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It started as an initiative to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the department of Aquatic Eco-technology at Hogeschool Zeeland, University of Professional Education in Vlissingen, the Netherlands.
It ended with the organization of a huge Youth World Water Forum with almost 200 students and young water professionals - 18-30 years old - from about 40 countries all over the world. The second day of the four days conference they met with more than 150 senior water professionals, chaired by his Royal Highness Willem Alexander, Prince of the Netherlands. During four days with unusual splendid weather, the premises of Hogeschool Zeeland and the city of Vlissingen were crowded with young people, international languages, VIP’s, many activities, workshops, lectures and social programmes, most of them related to water.
Under the title:’ On Water Awareness: Young Professionals Debating their Future’ the young professionals and students arranged their own programme and intercultural debates on water-related issues of common interest.
They challenged senior professionals and policy makers to take real action and took their own responsibilities, based on statements they made themselves, leading towards WWF3 in Japan. The establishment of a Youth Water Action Team (YWAT) was the culmination of three days of hard labour and of the genuine interest of all the participants in each other’s views on and approaches of water issues. To prepare for a strong voice in the Third World Water Forum in Japan in 2003, the YWAT want to stimulate a global debate on water issues.
Apart from all this, the YWWF was an event of companionship and of intercultural exchange between its visitors. Thus putting a strong base for structural and joint action, challenging each other in safeguarding the future concerning water issues.
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