In such context, GWP China Hunan always organizes activities strengthening the public awareness of treasuring water and protecting Xiang River. The summer season campaign was kicked off on second day in ‘the dog days’, July 13, 2017, gathering 20 young professionals from the Hunan Provincial Water Research Institute to popularize water and river protection knowledge on the street.
(Roadmap of Walking Billboard)
During the peak period of water consumption, the young volunteers walked along the Xiang River, disseminating thematic brochures and sharing water conservation knowledge with inhabitants. Summer day scorching sun, river banks were still comfortably cool for the residents sitting in the shade of trees. The walking billboard team of GWP China Hunan received a large number of civilians. On the 5-kilometer campaign route, the young advocators answered different questions regarding water saving skills, river protection problems and urban flood prevention.
On wrapping up the campaign, young volunteers were inspired by the hospitability of residents. It’s convinced that the public awareness of river protection has been raised. Most people have such consciousness as water is no less treasured than their prosperity. One of the most impressive stories was the conservation with a senior. This elder appreciated young volunteers for their contribution to water protection. After introducing personal experience of saving water, he expressed his expectation on world water security and long-term popularity of the public water/river prevention education. Such campaign should be the common responsibility of the whole society, as he said.
GWP China Hunan has been active in youth strategy implementation and public participation. In addition to the World Water Day Campaign in elementary school, they have other innovative movements, such as ‘walking billboard’, to reinforce the youth perception of public participation as well as set up multiple platforms for the youth taking initiatives and giving full play to their talents in water development and environment protection.
