March 14, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
TAPPIE is on the move again – the silver-grey Johannesburg Water mascot visited Goudpark Primary School in Eldorado Park on Friday, 10 March.
He was at the school to teach the children about conserving water, one of the most precious natural resources. Children, from pre-school to Grade 7, shouted his name as he made his way to the stage.
The Tappie Road Show is an initiative of the City's water and sanitation utility. It tours primary schools, teaching children the importance of saving water, and how to go about conserving it.
Tappie is a child-friendly tap character that sings and dances – to popular house music tunes – through an educational programme aimed at children.
The Goudpark principal, Olga da Silva, said that all information was good for the children, referring to fun and educational programmes such as the Tappie Road Show.
Tappie asked the children three important questions:
- Who puts the water in into the tap?
- If there are any water problems, what numbers should they dial?
- What should they do all the time?
They vied with each other to answer the questions, and danced along with Tappie. The winners were given caps and stationery sporting the Johannesburg Water logo.
And, by the end of the show, the children knew the answers to the questions that Zethu Sikotane of Johannesburg Water again asked. They shouted that "Johannesburg Water put water into our taps"; "We should call 011 688 1400" and "We should save water all the time."
Sikotane said the initiative had been running for two years already, and the main aim was to educate children on the importance of saving water. "I cannot emphasise this more."
Da Silva said the school had painted messages on the toilet walls, like "Close the taps after use."
The Tappie Road Show explains Johannesburg Water's role in providing water to the businesses and residents of Johannesburg. "Johannesburg Water buys water from Rand Water, the water supplier, and stores it in reservoirs across the city. This water is then piped into homes."
The road shows have become very popular over the past two years, making Tappie the biggest public education project of its kind in Gauteng, according to the City utility.
To book a visit from the Tappie Road Show, contact Alpana Kalideem on 011 688 1451 or 082 554 2963, or email her on akalideen@jwater.co.za.
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