South African Young Water Professionals
  • Home
    • About
    • Governance
    • Partner Organisations
    • YWP-ZA in the Water Sector Landscape
  • National
    • National Committee
    • Messages from our Chair
  • Provinces
    • Eastern Cape Committee >
      • EC Upcoming Events
      • Past EC Events
      • EC Sponsors
    • Gauteng Committee >
      • Gauteng Upcoming Events
      • Gauteng Past Events
    • KwaZulu-Natal Committee >
      • KZN Upcoming Events
      • Past KZN Events
    • Limpopo Committee >
      • Limpopo Events
      • Past Limpopo Events
    • Northern Cape Committee >
      • Northern Cape Past Events
    • North West Committee >
      • North West Events
      • North West Past Events
    • Sponsors
  • Programmes
    • National Initiatives >
      • Conferences >
        • 2017 IYWPC
        • WISA 2016 Conference
        • 2015 YWP Conference >
          • Details
          • Info for Presenters
          • Programme
          • Conference Tours
          • Awards
          • Sponsor
          • Contact
          • 2015 YWP Conference Abstracts
          • 2015 YWP Conference Photos
      • Publications Workshop
      • Entrepreneurship
      • YWP ZA Articles
    • Provincial Events
  • Resources
    • Career Choices
    • Tips & Tools
    • Newsflash Archive
    • IWA Specialist Groups
    • WISA Divisions
  • Join YWP
    • Join
    • Become an Institutional Champion
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Newsflash Feedback
    • Open Letter on Jobs

What is YWP-ZA?

The South African Young Water Professionals (YWP-ZA) Programme is focused on bringing people working in or interested in the water sector together in a meaningful way. YWP-ZA is a network of people who are passionate about all aspects of water and its intrinsic linkages to people, economies, development, nature, dignity and life itself. As a committee, we are particularly passionate about helping people in the earlier stages of their studies and careers to find their “professional home” in the South African water sector, understand and explore the challenges and opportunities of the sector, build the skills they need to be influential contributors to the sector and develop meaningful networks that will provide the insight, support, access and opportunities needed to build exciting, meaningful and challenging careers. 

 The YWP is an international initiative spear-headed by the International Water Association (IWA).  In South Africa the YWP is in partnership with the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA). WISA is a volunteer organization representing the professional water industry in Southern Africa. 

OUR VISION
Achieving distinction (excellence and greatness) by connecting (linking and trans-disciplinary networking) all YWPs striving for personal and professional evolution (growth).
OUR AIM
The aim of the YWP program is to contribute the present and future needs of the water sector in South Africa, an aim which requires the continuous development of a workforce which is adequate in size, capable in skills and strong in leadership. YWPs are the future of the water sector, and therefore the future of socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Addressing the needs of the country, we also started a scholars’ membership base to get the youth excited about working in the water sector. Without water, no other industry can function; without water, no plant or animal life can survive.

To fulfill this aim, the YWP-ZA body has the following objectives:
  • to support and facilitate YWPs to play an active role in WISA and IWA activities, and
  • in so doing to elevate the profile of these associations;
  • to ensure the YWP-ZA programme remains relevant to YWPs;
  • to provide opportunities for YWPs to network, communicate and collaborate; and
  • to provide career development opportunities for YWPs.

YWP runs many initiatives and programs on a regular basis as well as partnering with other initiatives to increase the overall impact of the program.  These may be National YWP or Provincial
 events and workshops.


To be a member of the YWP-ZA you must be a WISA or IWA member - you don't have to join both (see the Join page).

For more information on how we operate, check out our recently regenerated constitution!
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved with YWP-ZA:
  • Join our mailing list to stay updated about our events and other water sector activities
  • Become a formal member of our network by either becoming a member of WISA or the IWA. This gives you the added benefit of becoming embedded in the activities of these broader professional activities and gives you reduced rates to fee-charging events.
  • Attend and participate in our events. These are advertised through the Newsflashes and on the National and Provincial events pages.
  • Get involved with a provincial committee. If you have a project that you are passionate about or just want the experience of serving on a committee and the vast exposure and learning that comes with this, please get in touch with the provincial chair in your province. We can all testify to the tremendous learning, networking and fun that we have had working on the YWP-ZA committees.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want more information about being more involved with YWP-ZA.

Achieving distinction by connecting all young water professionals striving for personal and professional evolution.
Picture
Affiliate of: WISA & IWA
Picture
Picture