Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Leadership at the 10th World Water Forum By Youth Delegates, World Water Council
The 10th World Water Forum, held in Bali, Indonesia, provided an extraordinary platform for advancing the global youth movement in the water sector. This article highlights the key achievements and outlines future responsibilities from the perspectives of the four Youth Delegates of the World Water Council: Luca Jendrek, Sofia Corradi, Kirk Enu, and Achmad Solikhin.
Bali Youth Targets
Building on the objectives of the Bali Youth Plan—supported by 27 organizations representing thousands of young people globally—the Bali Youth Targets were introduced. These targets focus on enhancing work and educational opportunities, ensuring youth inclusion in governance, supporting youth leadership and entrepreneurship, and promoting the peaceful and just use of water resources. The Bali Youth Targets were also shared during the final synthesis session and featured in the Highlights of the 10th World Water Forum.
Youth Space
The Youth Space played a crucial role in connecting youth with broader discussions and initiatives. Its full agenda included exhibitions of innovative solutions by the top 10 finalists of the Young Water Leaders, along with engaging talks, presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities. This space became a hub for reconnecting with old friends and fostering new relationships, regardless of age or background.
Youth Involvement in Forum Processes and Other Events
A significant achievement of the Forum was the meaningful participation of young people in all three Processes: Thematic, Regional, and Political. Young representatives from various organizations, start-ups, and individual leaders actively engaged in key discussions, raising critical questions and providing valuable insights.
In addition, the four Youth Delegates promoted two sessions: an intergenerational dialogue at the World Water Council Pavilion and a workshop on key water topics as part of the Youth Space agenda. Both sessions attracted many youth and non-youth speakers and participants. Additionally, they contributed as speakers, judges, and facilitators in several sessions, including "Ocean and Freshwater Policies for a Thriving Blue Economy," "Governance as an Imperative for Future Generations," "Early Warning, Anticipation, Local Action: A Blueprint for Climate Resilience," "Young Water Sustainability Leaders," "Bali Youth Session," and the NHRI China Launch of the Scientific and Technical Innovation Cooperation Initiative for International Water Youth.
Call to Action
The Youth Delegates emphasize that continued capacity building, youth leadership, and local participation are crucial for sustaining youth involvement leading up to the 11th World Water Forum. In this context, they issue a call to action:
Advocate for Meaningful Youth Engagement: Ensure that youth engagement is institutionalized, guaranteeing inclusive participation at all levels, providing opportunities for collaboration and capacity building, and recognizing young people as equal stakeholders—based on insights from the youth survey conducted in preparation for the 10th World Water Forum.
Prioritize Education for Water Literacy: Foster water literacy from an early age and advocate for its importance among stakeholders to bridge the gap between freshwater and marine water societies globally.
Prioritize Proactive, Integrated Planning: Ensure equitable resource allocation, enhanced data use, and strong stakeholder collaboration, including traditional knowledge and locale-specific approaches, to effectively mitigate the growing risks of water-related hazards.