Metro helps to cultivate a respect for water
A week-long National Youth Water and Sanitation Summit, aimed at teaching and encouraging youngsters about water resource management, was held from June 29 to July 2, at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre.
Led by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pam Tshwete, and themed “Educate the youth to educate the nation”, the summit commenced with a 2km Walk for Water.
The walk saw close to 1 000 educators and learners from schools across Gauteng and young water professionals take to the streets of Boksburg, with banners and placards bearing messages promoting water conservation.
This event was followed by the Baswa Le Meetse (Youth and Water) Public Speaking competition, where learners represented their schools and provinces before a national adjudication panel.
The summit also compromised workshops, a career expo, exhibitions, lectures, educational excursions and teacher training.
The Deputy Minister congratulated young people who were gathered at the event, saying they have taken it upon themselves to work towards conservation of nature and to reduce the most pressing threats to diversity of life on Earth.
“This summit is aimed at instilling the values of water conservation and sanitation and promoting careers in the water and sanitation sector,” said Tshwete.
“The activities the learners have undergone during the Youth Water and Sanitation Summit exposed young people to programmes that will enhance their knowledge about the importance of water, which they can impart to their families and respective communities.
“The programmes are also designed to heighten their interest in pursuing careers in the water and sanitation sector.
“The journey of life, after all, is about security of fresh water for people and animals.”
Tshwete said her department is working with the business sector and other departments to implement a school-based education programme called 2020 Vision for Water and Sanitation.
She added that education is a critical response to achieving behavioural changes with regard to issues of natural resources management.
Winners of the public speaking competition held during the summit won a media classroom and bursaries for themselves and their schools, to further their studies in the water and sanitation sector.
