Auto giant Ford's environmental grants have helped Eventa’s Water for Life Puppet Show tour over 10,000 kms across Lebanon, to teach more than 12,000 students aged 7-12 years the importance of water in sustaining life on the planet.

This year, Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants celebrates its ninth consecutive year in helping individuals and groups continue with their ongoing environmental projects. Since their inception in the region in 2000, the Grants have awarded nearly $700,000 of vital support to nearly 100 projects.

Launched on World Water Day in March 2007, Eventa's “Chasing After Water” puppet show not only entertains children but educates them on various ways by which they can help the community preserve the important resource of water.

'This is a stage where intervention and education are critical. It is essential that school children are aware of the importance of water as a resource to the sustenance of life,” said Nina Abi Fadel, Eventa's project manager.

“Most of the students who have seen the show share what they’ve learned with their teachers and their family. That can lead to a critical mass of people who are aware and can take pro-active steps towards the preservation of water,” she added.

Support has poured out from both the public and private sector in Lebanon for the initial phase of the Eventa's programme.

But with a growing demand for more public performances, Eventa has had to turn elsewhere for funding. “Thanks to Ford’s environmental grants, we will be able to continue our performances and spread the message across to an even greater number of students, as well as their families and friends,” Abi Fadel continued.

As part of the grants, Eventa received $5,000 dollars which will help the organisation stage more performances, as well as produce complementary educational materials – such as a CD of songs, an activity book, and a fun fact sheet among others – which will ensure the programme’s continuity and sustainability.

Ford grants support deserving projects active in the categories of natural environment, environmental education, or conservation engineering.-TradeArabia News Service