consequently, saving water results in saving on utility bills – the campaign’s poster reflects this by showing drops of water being symbolically saved in a piggy bank.

The children are also encouraged not to waste water even when their family is not footing the bill.

For more information, visit http://mrra.gov.mt/page.aspx?id=151 .