Geneva, Switzerland - In celebration of World Youth Skills Day, the UNITAR Global Water Academy and CIFAL Philippines at the University of the Philippines co-hosted a virtual event entitled "Streams of Change: Prioritizing Youth Engagement in the Water and Sanitation Sector." The session convened emerging professionals across water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes, highlighting the vital role of youth in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
Speakers included:
- Dr. Ebru Canan-Sokullu, Director of Global Water Academy, Associate Head of CIFAL Global Network
- Dr. Michelle R. Palumbarit, Director, UP-CIFAL Philippines
- Val Amiel Vestil, Executive Director, Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ)
- MA Jessilou "JLO" Morigo-Tanguilan, Programme Portfolio Manager, Humanitarian and Resilience, Plan International Pilipinas
- Aldrin Magpantay, Co-Chair, Philippine Young Water Professionals
In her opening remarks, Dr. Ebru Canan-Sokullu stated:
World Youth Skills Day is not just about training; it is about empowerment. It is about providing young people with the tools to innovate, adapt, and lead, whether in their communities, their countries, or on the global stage. This is especially crucial when addressing water as our most precious resource and advancing SDG 6.
Dr. Ebru's remarks emphasized the webinar's alignment with the commemoration of UN World Youth Skills Day, drawing attention to this year's theme: "Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digital Skills." She encouraged participants to embrace technological innovation with a sense of responsibility, placing strong ethical considerations at the forefront, and to continue honing the skills essential for sustainable development.
Engaging Dialogue and Moving Forward
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, in which young attendees sought guidance on building inclusive youth partnerships, sustaining long-term engagement beyond relief efforts, and breaking into the water sector. In his synthesis, Val Vestil of the Association of Young Environmental Journalists, encouraged participants to act on their passions and collaborate across disciplines, echoing the event's call to view youth as stakeholders, not spectators.
Dr. Michelle R. Palumbarit, Director of UP-CIFAL Philippines, closed the event by underscoring the importance of solving water issues through bayanihan, a shared sense of responsibility, empathy, and community spirit.
About UNITAR Global Water Academy and CIFAL Global Network
This initiative reflects UNITAR's commitment to building the capacity of youth leaders and advancing practical, community-driven solutions to achieve internationally agreed development goals, including SDG 6, for a more resilient and sustainable future.
UNITAR COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT
In alignment with the event's themes, UNITAR also mentioned its latest e-learning programme: " Foundations of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation ." This interactive course is designed to equip participants with the tools to analyze SDG 6 targets, implement sustainable water management strategies, and apply context-sensitive solutions.
Link to the course: https://event.unitar.org/full-catalog/foundations-sdg-6-clean-water-and-sanitation
