Global Passport to Clean Water:
Moving the World Toward Achieving Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for All
 
 

Project Dates and Times:

Target Grade Levels: Students in Grades 9-12

Cost: Free!

Requirements for Participation : Must be on the MAGPI network and have H.323 (IP) videoconferencing capabilities

Description:

One of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals agreed upon by the world’s countries and leading development institutions is to reduce by half the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015. This year-long program will introduce students to the facts about the world water crisis, allow students to investigate and support various water-related projects, take an active role in moving the world toward the millennium goal and publicize their efforts through a video collaboration.

The project kicks off on UN Day, with an interactive videoconference featuring an engaging panel of experts that will challenge and motivate students. Following the kick-off, students will begin their own research into issues surrounding clean water in various parts of the world and select projects they would like to support. Mid-way through the project, teachers will attend a virtual professional development event with Fairmount Waterworks Interpretative Center staff that will help them support their students in their clean water action projects and video development projects. Following the implementation of their projects, students will produce a video highlighting their efforts and share their projects in a culminating videoconference on World Water Day in May.

All student videos will be submitted to Fairmount Water Works Student Video Contest and will be eligible to be shown at the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative Conference this spring - - allowing students participating in this project to potentially influence water policy around the world.

This program is a partnership between the Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center, MAGPI and the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative.

 

 

 

 

  
 

Project Timeline

Global Passport Kick-Off Videoconference: Understanding the Global Water Crisis
A Student Videoconference Event * October 24, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Objective: Students learn about the World Water Crisis and the UN MDGs.

Description: The year-long project kick-off! Celebrate United Nations Day by learning from a panel of experts about global issues regarding Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation in the context of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal #7. The panel will specifically focus on PGWI and regional goals. Students will have an opportunity to Interact with the experts in a Q and A session, hear about projects adopted by high school students including costs and quality of life impact. Students will also learn about the Short Video Contest parameters and list of potential links to global water and sanitation projects.

What Can We Do? Start Your Research
In-Class/In-School Exploration * October through January

Objectives:

  • Students learn about the World Water Crisis and the UN MDGs.
  • Students research and gather a broad range of facts
  • Students explore specific resources such as the UNDP student publication and PGWI website

Description: Following the UN Day Celebration, students should begin expanding their knowledge of the issues related to the World Water Crisis. This part of the project can work across the curriculum – utilizing math and statistics, social studies, science, language arts, geography as well as media arts. For example, using math and social science skills, students can gather statistics about population affected by water-born illnesses, numbers of people and countries of origin without access to clean water and sanitation, varying costs associated with private and public water systems. This information can be graphed and charted as visual information by media arts students. Science students can research the public health risks of sanitary waste and specific water born illnesses. Social studies students can explore the relationship of gender and water collection and/or public hygiene. There is a wealth of resource material available on the Internet. Assign students varying fact finding missions conducting their research and report back to the class in summary fashion and/or with their graphic displays. Everyone is required to use at a minimum the student produced publication provided to you by the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center and the PGWI website Resource page. For ideas, look at the links listed under "Resources."

Taking Action: Select A Project
In-Class/In-School Exploration * January/February

Ojectives:

  • Students find a community/village/town in need
  • Students will make global connections by getting to know the community/people of the adopted village/town and develop communication and a personal connection.

Description: After completing your research, identify a project site your students will adopt. Decide on the best way to establish communication between your students and the lives of the people they will be helping - - and make contact. Consider sending a survey of sorts through the mail or the internet, in which your students can develop an understanding of the people behind the “crisis” and how their help will change the lives of people that now have names and faces associated with them. This can include some basic questions related to their current lives – the collection of water, the use of bathrooms, a description of daily life. Make sure students document the person’s name, age and gender. Use the Passport to Clean Water template provided to develop this survey.

You can explore H2O Water for Life School to School Parterships for a list of fundable projects across the globe by clicking on http://www.h2oforlifeschooltoschool.org/

While deciding on a project, have your students look at Progress Report of UN MDG#7 on the PGWI website -- now that we are halfway toward the goal year of 2015 -- and acknowledge where the progress has been made as well as where it has not. For example: take note that Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and the Commonwealth Independent States in Asia in particular are struggling to meet the goals.

Teacher Workshop: How to initiate a Clean Water Project and Supporting Students in the Video Contest
Teacher Professional Development Videoconference * Friday, January 23, 2009 * Time TBD

During this videoconference, Fairmount Water Works staff members will outline guidelines and deadlines for teachers to enter their students in the Short Video Contest. Educators will view short videos on the subject and brainstorm motivating techniques for engaging students in the project. Fairmount Waterworks staff will introduce fundraising ideas to help launch students’ action plan and suggest creative ways students can connect to the people at their adopted site.

Video Project: Taking Action
In-Class/In-School Student Project
Projects DUE March 13, 2009

Objective: Students will further develop their commication and media skills by developing, scripting and producinga 3-minute public service piece about the World Water Crisis and what they are doing to be part of the change. Entries will be submitted as part of the Fairmount Water Works Interpretative Student Film Contest.

Description: Research, develop and produce 3-minute video describing global problem/issues (MDG#7), a short profile of the lives of the people students will be helping, a description of the project, the change that funds/equipment will make on quality of life issues related to water and sanitation and a brief summary of how they will raise funds to accomplish this. All of the MAGPI Project entries will be shown at the videoconference collaboration on World Water Day.

Issues on Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation to consider:

  • How can we meet the Millennium Development Goal #7 by 2015
  • Water: A Human right
  • Global Water Crisis: Cost; Inequity; Technology; Political Will
  • Gender Issues
  • Benefits of Action/Cost of Inaction
  • International Cooperation
  • Climate Change

Video Contest Criteria:  

  • Film must be suitable and appropriate for an audience of all ages.
  • Films that promote violence will not be accepted.
  • Films may be live action, animation, still photography or any combination Entry must be .mov file format on a DVD and mailed to the Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center no later than March 20, 2009.
  • Entry must be labeled with film title, filmmaker’s name, email and phone number and be accompanied by the appropriate application.
  • All participants must fill out and return an application form by the deadline, along with the $15 registration fee. No exceptions.
  • Winning videos will be shown at Spring PGWI conference to public and professional audiences and may be broadcast on the Internet.
  • Deadline for MAGPI Project Participants: Friday, March 13, 2009.
  • Entry fee: $15.00.
  • For questions or more information contact: Ellen Schultz at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 215-518-1536 or fwwiceducate@comcast.net
  • Prizes to 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd and Honorable Mention Entries will be peer juried at a Regional World Water Day Film Festival at Abington Sr High Regional Audience, March 23, 2009 at 7 pm
  • The Top Four Winners will be shown at the PGWI Conference at the University of Penn on April 4, 2009.

World Water Day Videoconference: This is How WE took Action
Student Videoconference Event * Friday, March 20, 2009 * 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Ojective: Students will present to each other, community members, MAGPI schools and enter contest to present at the PGWI conference to professional leaders and advocates for change

Description: Students will share the results of their video projects.

Resources:

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