Walk for water

Before you begin

Choose five or six questions for each round of the ‘Local expert’ icebreaker game. Everyone should be able to answer ‘yes’ to at least one question in each round. We’ve included some suggestions below to get you started.

The first round should focus on people and places in the local area that may be able to support the walk.

• If you visit the local sports centre often, run on the spot.
• If you know a doctor or nurse, pat your head.
• If you go to a place of worship often, wave.
• If you know someone who works in a shop, spin around on the spot.
• If you’ve been to a local museum or gallery, stick your tongue out.

The second round should focus on water features in the local area.

• If you know where the canal is, clap.
• If you know the name of a local river, shake your head.
• If you’ve been to the local swimming pool, stick your tongue out.
• If you know where the water tower is, jump up and down.
• If you know where the sewers run, spin around on the spot.
• If you’ve been to the public toilets, lift one leg off the floor.

Play Local expert

 This game will help everyone think about what’s in their local area.

1. Everyone should get into a big circle, leaving space between each person.
2. The person leading the game should read the first question, and an action that goes with it. Any player who can answer ‘yes’ should start doing the action.
3. The person leading the game should read the second question and action. Anyone doing the first action should keep doing it. Any player who can answer ‘yes’ to the second question should start doing the second action – this may mean that some people are doing two actions at the same time.
4. The person leading the game should keep reading questions and actions, and anyone who can say ‘yes’ should keep adding the action, until the person leading the game has asked read five or six questions.

5. The first round is now over. The person leading the game should call ‘freeze’ – everyone should stand still, and stop doing all of their actions.
6. Everyone should repeat steps two to five, to play the second round with the questions about water features in their local area.
7. Now everyone’s aware of their local network of people and places, and the water features they have nearby, they’re ready to plan their 'Walk for water'.

Choose your Walk for water

Everyone’s going to go on a Walk for water, a sponsored walk in their local area to raise awareness of water and sanitation issues. It’s up to you what you do on your walk. You could:

• Raise awareness by collecting signatures for a petition for your local MP.
• Raise awareness by creating a leaflet and handing it out to people during your walk, or by preparing some questions about clean water and sanitation and testing the knowledge of people you meet during your walk.
• Increase understanding of the issues people face all over the world in relation to clean water. For example, you could walk a similar distance to the distance people walk to collect water (which might not even be clean), or carry water like some people have to. You could also hand out leaflets or posters you’ve made.
• Raise money to support charities like WaterAid, who work to make sure that everyone everywhere has access to clean water and sanitation.

Plan your Walk for water route

1. Everyone should get into pairs. Give each pair a map of their local area.
2. Each pair should think about any places in their areas that are linked to water, and mark them on their map.

3. Each pair should also think about where they can share messages in their community, and mark them on their map. They may want to use a different colour or symbol.

4. Now they’ve identified key places in their area, each pair should see if they can link them up with a walking route that passes as many points as possible.

5. Each pair should look at their maps, and think about powerful people in their community, such as teacher, politicians, councillors and business owners. Where do they live or work? They should write or draw the people on sticky notes, and stick them on the right place on the map.
6. Each pair should get into groups with one or two other pairs, to make a small group. Give each small group a new map – it might be useful for it to be a bit bigger, around A3 paper size.
7. Each small group should work together, and share their ideas to plan one walking route. Which water linked places will they visit? Where will they share messages? Which powerful people do they want to ask to help?
8. Everyone should get back together as a whole group.
9. The small groups should take it in turn to explain their route to the others – why did they choose the people and places they did?
10. The person leading the activity should collect everyone’s maps.
11. The person leading the Walk for water should use everyone’s maps when planning the route.

Walk for water

1. The person leading the walk should help everyone remember what they’re aiming to do, and why they’re aiming to do it. Can anyone remember any facts about water? Can anyone remember any of the points you’re going to visit on your route? Can everyone remember how to save safe?
2. The group should prepare any special items they need. For example, if they’re carrying water like some people have to, they should fill bottles. If they’re collecting signatures for a petition, they should make sure they have plenty of paper and pens.
3. Everyone should also make sure that they have everything they need for the trip, and that they’re wearing the right clothing. This isn’t the time for flip flops!
4. If you want to, everyone could have their own role for the journey. Do the best navigators want to be guides? How about the people who are old enough be influencers on social media? Who’s the best at motivating others? We’ve included some role suggestions to help everyone choose their jobs.
5. It’s time to set off on the Walk for water, following the route and actions everybody planned. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos and videos along the way.