Who We Are

The World Youth Parliament for Water’s passionate global network ensures that youth are recognized as legitimate water stakeholders, influencing decision makers and taking local actions in over 80 countries.

Mission

The World Youth Parliament for Water is a youth network acting for water around the world.. This movement of passionate young people from over 80 countries effects change at all levels: from local communities, where they implement concrete actions, to the United Nations General Assembly, where they advocate for youth participation in the water sector. The WYPW is supported by the International Secretariat for Water.

Every three years, the WYPW holds a General Assembly during the World Water Forum, to identify new members, elect new representatives, and plan actions for the following three years.

WYPW Declaration 2018-2021

Objectives

  • Inspire youth actions for water, at a local, regional and international levels.
  • Ensure youth recognition as a key stakeholder in decision-making processes, with a strong focus on river basin organizations.
  • Raise youth awareness about water issues, and their power to effect change.
  • Strengthen youth capacities to act and engage in dialogue for water.

History

The World Youth Parliament for Water was conceived by the International Secretariat for Water in 2002. Youth came together in Quebec City, Canada to write their own law on access to water resources. It was later read in the National Assembly.  ISW founder Raymond Jost, a former youth support worker, knew that youth voices need to be heard and acted on in order for them to build capacity for action. In the following years, the Parliament concept has spread to over 30 autonomous chapters around the globe. The fourth General Assembly was held in Brasilia in March 2018, during the 8th World Water Forum.

The ISW has provided resources and support to the WYPW since its inception.

Milestones

2018 – Brasilia General Assembly
2015 – Gyeongbuk/Daegu General Assembly
2012 – Marseille General Assembly
2002 – Québec City General Assembly

Team

Board

Lindsey Aldaco-Manner – president

Lindsey is a graduate of the master's program at Texas A&M University, where she focused on science-based policy and water reuse governance.

Roshani Bhattarai – vice-president

Roshani is a law student and founded the Nepal Youth Parliament for Water, which is engaged in local action across the country.

Zinsou Nounagnon Dakoz Daunou – focal point Africa

Zinsou is a dedicated advocate who is currently president of the Benin National Youth Parliament for Water and Sanitation.

Pippi van Ommen – focal point Europe

Pippi cares deeply about preserving water resources for the future. She is studying at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Jeffery Liao – vice focal point Asia

As a medical student in his native Taiwan, it is Jefferys conviction that change comes through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Mirsaid Uzakov - vice focal point Asia

Mirsaid is from Uzbekistan and currently a student of Politics and Security in Central Asia. He stands for the development of Water and Sanitation in rural areas.

Pedro Cunha – vice focal point Americas

Driven to achieve change, Pedro believes that we can heal our environment through art, and mobilizing Latin American networks for action campaigns.

Alex Whitebrook – focal point Oceania

Alex is interested in the nexus of water policy, development and climate change. Originally from Australia, he is a graduate student of Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Partners

The Parliament is supported by the International Secretariat for Water, an NGO based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada committed to building the youth movement for water. The ISW organizes the General Assemblies, and ensures consistent support and institutional outreach for the network. As an independent organisation International Secretariat for Water brings together citizens and organizations who are committed advocates for water. Their mission is to ensure that all people have access to drinking water and sanitation in accordance with the Montreal Charter and Strasbourg Declaration, the movement’s founding documents. Their goals centre around:
  • Ensuring universal access to water and sanitation remains a key priority in the context of sustainable development.
  • Fighting for universal access to water – a source of life, democracy, peace, creativity, spirituality and tradition.
  • Creating decentralized and interwoven funding sources that benefit marginalized populations.
  • Developing local climate change adaptation strategies.