Let’s start GWA!   

 A Quick look at the Global Water Crisis Awareness (GWA) Exhibition  

Venue: WFLMS International Campus The Atrium

Time: February 25^th to March 1^st 2013

Organizer: Wee Venezia, MYP10

Embarking on a 5-day global water crisis awareness exhibition as my Personal Project product has

never come easy right from the start. Ranging from issues like deciding on the research materials to securing the intellectual property rights from around the globe to designing the specific details in every promotional collateral and the exhibition layout are both painstaking and time consuming. By the time I have come to the final stage of preparation, the total number of ground posters and ceiling posters amount to more than 140 and 12 tailored-made wall papers – a figure that far exceeded my budget. Originally inspired by my ex-History teacher in Grade 9, Mr. Richard James Goulding, who is now my Personal Project Supervisor, together with his co-teacher, Mr. Vincent Wang, I begin to develop an interest over global issues. Especially after my visit to the NEWater Facility in Singapore, I just wish to do my small bit to spread and promote the global water crisis awareness to my learning community. An eye for detail is exactly what I need to accomplish this mission, a mission that aims to convey one simple message across the board – if you think that the global water crisis has nothing got to do with us in China, it is probably time for you to think again!

        Embracing with this objective, I started to focus on the water-related issues in China and explored in every possible way on how best I could share my findings effectively. Among all, creating an optimal visual effect turns out to be one of my top priorities before I could get someone to read. As the number of my promotional collaterals increases, the level of difficulties multiplies in folds so much so that it calls for contingency plans to be in place. Largely attributed to the time constraint, I always find myself sandwiched between quality and quantity aspects of my product. Undoubtedly, I learn so much throughout this entire process, a process that constantly demands a great deal of patience yet perseverance to make things happen in a given space and time. This involves interacting with external parties like the United Nations; China Water Risk Organization; Charity Water, and many others. On the execution level, dealing with printers, exhibition panels (rental) suppliers, and materials vendors are such a valuable experience for me! Kicking the can down the road is not something that I would normally settle with, only and unless it has no alternative, especially after a long Chinese New Year holidays.

       Deciding on the total number of sections in my exhibition is something that I struggled for quite some time. Again, I must strike a delicate balance between textual and graphical information. Saying sounds relatively easy but when it comes to actual implementation, it is totally a different thing altogether. I think it is imperative to remind myself not to deviate from my anchored point at all times especially going down on a bumpy road. Ultimately, with the guided foot-steps on the floor, I hope that every visitor is able to get a better understanding of the world’s water crisis, particularly in China, and what one can do to help avert the looming crisis – a crisis that has already made one in every four lack access to safe drinking water in China, a crisis that is already at our door step! So, let’s start GWA – for learning, for life, and for you!

Contributed by

Wee Venezia, MYP10

7^th March, 2013