Promoting Youth Participation in Sustainable Water Solutions in Bolivia
The Gaia Pacha Foundation has announced the successful conclusion of the call for the 2024 Youth Water Contest, an initiative aimed at encouraging active participation of Bolivian teenagers in crafting innovative solutions to challenges related to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
This contest seeks to address critical issues such as climate change, water conservation, sustainable and ecological sanitation, as well as the adoption of hygiene practices using Nature Based Solutions (NbS) as a framework.
The three contest winners will have the opportunity to implement their projects. The first-place winner will receive full funding, the second-place winner 50%, and the third-place winner 30%. The technical aspects of these projects will be overseen by the AguaTuya Foundation, which is renowned for its extensive experience in basic sanitation and water engineering. Additionally, it is expected that the winners, under the mentorship of VCA, will apply for the 2025 Junior Water Prize in Stockholm.
During the contest call, young people were invited to submit projects with a proven environmental impact, whether scientific, social, or technological, focusing on sustainable water management. Proposals were required to include innovative solutions related to water, ecological sanitation, proper waste disposal, appropriate use of sanitation facilities, handwashing, climate change, and sustainable hygiene practices.
Water is essential for life on the planet, vital for biological processes, and therefore crucial for humanity and all living beings. However, water pollution and scarcity pose significant threats to human health and ecosystems. Recognising this importance, the United Nations General Assembly declared access to water and sanitation as a fundamental human right in July 2010, stating that every person should have access to between 50 and 100 litres of safe water per day for personal and domestic use.
