#WaterGeneration Meetup Day 1

The first full day of #WaterGeneration Meetup in Ouagadougou got off to an exciting start. Youth from 10 countries in French-speaking Africa have gathered in Burkina Faso’s capital to take action for water.

“#WaterGeneration Meetup is coming, I’m ready to work,” tweeted Flamay Ahiafor, a Young Water Champion from Togo.

The introduction set the scene for the conference with the presentation of the objectives and theme: Innovative Ideas for Better Resource Sharing. The participants then started with workshops, discussing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to Africa, and the local applications of integrated water resource management. Eau Vive Internationale, the Youth Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals and the International Office for Water all presented. “#WaterGeneration is the conscience of youth for the cause of water,” tweeted journalist Rolande Aziaka.

The first afternoon workshop focused on innovative solutions for water. The Antenna Foundation–Guinea presented its WATTA technology and its approach to social economy. They were followed by Helvetas–Benin presented their Blue Schools (Écoles Bleues) project, which has brought cost-effective water provisioning to primary schools in Benin since 2009.

Over the afternoon, participants discussed how to keep youth mobilized, and worked on their projects.

Young journalists are also covering the event. One of our participants is Idrissa Sane, an award-winning journalist with Le Soleil, Senegal’s national daily. Rolande Aziaka of Togo’s EcoConscience TV was on site this morning live tweeting the morning’s activities.

The participants will expand their knowledge and capacities to make real generational change for water, and will collectively draft a Youth Vision For Water to be presented next spring at the World Water Forum in Brasilia. The Vision will also be a part of the next World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW) General Assembly, the global youth network meeting alongside the Forum. The WYPW is an ISW initiative now entering its sixteenth year.

Throughout 2017, the International Secretariat for Water—Solidarity Water Europe group brought together youth of the world with a passion for water. Events took place in Central Asia, Europe and North America. Participants developed collective Visions all leading to the goals of the World Youth Parliament for Water’s General Assembly. As the final event of 2017, #WaterGeneration Meetup – Ouagadougou will bring the voices of African youth to the forefront and cement the foundations of a global youth vision for water.

 

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