Good morning everyone, it’s my pleasure to welcome you all in our fourth Youth Water Summit coordinated by the Department of Water Affairs. The aim of the Department is to:

Integrate youth educational programmes within the Department
Align the Department’s youth activities to that of the national calendar
Align activities to those of the national calendar and activities planned by National Youth Development Agency during the Youth month.
This process ensures cost effective planning as activities are aligned.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the originality, creativity and enthusiasm of our youth on conserving and protecting our precious water resource.

This summit also relates to our National Strategic Plan and Medium Term Strategic Framework which calls for sustainable resource management and use; and the building of cohesive, caring and sustainable communities. Of course, the ultimate goals of these strategic imperatives are to speed up economic growth to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods. Based on our broader constitutional mandate, the Department of Water Affairs, through its own strategic plan, is tirelessly working towards these goals.

This Africa Youth Water Summit is part of this broader initiative. The Department of Water Affairs believes and has faith in our youth whom as per our collective mandate have to be nurtured for our future livelihoods. The Department has ensured alignment of its youth programs, both in and out of school, by planning a week long intensive education that addresses water and environmental- related issues. I have confidence in this strategic core group, that at the end of this summit we’ll be coming up with our first draft of Africa Youth Water Strategy which will be finalised by AMCOW as a guiding document for the youth.

I would like to thank our guests, partners, educators, learners and both the local and African core groups in ensuring that this momentous gathering took shape.

Ladies and gentleman once more, welcome to the fourth Youth Water Summit. Lets prove to the world that Africa can make it!

Africa unite for the sake of our future generations.

I thank you.