Global Japanese water and nature education programme launches in the UK for the first time
Ahead of World Water Day, SBF GB&I has announced it will be launching Suntory’s official Mizuiku programme for the first time in the UK. The company will be working with Severn Rivers Trust to deliver the programme after the success of its partnership with the charity last year.
Mizuiku was launched by Suntory Holdings in 2004 so that younger generations would have the opportunity to learn where their water comes from and understand the significance of the forests that nurture this natural resource. Started in Japan, the programme has expanded to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, France, China, Spain and now the UK, with tailored initiatives for each country. To date, 458,700 people across the world have taken part.
SBF GB&I will be focussing on the outdoor part of the Mizuiku programme – ‘The Outdoor School of Forest and Water’ – designed to provide participants with interactive, hands-on experiences that help them appreciate the importance of natural water sources. The sessions will be run by Severn Rivers Trust - the only charitable trust to cover the whole of the UK’s longest river - and will highlight the critical link between the River Severn and the nature surrounding it.
Securing this funding from Suntory to deliver a Mizuiku programme in the UK is a significant achievement. We delivered a successful pilot project last year and with Suntory’s backing we’ll be able to accelerate our impact to reach an even greater number of participants this year. We’re confident Severn Rivers Trust remains the perfect charity to help us deliver on our commitment to protecting water for future generations.
The focus for World Water Day this year is ‘accelerating change’, a theme which will be explored in the programme by helping families understand how they can change the way they use, consume and manage water in their everyday lives. The sessions will highlight why the lifecycle of water is so important and encourage participants to reflect and act to preserve and protect our water, rivers and wildlife.
Launching at the end of May and running until October, families will be able to book onto free sessions at five different riverside locations: Lydney, Diglis, Warwick, Shrewsbury and Newtown. The River Severn and its tributaries run close to where SBF GB&I’s factory is based in Coleford, Gloucestershire. Activities will take place outdoors to connect them to their natural surroundings but materials will also be provided to families so they can continue their learning at home. Educational resources will also be free to download from the SBF GB&I website where families can also sign up to the events once registration opens.
We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with SBF GB&I and to be part of the official global programme this year. As part of our mission to empower people to take action for their rivers, we are increasing the number of workshops and adding more locations so that even more families can take part this year.
The Mizuiku programme is also a key part of Suntory’s Sustainable Water Philosophy which was established to address relevant water issues in each of its regions of operation globally. It also reinforces two important Japanese values held within the business group: ‘Growing for Good’, the idea that the company and its employees continue growing towards a better world; and ‘Giving Back to Society’, reinvesting what the business earns not only in the company, but by contributing to society.
SBF GB&I hopes the start of the official Mizuiku programme in the UK will help pave the way for future projects that educate even more people on the importance of water in years to come.