Sustainable Education in Seychelles:  Rainwater Harvesting in Schools

A rainwater harvesting project was established in 2010 in the Seychelles to address the problem of water scarcity and at the same time demonstrate adaptation to climate change in schools.

The aim of the project is to:

- harvest rainwater from school roofs to meet the needs of selected schools and to reduce the cost of water bills
- educate schoolchildren on the impact of climate change on our water resources and on the methods used to adapt to climate change
- raise awareness among the general public on climate change impacts on the Seychelles and on rainwater harvesting as a means of adapting to water problems caused by climate change
- share the water harvesting experiences of the schools with other organizations.

As a result of the project:

- the school has saved US$ 250 monthly on water bills, which has been re-invested in the school
- the water harvested at the school is being used for the school gardens and during times of water restriction
- teachers' knowledge about climate change has increased

The project soon moved from schools to communities and its success has created opportunities for other climate change adaptation initiatives.

This is a UNEP/UNDP CC-DARE project with financial support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

Organization: The Ministry of Education, Seychelles
Website: http://www.education.gov.sc/
More information at: http://www.meecc.gov.sc/index.php/what-we-do/environment-education/

Photo: Eco Schools Seychelles