Youth: The Water Custodians of the Future

“Especially as we are facing the water crisis, we need to realise that it is not just up to the City of Windhoek to ensure we have water security. It is up to the individual.”

The youth are a key sector in matters of national importance such as sustainable water management and environmental protection. What’s more, they are eager to be part of the dialogue and the solution. As we continue to look at water here in Namibia, MYD Earth spoke to Bernadette Shalumbu a Member of the Namibian Youth Water Task Team from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Youth Water Forum on what they are doing to help.

The Namibian Youth Water Task Team has been mandated to broaden the platform for information sharing, youth engagement and giving the youth a voice when it comes to matters of water, sanitation and environment protection.

The water situation in the Windhoek central area is being referred to as a crisis and as such every person needs to be part of the solution. The youth hold the key to sustainability, not only today, but into the future.

The future innovators and researchers for this sector come from the youth, and now with an official task force, their efforts can be channelled to make impact.

According to Bernadette, the youth are eager to make a difference and be part of the solution to our water crisis. “First of all, you as the individual need to recognise that water is life, without water there would be no business, there would be no industry. Especially as we are facing the water crisis, we need to realise that it is not just up to the City of Windhoek to ensure we have water security. It is up to the individual.”

When talking about the fact that many people still ignore the water crisis, Bernadette notes that “a lot of people are still ignorant, they will say things like I’m not going to save water, I can afford to pay the N$2000.00 penalty or that the reclamation plant will just make us more water, but as an individual, you need to thirst for that last drop of water.” Bernadette goes on to explain: “You need to make the choice. We shouldn’t need penalties, or to be sanctioned before we take action. We need to care for the cause.”

Especially when we realise this cause affects us all. With this in mind, it is up to each one of us to be part of the solution.

For the full MYD Earth show with Bernadette Shalumbu on what the Youth are doing here in Namibia to be part of the solution, take a listen here :

https://soundcloud.com/99fm/myd-earth-nywtt