YWP

END OF A YOUNG WATER PROFESSIONALS ERA

A global pandemic, countless lockdowns and various mandates have made it extremely difficult for most to conduct business and activities as easily as before, including the small group of passionate young professionals who volunteer within the WISA Young Water Professionals (YWP) network.

When the new YWP leaders for the 2020-2022 cycle were elected in the beginning of 2020, nobody foresaw the impact Covid-19 would have on their two-year term.

However, despite the struggles and adversity, this group still managed to accomplish their mandate of empowering young water professionals as part of WISA, shifting their traditionally in-person event to various online platforms with minimal disruption.

Here are the stories of four leaders about their experiences in YWP. They will begin to step down from their positions within the coming months to make way for a new generation of leaders.

Niel Louw – YWP Gauteng Provincial Lead Having been part of the YWP Gauteng provincial chapter for since 2016, I have often felt that the organisation has now become an integral part of me and my identity. The camaraderie and passion for the water sector within YWP for me was unparalleled compared to anything I could find in the workplace or elsewhere, which is why I relished the opportunity to take up the role of Gauteng provincial lead in 2020.

Even during the height of a global pandemic, I am extremely proud of my team, the national organising committee as well as all the provincial chapters – but especially my own Gauteng chapter for the various events, workshops and publications we produced over the last two years, all with the goal of promoting and enhancing the impact of young professionals within the South African water sector.

I am equally filled with joy to see the incredible young people who have joined YWP in the last two years. Their passion, drive, and commitment are commendable and inspiring, which is why – now that my term as lead is over and I am no longer considered young anymore – I am confident in leaving YWP in the hands a new generation of YWPs who I know will carry this organisation to even greater heights.

Niel Louw – YWP Gauteng Provincial Lead

Amanda Mngeni – YWP Eastern Cape Provincial Lead

Anya Eilers – YWP Western Cape Provincial Lead

Amanda Mngeni – YWP Eastern Cape Provincial Lead My experience of working directly with people in diverse professional settings made me seek support and experience within the water engineering field. One of my primary motivations to join YWP is that water crises are a serious issue in many parts of the South Africa. Therefore, I felt that joining YWP would assist me in discovering the causes and effects of national water crises and – most importantly – the solutions to the crises.

I have participated in various YWP events, where I had the opportunity to learn, network and grow other skills such as seeking sponsorships and coordinating meetings and events. During this period, I learnt how to perform my duties accurately, consistently and within tight schedules, under pressure, independently and in teams.

I was pleased to form part of a group of enthusiastic young engineers. The knowledge gained and skills obtained assisted me in seeking innovative water-scarcity solutions that meet the high standards of sustainability.

Anya Eilers – YWP Western Cape Provincial Lead My YWP journey started in 2015 when I attended a YWP conference. The excitement was tangible as I was presenting at my first conference. The event brought together such a diverse group of young professionals from all water backgrounds. I remember meeting the young and vibrant organising committee and wondering how I could become a part of this team. While I have always been somewhat involved with YWP, 2019 truly marked the start of my journey. I had recently returned to South Africa and a rather quiet Western Cape branch, and I took this as a good opportunity to take up a leadership position in the committee. At the beginning of 2020, I was excited to officially start the term and all the events that we would host. And then Covid-19 threw a spanner in the works.

Organising events and seminars virtually was difficult, and not being able to meet in person initially took a toll on the dynamics of our committee, but we eventually made it work. The greatest lesson that we learnt from our term was to start small. At our first brainstorming session, we all arrived with big dreams and plans, but the reality of implementing these, particularly in a Covid environment, proved quite different. We then decided to take a step back and slowly start building our vision and plan. We ended up not implementing all the great ideas we had, but what we did do was meaningful and impactful, and we grew both as a committee and individuals.

To anyone who is considering joining the YWP committee, I say just do it. Being a part of this network has opened many doors in my career journey and has equipped me with soft skills that I would have never nurtured otherwise.

Ashton Mpofu – YWP National Lead Being part of the YWP family has been an interesting journey over the last four years. It has come with many lessons, experiences and personal development in an unimaginable way. It is a journey that has played a huge role in my career development as a water professional.

YWP afforded me an opportunity to build my network globally, increase my knowledge, soft and leadership skills, as well as gain recognition, exposure and most importantly strong professional relations.

The 2020-2022 YWP leadership committee was arguably privileged to work under the pandemic, as this taught us many other unique and essential skills such as adaptability, critical thinking, tech-savviness, creativity and innovation. Additionally, we learnt to be tolerant, patient, kind, humble, better communicators, and we developed emotional intelligence.

Through the organisation’s planning and activities, YWP members are actively encouraged to be true actors, initiators and agents of change in the water sector. The organisation provides a unique platform to influence, motivate, inspire and shape the future of the water sector through engaging the future custodians of our country. Being part of YWP is an immense opportunity to be the voice of young people and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be at the forefront of solving water insecurity and immense challenges faced by YWPs and the youth in general.

I encourage young professionals to join YWP and volunteer as office bearers of the organisation. There is no better place to be an agent of change and shape the future of our water sector than as part of a group of likeminded individuals at YWP.

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