Youth for Water and Peace

Imagine Blue Peace Finalists Revealed!

The Geneva Water Hub, the International Secretariat for Water and the World youth Parliament for Water are pleased to announce that following a global call for youth visions under the theme of “water as an instrument for peace” over 130 submissions from young people aged 18-35 were received.

The winner and semi-finalists each produced work that will inspire a cultural understanding of water and peace. Their entries will have a social impact and be a featured resource on the Youth for Water and Peace platform – with a new submission being added each month – so stay tuned!

And the winner is….

We are pleased to announce that “Water and Peace 2.0 Youth Outlook, 2019” by Nataliya Chemayeva, in collaboration with an international group of young water specialists, to be the overall winner.

The work will be featured at the Budapest Water Summit (15-17 October 2019) – with the winner presenting during the Geneva Peace Week (4-8 November 2019).

Semi-Finalists*

In keeping with the theme of innovation, young people were challenged in this call to approach a familiar theme in a novel way. Take a look to see how the results proved to be inspiring!

Using a variety of mediums these semi-finalists were able to give visibility to conversations about water and peace. Together their work and vision for Blue Peace demonstrates the value of including the next-generation in developing solutions for the shared flowing waters that bring peace.

Literature - short stories, poems, essays

• “Proportion” by Miguel Enrico Robles.
• “La paix par l'or bleu” by Lazare Modeste Niampa.

Modern media - animated videos, augmented reality, GIFs

• “Water and Peace 2.0” By Nataliya Chemayeva, Mirsaid Uzakov, Bota Sharipova, Nargiza Osmonova.
• “MERA” by Antonia Burchard-Levine, Nabi Agzamov, Antonia Burchard-Levine, Olga Cherniakova, Nashin Mahtani, and Evgenia Vanyukova.

Music - a movement you have composed

• “Record Keeper” by Adam Bagatavicius.
• “Come to the river” by Vitoru Kinjo.

Performing Arts - drama, monologue, dance

• “Water a teacher, a healer, a mirror!” by Eva Kolarova.
• “Teniz” by Doszhan Tabyldy.

Visual Art - a painting, photography, sculpture

• “Blue Justice: Water between its Scarcity and Resilience” by Stephanye Zarama Alvarado.
• “Bridging Lives” by James Ernest Dela Torre.
• "The Key" by Katherine Pittard.

Congratulations to everyone who participated!

This call for proposals has been designed to provide a place for reflection and creativity, as well as to enable young people to formulate messages as well as perspectives on water as an instrument for peace. It was organized under the Youth for Water and Peace platform by the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), the International Secretariat for Water – Solidarity Water Europe (ISW-SWE) and the Geneva Water Hub. It is also made possible thanks to the contribution of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

At the heart of

* The selected youth-led visions are representative of a broader movement featuring a diversity of ideas and are not necessarily the opinions of the Geneva Water Hub, International Secretariat for Water – Solidarity Water Europe (ISW-SWE), and the World Youth Parliament for Water.

All the information about the collaboration

The purpose of this space is to gather thoughts and creativity, and to give the opportunity for youth around the world to deliver messages and perspectives on the notion of water and peace. Contributions from people of diverse backgrounds and interests are welcomed. The first resources are available from the right-hand side bar.

This collaborative space is made avaialable by the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), the International Secretariat for Water - Solidarity Water Europe (ISW-SWE) and the Geneva Water Hub.

Jelena Krstajic (World Youth Parliament for Water), Pippi van Ommen (World Youth Parliament for Water focal point Europe), Mara Tignino (Reader and Coordinator of the Platform for International Water Law of the Geneva Water Hub), Sarah Dousse (International Secretariat for Water Executive director), François Münger (Geneva Water Hub Director), Christian Bréthaut (Geneva Water Hub Scientific Director).

On the occasion of the 8^th World Water Forum (18-23 March 2018, Brasília, Brazil), the Geneva Water Hub and the International Secretariat for Water - Solidarity Water Europe (ISW-SWE) and the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW) signed a Charter to formalize their collaboration through an Internet platform dedicated to Youth and Water.

The International Secretariat for Water (ISW) - Solidarity Water Europe (SWE) form a movement bringing together citizens and organizations who are committed advocates for water. Their commitment is to ensure that all people have access to drinking water and sanitation while preserving the resources for future generations. ISW-SWE is in charge of coordinating and animating the World Youth Parliament for Water and is therefore well-positioned to contribute to the enrichment of such a dedicated space on the Geneva Water Hub Internet platform.

The World Youth Parliament for Water is a youth network advocating and acting for water around the world. This movement of passionate young people from all over the world effects induces 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.

More information about this dedicated space is available in the official Charter below:

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The pictures of the signature event on 23 March 2018 in Brasília are available below: