WaterWise in Eden:

Learners from Sedgefield Primary, saying HELLO, before they can start with CPR.Liza Wigley, the NSRI WaterWise Academy Instructor in Eden, reports:Since I started running the WaterWise program in the Eden district at the end of August 2013, I can honestly say that I have been moved by the children. Their friendliness, respect shown to me and their eagerness for learning is infectious.The little ones enjoy the role play of showing how to save a friends life without drowning themselves, and all enjoy showing me the emergency number 10177!I do the role play with the older kids as well, even the Gr 8’s, at the beginning they look at me strangely, but then they get into it.“RIP CURRENTS!” Now that is when there is dead silence from the older kids, with huge eyes they look at me, and I can see I have their full attention.I demonstrate CPR using Junior and get them to remember ‘Triple H’, and then I get a few of them to role play an event, and they just LOVE it!I visited Sedgefield Primary, the friendliest of schools, recently. The welcoming feeling you get walking into the foyer, meeting a super friendly principal, and then, the singing from the Gr R’s to Gr 3’s, me having to wipe away tears, before I could start with my presentation. Now that really moved me. The last group, Gr 6 to Gr 8, there were kids hanging around as I was packing up, even though it was break time, asking questions, wanting to try CPR. This is when I knew, that there is an interest in and a need for what we are doing.WaterWise Eden is proudly sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. Two learners from Ezeljacht Primary demonstrating how to pull a friend out of the water. Damian Pietersen, 9 years old, identifying a rip current, he is from Waboomskraal Primary. Nigel Barends, 11 years old, trying CPR, Rheenendal Primary.