How Jacaranda FM helped alleviate El Niño-driven drought in the North West
Jacaranda FM's response to the drought brought on by El Niño is #ProjectWaterDrop. A community-driven initiative that saw over a million litres of water delivered to the North West towns of Vryburg, Lichtenburg, Mahikeng and Swartruggens.
It's bizzare to think that just under two months ago, the Jacaranda FM studios were literally a sea of blue bottles of water - thanks to the active citizenship of Jaca listeners.
What started as a call put out by host of The Complimentary Breakfast, Rian van Heerden, turned out to be something quite revolutionary. Corporates, communities and citizens alike were united in this common cause to bring some level of relief to the people of the North West.
Climatologist Linda Phalatse says: "South Africa is in the fourth consecutive year of drought as compared to average weather. In 2015, we've been sort of measured to be the 30th driest country in the world. What has been happening since the beginning of 2015 is an event called El Niño."
Speaking on the mammoth-yet-rewarding task of #ProjectWaterDrop, Jacaranda FM General Manager Kevin Fine says: "This year, one simple message united millions of people in a very common cause. What unfolded was a very human event - it wasn't about hashtags, 'likes' or 'unlikes' or armchair social tactics. It was about people getting off their couches and bringing 1.5 million litres of water to our studios."
Watch and learn more about how the El Niño phenomenon has affected Southern Africa and of Jacaranda FM's response to it: