Global Classroom Presents: The Future of Water Worldwide
May 5th, 2016
Join Global Classroom in celebrating our 17th Annual World Citizen Essay Contest, which asked students across Washington state to take on some of the most pressing concerns of our time: Water Crises Worldwide.
The evening will feature our 2015 World Citizen Marla Smith-Nilson, the founder and CEO of Water1st International, and our 2015/2016 World Educator Pat Grant. Jeff Raikes, former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, co-founder of the Raikes Foundation, and Board Chair of the Water for Food Institute will keynote our Essay Contest Celebration Ceremony titled: "The Future of Water Worldwide."
The world's population is expected to rise to 10 billion people by the year 2050. This increase requires action to ensure scarce water resources are available to meet both environmental and human needs, particularly in food production where water is central to livestock and agriculture. Over 1 billion people on earth face food insecurity, with a disproportionate number residing in rural areas in developing countries that rely heavily on water for food production. Indeed, the nexus between water consumption and food production is of critical importance to upholding basic human rights affirmed by the United Nations: access to clean drinking water & sanitation, and adequate food.
On May 5th, Jeff Raikes and Marla Smith-Nilson will discuss the future of water, and will be joined by the 3rd-12th grade winners of our World Citizen Essay Contest. The sutdents will contribute to the conversation by sharing their ideas and solutions to the most critical issues related to water worldwide. Our World Educator, Pat Grant, will offer his own inspiration on the promise of global education and international awareness in bringing pressing global concerns to the forefront of classroom conversations.
This event is FREE to K-12 students and their parents and teachers!