Youth Participation in Water Issues

 

By Marikris Guzman – Youth Beyond Disasters

 

“Water is life.”

 

I have never really given this phrase much thought until I attended the 7th World Water Forum last April 2015 in South Korea. I attended to share our project related to disaster risk reduction called the Sustainable Development Youth Corps (SDYC). The SDYC is a group of young people from the Philippines educating the community youth on disasters and training them to be equipped and prepared for disasters. In particular, the project aims to emphasize preparedness for typhoon and earthquake. Typhoons are very common in the Philippines. In fact, every year, we experience more than 20 typhoons resulting to loss of lives, destruction of infrastructures and property, and the slowing down of our economy.

 

Whenever we say that water is life, I am reminded that 60 percent of our body is made up of water and that we may perish in three days without any water intake. The lack of access to safe and abundant water is a common problem in different parts of the world primarily in the developing areas.  The lack of water also poses a problem in the agricultural and industrial sector. Now despite the fact that water is life, there is also another reality that water can also take lives of the people. Floods and tsunami are examples of hydrological disasters that threaten the lives of the people.

 

For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, being surrounded by water can be both a blessing and a challenge. The water surrounding our country provides us with natural resources. But on the other hand, it can also cause storm surge, flooding and tsunami in different areas.  During the Typhoon Yolanda, which killed thousands of people, there was a storm surge which additionally damaged the place. With these situations, we see the damaging effects of hydrological disasters.

 

My exposure to the World Water Forum enabled me to see the different dimensions of the water problems, specifically in my area of advocacy which is disaster risk reduction and management. Going beyond the surface level means looking at the interconnection of things. For instance, the issue on water security is integral before, during, and after a disaster. Since water is pretty much everywhere, it is almost always related to various things. Water-related disasters are complex problems that should  not be taken lightly but with more caution.

 

In a discussion on water-related disasters, the importance of planning and preparing was emphasized. While knowledge and political awareness must come first, we need to move beyond that and start planning in order to prepare carefully for the impact, respond effectively to the disaster and adapt appropriately after a disaster strikes in the community. With these said, we should urge our leaders to have a long term strategic investment planning and look for strategies that are preventive, forward-looking, adaptive and flexible. Some of these learning on water issues can and will be integrated in our project in the Philippines. Understanding the complexities of disasters can lead to a better understanding of its impact to development.

 

Attending the WWF also exposed me to the different water-related problems being faced by the people in different parts of the world and showed me how various sectors and multidisciplinary partners collaborate to solve water problems. It was also inspiring to see youth initiatives focused on water in the forum and be able to connect with young water leaders from different parts of the globe. We cannot anymore discount the role of the community and the youth in addressing global issues such as water problems. Stakeholder engagement is a must. The WWF has been an informative venue for people to be aware of water and other related issues, be involved in addressing these global problems, and be empowered to make initiatives in the community.

 

Water is life but water can also take a life. With this in mind, it is important to create awareness and understanding to empower the people to participate in water issues. The youth will definitely play a pivotal role in this given their energy, innovativeness and ideas.