Lockdown restrictions have eased in South Africa, which entered level 3 of the national Lockdown on 1 June 2020 as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This has allowed for the resumption of economic activity whilst adhering to safety regulations.
The impacts of covid-19 have been experienced through various ways by many people, organizations and projects – including the execution of the Orange Knowledge Program. This has meant that planned project activities such as students working in living labs, anammox masterclass delivery, on-the-job training deliveries and training-of-trainers deliveries being postponed. However, we have entered the second half of 2020 still abiding by covid-19 restrictions, yet better accustomed to this new normal of functioning digitally.
As such, the planned project activities that were initially postponed have now been set for digital deliveries during the remaining months of 2020. The anammox masterclass has been scheduled for digital delivery on the 7th October 2020. The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) has begun a digital living lab series on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse to encourage and share knowledge with local students.
The South African and Dutch partners are developing the digital version of applied research in Living Labs and digital on-the job training. The IWWT and Center of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) will be conducting an interactive digital living lab on Anammox for nitrogen removal from wastewater during September to be continued until January 2021. The University of Cape Town, TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences will also be conducting an interactive digital living lab within the coming months. World Water Academy and the municipalities elaborate the possibility of digital on-the-job training deliveries and training-of-trainers deliveries using webinars and video lessons.
Therefore despite the obstacles as a result of Covid-19, the digital opportunities that this time has presented have prompted many people to be creative in their work processes. It is definitely an interesting time for the digital possibilities within the project!
Actual information is on our website: www.bridgingthewater.org.za
Bridging the Water is part of the Orange Knowledge Programme.