Description
Wednesday November 28th, the International Secretariat for Water, in partnership with Montreal International , launched its new ”Global hub for Youth and Water”. The launch ceremony, which happened at the Maison du développement durable gathered over 70 guests : decision-makers, youth and members of the international community of Montreal. It followed the workshop “WaterGeneration Beyond Borders : Co-creating the future we want”, which was an opportunity to gather, mobilize and connect over 30 young water leaders around the issues, challenges and opportunities that water represents.
Several guests took the floor to underline the importance of reinforcing the role of youth in establishing sustainable and concrete solutions in issues related to water. With her contagious energy, WYPW’s member Stephanie Woodworth from Canada, encouraged the guests to reconnect with the water inside of them by miming what it represents to us in life, be it love, peace, energy or home. She had the guests standing, miming and dancing.
The official launch ceremony of the new Global Hub for youth, water and sustainable development follows a two-day workshop “#WaterGeneration beyond-borders: Co-Creating the future we want” which was hosted in partnership with Montreal International and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
#WaterGeneration Workshop
The workshop began with an opening ceremony performed by Charles Patton Otsi’tsaken:ra, from the Kanien’keha:ka Community of Kahnawake, followed by opening remarks by Henry Lickers, Canadian Commissioner at the International Joint Commission, where he presented the First Nation’s relationship with water, and what Water Beyond Borders means, whether it be in Canada or internationally.
In an interactive session, professionals from local and international organisations addressed the theme of innovation, the power of civil society – and youth, and community-based management in water issues related to climate change.
Abraham Francis, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Laurie Fourneaux ISW, Alexis Eisnberg, Poly Mer, Maximiliano Cledon, Université de Laval, Luc Vescovi, ISW, Stephanie Woodworth, World Youth Parliement for Water.
As explained by Laurie Fourneaux, from the ISW, the goal of the workshop wasn’t to tell to the young leaders what they need to know, but instead to listen to them and encourage them to share their ideas.
Abraham Francis, of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, shared with the participants the specific difficulties faced by First Nations communities. The scope of the climate challenges touching these communities is large and can be different from those faced by the rest of Canada. With that in mind, Francis reaffirmed the need for community-based solutions.
The second day of the workshop saw the participants enthusiastically share ideas of the opportunities and challenges posed by water issues, and how, as a society, to come up with concrete solutions.
Karine Péloffy, from the Office of Senator Rosa Galvez, introduced the work of the Senate on matters of environment, energy and water issues. She also presented the different legislations adopted in Canada on water issues and discussed with the young leaders in attendance.
The participants were then invited to identify opportunities and challenges that they face in water-related issues, and to create a road-map to establish clear steps to follow to reach their goals. It is with great enthusiasm and creativity that the participants worked and proposed solutions such as an application which allows the user to know the amount of water used in the manufacturing of a product or projects of citizen mobilization such as Water Walks, to encourage people to thank water.
#WaterGeneration is the concretization of the role that the International Secretariat for Water seeks to fill, developing a global youth movement for water. The activities achieved during the workshops directly relate to that objective, as the young water leaders in attendance could connect with different local and international actors in the field.
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