Swarovski's water education program, Swarovski Waterschool, has partnered with Earthwatch Australia to roll out a new program to educate young people in New South Wales and Victoria about water conservation.
The collaboration will teach pupils from 15 schools in Western Sydney and metropolitan Melbourne about the importance of water and the environment, focusing on the unique water challenges faced in Australia.
With the addition of Australia, Swarovski Waterschool now operates in eight countries across the globe – Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, India, Thailand, Uganda and the USA – and has educated 740,000 students at 2,500 schools since 2000.
Swarovski Foundation chair Nadja Swarovski welcomed the launch of the Australian program.
"Swarovski Waterschool is delighted to partner with Earthwatch Australia on this fantastic new program.
"Teaching young people to treasure and protect the world’s most precious resource is critical if we are to safeguard our world for future generations, and Kids Teaching Kids’ peer teaching approach is a powerful way of empowering them to be the driving force of change.
"We look forward seeing the graduation of Australia’s next generation of environmental leaders," she said.
Partnering with Earthwatch Australia's Kids Teaching Kids program, students in the Swarovski Waterschool will learn about the impact of climate change, droughts, growing water demand and the pollution of water catchments by bushfires on the water supply and the quality of life of locals.
The students will learn from teachers and scientists and through peer education, and will connect with local water authorities, government bodies and environmental organisations to create wider impact.
They will also gain an increased understanding of the cultural and social value of water to First Nations people and share their insights with over 2,000 students across the country at Kids Teaching Kids events.
Earthwatch CEO Cassandra Nichols said Swarovski's support will help further educate the next generation of environmental leaders.
"The Kids Teaching Kids program is a transformational experience that empowers young people to protect our natural environment.
"By partnering with Swarovski, the next generation will become leaders, teaching peers and the broader community about the importance of water, an invaluable resource to our communities.
"Students are empowered to become environmental stewards, creating on ground action projects to conserve water into the future," she said.
The partnership delivers on three of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development set out by the United Nations: quality education, clean water and sanitation, and partnership for the goals.
The collaboration between Swarovski Waterschool Australia and Earthwatch has been announced at the Kids Teaching Kids Conference, taking place virtually on November 23 and 24.