Dignitaries, celebrities and CEO’s celebrated World Water Day last week at the V&A Waterfront in collaboration with SOS Save Our Schools (SOS). SOS campaigns highlight and assist with water security and access to water as a basic human right to enable dignity.

Save Our Schools (SOS) and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) are working together to build a Water Smart Nation and were acknowledged by key VIPs, including the 1st grandchild of Nelson Mandela, Ms Ndileka Mandela, in this year of Madiba’s centenary.

The celebrations commenced at V&A Waterfront Clock Tower, with much edutainment reminding the public to engage with the current water crisis and save water. Children were delighted with Unilever’s Sunlight 2in1 mascot, ‘Smart Drop’, along with ‘Chi-Chi’ the dancing WWF Panda, and PIGcasso, the ‘OINK’ painting hog hero, who reminds us of the reality of world climate change.

An educational “Virtual Reality Experience” developed by Tenebris Lab taught the invited learners all about the dam levels, showing the changes from 2014 to 2018, and highlighting the importance of our water resource. This experience clearly made an emotional impression. This experience is a must for all South Africans and something the SOS Campaign will make more broadly available.

A Water Leaders’ luncheon for key stakeholders was held at Den Anker. All agreed that through joining forces we can ensure that support is given to those most in need. The response received was amazing and the seeds of even bigger partnerships were sown.

The public gathered to listen to eminent speakers telling of their input and effort in the continued response to the drought. MC Katelego Maboe entertained to ensure the audience kept spirits high, while discussion of the water crisis provided everyone with knowledgeable insight and information.

Speakers who took to the stage in support of SOS included Sputnik Ratau from DWS and Dr Myriam Assa Sidibe, Unilever’s Global Social Mission Director of Africa. Dr Assa has been leading the world’s largest and most successful hand sanitation interventions and measurement methods. Dr Myriam discussed Unilever’s role as an active corporate citizen and their sustainability agenda across the continent and beyond. Shelley Humphreys, Executive Director of SOS, thanked founding partners ISUZU, Swish Properties, JoJo Tanks and Unilever Sunlight and emphasized the importance of collaboration for the success of this essential initiative.

The audience was then entertained by multi-award-winning singer Amanda Black. Her outstanding performance had the packed Amphitheatre dancing, giving all those who attended a day to remember. Amanda also appealed to all to continue saving water.

World-renowned keynote speaker Mr. Pancho Campo, who is on the Advisory Board Member of the Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, concluded the evening with an account of his work and introducing the Al Gore movie ‘An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power’. He also announced that there will be an international climate change conference in Cape Town next year, to be hosted by Al Gore.