L Hendricks: South African Youth Water Prize Award Ceremony

18 August 2006

Programme Director
Honourable Mayor
Honourable MECs
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Ladies and gentlemen.

Sanibonani, molweni, good morning

It is my honour and privilege to share this important occasion with you in
this beautiful province of ours. Today is yet another inspiring occasion that
gives one comfort and hope that, through our efforts, our youth – and our
country – have a very bright future! We are here to congratulate the national
winners and the finalists of the South African Youth Water Prize project. As I
am relatively new in this portfolio, I am indeed honoured to witness the good
initiatives and creativity of our future leaders. It is very encouraging to see
that our youth take advantage of the many opportunities that government has
created for them. It is through initiatives of such brilliant and hard-working
learners that the aspirations of our people will be realised. These youth have
one or two things they can teach us about water resource management and
sanitation, and this is an opportunity I would never want to miss!

As we know, the achievements of these youth are coincidentally being
celebrated during Women’s Month. I must therefore start by congratulating the
mothers who nurtured and guided these children to where they are. Throughout
this month, we continue to celebrate the important role that women of this
country have played in our emancipation. As South African women, we cannot
afford to fail the efforts of those brave women who fought for our democracy
and we must continue our efforts to create a caring nation, and a better life
for all.

Ladies and gentlemen, as the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)
we are committed to the democratisation of the management of water resources so
that we achieve universal access to water and sanitation service. The
participation of our communities and our children as stakeholders is crucial to
us achieving this goal. My Department is also responsible for ensuring that the
water resources of our country are sustained for future generations.
Unfortunately, as South Africans, we do not yet fully appreciate what an
important resource water is. Most South Africans are not aware that our country
is a water-scarce country – in fact, one of the 30 most arid countries in the
world. The sustainability of this resource will be achieved only if the
citizens are educated about water resource management, sanitation, health and
hygiene. It is in this context that my department is passionately driving
education and awareness programmes such as the 2020 Vision for Water and
Sanitation Education Programme.

The 2020 Vision for Water and Sanitation Education Programme seeks to
educate society through children and, at the same time, encouraging innovation
amongst the youth. Through this programme, communities and learners will be
empowered with knowledge that will enable them to participate actively in the
management of water resources and sanitation. From this education, our
communities will be able to use water efficiently and effectively; to minimise
pollution; and to practise good hygiene.

The South African Youth Water Prize is one of the projects of the 2020
Vision Programme. The South African Youth Water Prize works in collaboration
with the Stockholm Water Foundation in Sweden, which is aimed at encouraging
learners to participate actively in water issues. This programme further
enhances the interest of learners in science and technology as well as
mathematics. The high school learners identify water and sanitation-related
problems; conduct research; and recommend innovative solutions to identified
problems. The learners are mobilised for participation through media and the
distribution of brochures to schools. Provincial competitions are followed by a
national competition. Every year, during the World Water Week, the national
winners of the South African Youth Water Prize represent South Africa in the
International Junior Water Prize Competition in Stockholm, Sweden. Learners
from approximately 35 countries participate in this Competition. The learners
who win today will be the youth ambassadors of South Africa.

As a minister, a woman and a parent, I am very happy to see that the young
people of this country are contributing to our future through their own
initiatives and achievements. To witness these young learners standing
toe-to-toe and shoulder-to-shoulder with other great nations of the world, and
representing their country at the international competition in Stockholm, is an
achievement in itself. An important part of our struggle for freedom in South
Africa was to create the environment for our youth to thrive.

I am very happy about the achievement of our learners so far. South Africa
has scooped the international prize in Sweden, on two occasions already, 2003
and 2005! This is a further testimony to the fact that our country is
determined to take its rightful place in the global arena!

My department has committed itself to supporting learners who wish to pursue
careers in water, sanitation and forestry; and will be awarding bursaries to
learners that qualify.

I believe that all education and awareness programmes that target schools
will be effective only if they are implemented in collaboration with the
Department of Education both at national and provincial level. It is in our
interest therefore, that we strengthen our collaboration with these departments
of education, and that educators are provided with resource materials that will
create an environment that would enable them to teach learners about water and
sanitation through the school curriculum.

My department has already developed curriculum-aligned educational resource
materials, as tools, for learners from Grade R to Grade 9. The materials have
been developed in collaboration with the Department of Education, the
Department of Health and also sector partners. It is very encouraging that our
children will from at an early age learn about water and sanitation. I hope
that in turn, young people will transfer this knowledge and skills to parents
as well as their communities.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry youth programme is contributing
to addressing the challenges that our country is facing with regard to scarce
skills in the science and technical fields; skills which are required if we as
a country are going to achieve faster economic growth in line with the
Accelerated and Shared Growth Strategy for South Africa (AsgiSA). Given that
those who have these skills are aging and many will soon be retiring, we need
more of our children, especially girls, to study science and mathematics. The
reality is that our learners are still reluctant to take up mathematics and
science subjects, despite the enormous employment opportunities that exist for
people with skills in these areas. However, as a department, we are taking the
responsibility of encouraging them to take up these subjects and we are
providing them with resources such as laboratories and computers.

I am very pleased and encouraged to hear that the departments of education,
health, arts and culture, environmental affairs, science and technology as well
as water utilities, non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and the private sector
are collaborating with this youth development programme.

I would like to congratulate the MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal (who
could not make it for this event) and KwaZulu-Natal educators for doing an
excellent job in promoting science and technology. This success is evident as
ten schools from KwaZulu-Natal scooped the national prizes of the Baswa Le
Meetse Awards between 2003 and 2006 (another programme of DWAF to encourage
learners to enter the science and technology fields). These schools won media
classrooms and water play-pumps.

I propose that we strengthen the partnership between the two departments by
formalising our co-operation through signing a collaboration agreement, and I
look forward to visiting KwaZulu-Natal in the near future to sign such an
agreement.

Programme Director, allow me to congratulate the national winners of the
South African Youth Water Prize 2006 – Nompilo Mahlobo, Thobile and Thokozani
Mbanjwa – the young ambassadors of our country, who will carry our national
flag in Stockholm, Sweden, tomorrow. On behalf of our government, we send you
off to Stockholm with love, pride and best wishes. We hope that you will bring
the Stockholm Junior Water Prize back home. I will also be in Stockholm to
support you.

I also want to congratulate the finalists from eight provinces. I am told
that they are also eligible for prizes such as computers, bursaries and cash
awards. I would like to say to them – it is not about winning, it is about
participation, gaining experience, improving the living conditions of your
communities and taking on new challenges.

As we celebrate our achievements, I would like to appeal to all the young
people here, to take charge of their lives and futures. HIV and Aids is an
enemy we need to fight with all our strength. As young brilliant people with a
bright future, let us not fall prey to this terrible disease. The key to
success in this regard is the A-B-C principle: Abstain, Be faithful and
Condomise!

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the adjudicating team
for their sterling work. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to youth
development. And to the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology, the Water Research Commission, Umgeni Water, and
Mhlathuze Water for sponsoring this project. Isandla sihlamba esinye. Yenzani
njalo ukuxhasa amalinge esizwe sethu.

Lastly, this programme is driven with a lot of passion by officials from my
department and the Department of Education. No wonder it is a tremendous
international success! I must congratulate them for their hard work.

“Youth are our future; educate the child to educate the nation”
Water is life, Water is our future!

Ngiyabonga

(Note: the speech was delivered in isiZulu)

Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
18 August 2006