Youth educated to save the future
In pulling out all the stops to save the future, the City of Ekurhuleni is developing the youth into catalysts who will ensure that water is preserved and that residents continue to have a reliable water supply.
This will be done at the weeklong National Youth Water and Sanitation Summit, that will be held from June 29 to July 2, at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, lead by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pam Tshwete.
The summit, themed “Educate the youth to educate the nation”, will commence with a 2km Walk for Water, followed by the Baswa Le Meetse (Youth and Water) Public Speaking competition, where learners will represent their schools and provinces.
The summit will include workshops, a career expo, exhibitions, lectures, educational excursions, teacher training and an awards ceremony.
Those who come out tops will win bursaries, to further their studies in the water and sanitation sector, while their schools will receive media classrooms.
“South Africa is, by its nature, a semi-dessert area, which calls for everyone in the province, and Ekurhuleni in particular, to take the first step in using water sparingly through the curtailment of dripping taps and reporting any visible leakages,” said Themba Gadebe, Ekurhuleni spokesperson.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has a constitutional mandate to ensure sustainable water resources for intergenerational equity.
The summit will equip learners to impart the knowledge and skills to their communities, and enable them to efficiently manage water resources.
For more information on the event, individuals and schools may contact Dimakatso Zamisa on 011 999 2666/083 294 1474 or at Dimakatso.Zamisa@ekurhuleni.gov.za.
