Waterkeepers Bangladesh and River Angle jointly organized a day-long program with Children in a government Primary school at Kaliakair, Gazipur to celebrate World Rivers Day on September 27, 2020.

The event aimed at involving children in the protection of rivers and promoting awareness for river sustainability. The events were segmented into six folds. Using the educational tools, children participated in drawing, reciting, spots, dialogue, and dram. Finally, all the participants joined the Oath of Word River Day in which they promised to protect rivers and commit to be responsible for keeping rivers unpolluted.

The event was participated by 11 children and coordinated by Waterkeepers Bangladesh’s representative Dr. Sharmin Sathi. The oath is performed by S M Arafat, Manager, Research and Implementation.  An aspirational message was provided to the school and the children by the Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Sharif Jamil, who is also the general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA).

Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized the event in the spirit of a concept adopted in China called “River Angle”.  With the ambition to connect children of both Bangladesh and China, the river is placed as a central theme to bridge among countries and cultures. Waterkeepers Bangladesh has initiated the concept of “River Angel” in Bangladesh for first time with a long-term goal of shaping children's psychology sympathetic to ecology in general, and rivers in particular. The event has created an interest among children, parents, and school authorities. Such program is requested to be conducted nationwide for sustainable use of the natural resources of Bangladesh.

Events are as follows;

• Drawing - Theme – River
• Kobita / Rhyme Recited

১. আমি নদী- মো. রেজাউল করিম, ২. আমাদের ছোট নদী - রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর, ৩. নদী নিয়ে একগুচ্ছ ছড়া - পদ্মা নদী, যমুনা নদী, বুড়িগঙ্গা নদী, করতোয়া নদী,  বড়াল নদী- রফিক রইচ

• Sports – Identifying rivers from the map in two groups – Assigned rivers were, Padma, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Madhumati, Kalni, Kushiara, and Surma in the map
• Unscripted on-stage speech – Causes of River pollution and our responsibility
• Drama /Natika – two fishermen discuss the old golden days of the river and share their frustration with the water quality of today’s river . The fisherman comes home with a few fish and says to her wife that there is less fish in the river due to water pollution. The wife asked if there was no one to monitor the pollution. Is there no one to think about us?
• Oath for river protection – all children participated in the oath in which they promised that they would not pollute the river and would be aware of their homemates not to pollute the river. They will carry their responsibility and will tell people to do so.
• The event ends with a prize-giving ceremony in which all children are provided a customized Nokhi embroidery Diary.