Christ Church Girls’ school gains hydration station in sustainability push

In a move aimed at bolstering sustainability and promoting healthy hydration, the Christ Church Girls’ School has become the latest recipient of a bottle-less water station, courtesy of a partnership between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Hydrate Caribbean programme.

The installation, marking the 30th such station in Barbados, was unveiled during a lively morning assembly, where students listened attentively as officials underscored the importance of the initiative.

Key figures attending the launch included Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Christ Church East Central MP Ryan Straughn; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Climate Resilience, Water and SDGs, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight and IDB Country Head Corina Cockburn, along with representatives from the IDB, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Sustainable Development Unit.

Minister Straughn highlighted the crucial role of hydration, especially as the dry season approaches, and lauded the initiative’s impact on waste reduction. 

“Efforts like this help you conserve and reduce plastic use. It also reduces the probability of contaminating the water supply, which helps everyone. Your particular actions [using the water station], right here, serve as an example of how the rest of the country can pivot. I want to commend this effort and thank IDB and Newport for coming up with this initiative,” he stated.

Dr Munro-Knight, an alumna of the school, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on clean water and sanitation. 

“This morning is an example of collaboration and friendships with the IDB and the government, namely the Sustainable Development Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office. This initiative falls directly within Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). SDG 6 is about clean water and sanitation,” she said. She also stressed the initiative’s broader contribution to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals and encouraged students to utilise reusable bottles.

Cockburn, addressing the students, underscored the importance of water consumption for overall health and well-being. 

“Drinking water is very important. We need it to stay hydrated and go to school, learn, run, and do all the important things that we do at school. This is why we have this station installed. You will be able to use reusable thermoses at the Hydration Station. It’s important because it means we don’t have to use plastic bottles. Plastic bottles create garbage and waste, which we have to clean up and recycle later on,” she explained.

Principal Benn expressed her gratitude for the installation, recognising its support for the Government’s School Nutritional Policy and its contribution to the school’s long-standing commitment to female development and education. The school, known for its academic and extracurricular achievements, is now better equipped to support its students’ health and well-being. (PR/BT)