Discover how Youth4Water Plus is engaging with over 500,000 youths in Odisha, India, and beyond in crucial environmental and WASH initiatives
Published on: 25/07/2024
The Youth4Water Plus Campaign engages young people in the Indian state of Odisha (pop. 42 million) through awareness-raising and action-oriented programmes related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), environment, and climate change. Launched in 2019, Youth4Water Plus has developed Climate and WASH Guardian training modules, provided entrepreneurship assistance, and implemented innovation challenges and youth-designed awareness campaigns. So far, with support from UNICEF Odisha and over 40 other partners including IRC, it has connected with 500,000 youths.
In 2024, Youth4Water aims to connect with Odisha’s youth in every district, covering six thematic areas: air pollution; water conservation; mangrove, forest fire and biodiversity; responsible consumption; green skilling; and energy.
Youth4Water Plus has also ventured beyond Odisha, bringing the voice of the youth to international conferences including the UN Water Conference and COP 28 in 2023, and more recently, the 2024 Bonn Climate Change Conference.
Youth4Water Plus Odisha Pond Conference 2.0, 10 May 2024. Credit: Youth4Water Plus
One of the highlights so far in 2024 for Youth4Water Plus was the organisation of the Odisha Pond Conference 2.0, in collaboration with the PANTISS Foundation and IMMT Bhubaneswar. Pond conservation and restoration improves groundwater recharge, access to drinking and agricultural water, and serves the needs of wildlife. Storytelling sessions were held about local ponds and their ties to local communities. The event concluded with the formulation of a dynamic action plan for pond restoration.
Youth4WASH Plus Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 celebration. Credit: Youth4Water Plus
Youth4Water Plus and its partners’ celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day focused on empowering girls and erasing stigma, the latter was helped by the significant number of male participants.
Read more about these and other recent Youth4Water Plus activities in their July 2024 newsletter. To subscribe, visit their website: https://youth4water.org/
