Teaching this practice & using resources

Roof water harvesting is most powerful when people learn together and share ideas. Teaching this practice is not only about explaining the system, but also about helping people see possibilities on their own roofs and in their own yards.

A participatory co-engaged teaching and learning approach means:

• Listening to people’s experiences – starting from what households already know and do about water.
• Thinking together – using questions, maps and drawings so everyone can see and shape the ideas.
• Learning by doing – trying small actions together (cleaning gutters, checking tanks, marking possible tank sites).
• Reflecting on results – asking what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change.
• Sharing responsibility – seeing roof water harvesting as something the whole family, school or group looks after, not just one person.

This kind of learning helps people build confidence and ownership of the practice, rather than feeling that it is a technical project “given” to them from outside.

Imagine you need to explain roof water harvesting to a group of people (for example, community members, teachers, a youth group, or gardeners).

Write a short paragraph (6–8 lines) in which you:

1) Say what your main message is

• What is the most important thing you want them to understand about the importance of roof water harvesting?
• For example: that it saves water, supports gardens, reduces stress, helps during droughts, or improves health.

2) Describe the activity you would use to teach this message

• What would you do with the group – a story, a discussion, a picture, a short video, a role-play, a drawing, a walk-about, or something else?
• How will you involve people so that they are part of the activity, not just listening?

3) You do not need to write a full lesson plan – just one clear paragraph that explains:

• your main message, and
• how you would teach it to your group.

Please upload your activity below by clicking on the “Upload” button.