Schools from the Campania region are the first to take part in the water educational program developed through the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Merit and Acea  

The first phase of the water educational program organized by Acea Scuola - designed for students of fprimary and secondary schools in Campania – ended today. In addition to the training provided through the digital platform, the program includes special days dedicated to visits to the Ponte delle Tavole purification plant, located in the province of Benevento and managed by Gesesa, a company of the Acea Group.    

Salvatore Rubbo, CEO of Gesesa; Domenico Russo, President of Gesesa; Marcello Palladino, Education Councilman of the Municipality of Benevento; and the students of classes 4A, 4C, 4D, and 5B from the “Pietro Giannone” National Primary Boarding School in Benevento also attended the event.

Schools in the Campania region have been among the first to participate widely in the national education program, developed through the collaboration between Acea and the Ministry of Education and Merit. The initiative involves over 2,300 students from various schools, including 600 from the province of Benevento, namely the “Pietro Giannone” National Primary Boarding School, the Bilingual Primary School – S.I.P.L.E. Srl, and the De La Salle School.  

The educational content provided to students, with the support of their teachers, allowed for an in-depth exploration of all topics related to water resource management: from catchment to transportation, from distribution to purification. The goal is to raise awareness among new generations about the correct use of water and environmental protection, delivering over ten thousand training hours. Thanks to an engaging, science-based approach, the Acea Scuola educational program - available on a dedicated online platform - has offered a true journey into the world of water. It begins with an analysis of the global context and leads to the discovery of tips and best practices for more conscious water use and saving and reusing water in everyday life.

The program also includes insights into water geography and the natural and integrated water cycles. Each educational session features a glossary to help participants better understand technical terms, as well as quizzes and guided tours of the plants.

Interested schools will also have the opportunity to participate in the national contest “Searching for the lost drop: water reuse and saving” by creating a short film on water resources. Through this contest, schools will have the chance to win a voucher to purchase school supplies. Students will also be able to participate in the “Acea Acqua Edu-Camp”, the first camp to combine sports and water education.

In its first year, the project involved over 11,100 students from six different Italian regions in its educational component and 1,200 students in the guided tours of the Acea Group’s integrated water service plants. Acea, the leading water operator in Italy, serves over 10 million citizens.

“Today is a significant day that demonstrates the concrete commitment of Gesesa and the Acea Group to promoting respect for water, a resource that is fundamental to our lives” – said Salvatore Rubbo, CEO of Gesesa. “Every day, we work to protect the water heritage we manage, and we do so by educating younger generations and encouraging more responsible and sustainable water use. The collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit”- Rubbo continued – “is an important step in this direction, reinforcing the value of environmental awareness among young people. We thank the schools for their enthusiasm and for participating in the program with such interest and engagement, turning this initiative into an opportunity for growth for the citizens of tomorrow. We hope this is just the beginning of a shared journey towards a new water culture”.

“It is always particularly moving” – said Domenico Russo, President of Gesesa – “to meet students from the city and provincial schools during such commendable initiatives like today’s, organized by Gesesa and the Acea Group. Contributing transferring a better understanding of the integrated water cycle and the importance of each of its phases to new generations by allowing them to visit the plants means helping build awareness of the vital need to protect water resources, both now and in the future. Showing young people a purification plant located in the city of Benevento,” – Russo continued – “after having dedicated the past few years to the renovation of this and all other plants we managed, is a source of great pride for me and for everyone at Gesesa.”

“I thank Gesesa, its President, its CEO, and all authorities” – said Marcello Palladino, Education Councilman of the Municipality of Benevento – “for involving the young students of our schools in this national initiative that brings the precious resource of water to the forefront. Conscious water use encourages responsibility in younger generations and fosters greater awareness in daily water management, helping to correct improper behaviours and increase water conservation. Moreover, understanding the water cycle - from distribution to disposal - is important and educational. Distribution is often taken for granted, without considering the enormous work of many men and women, each with their expertise, who make it possible for potable water to reach our homes.”