Tapping the Youth for Water

By Ponce Samaniego, Social Entrepreneur and Independent Consultant.

An untapped asset, the youth may just be the key to accelerating progress in water and sanitation provision in the Asia and Pacific region.

Twenty young water leaders from the Asia and Pacific region participated in the 4th Asia-Pacific Youth Parliament for Water on 8–11 April 2015 and the succeeding 7th World Water Forum on 12–17 April 2015 in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea. They contributed their ideas and insights on the water and sanitation challenges we face today as presenters, rapporteurs, and social media reporters in various sessions and side events.

Supported by the ADB Youth Initiative and in partnership with Plan International and the Korea Water Forum, the participation of these twenty-something water advocates brought the very important youth perspective and voice in global water platforms.

Untapped Assets

In many marginalized communities, women, youth, and children are often the ones most affected by water and sanitation challenges. WHO statistics show that more than one in ten child deaths (about 800,000 per year worldwide) are caused by diarrhea, a preventable disease through proper sanitation. For the millions of boys and girls who miss school every year due to illnesses resulting from poor sanitation the implications are far-reaching, affecting their ability to learn and fully participate in their education. According to Water Aid, one in three women worldwide risk shame, disease, harassment and even attack because they have nowhere safe to go to use the toilet.

In the face of these overwhelming challenges, governments and communities, must work together to improve water and sanitation in the region. If nurtured and empowered, women, youth, and children can become the region’s most important asset to improve sanitation in Asia and the Pacific.

Engaging and working hand in hand with all stakeholders, particularly the youth is especially necessary for impact, sustainability of program results, ownership, and behavior change, as there are about 700 million youths (15 to 24 year olds) in the region. An under-tapped human resource, young people are key agents for social change, environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and economic development.

Youth on Global Water Agenda

With about 60% of the global youth population residing in Asia, increasing their participation and involvement in international water conferences and forums can help shape a more inclusive international water agenda. For indeed, as integral members of families and communities who have fresh idealism and rich innovative capacity, the youth may well be the key to accelerating the implementation of the commitments made in regional and global processes to achieving water security.

ADB is leading the Asia-Pacific regional process for sanitation at the 7th World Water Forum. The session “Asian Sanitation Solutions Debate: Youth and Civil Society Accelerate Progress in Sanitation and Hygiene in the Asia-Pacific” will bring together key stakeholders in Asia to recognize best practices in youth participation and to highlight the role of young people in helping the region achieve its sanitation targets.

It is about time for the international water community to tap the youth and their limitless potential in finding solutions to the global water and sanitation challenges.