South African Youth Water Prize 2010

The South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP) continues to be a platform for exposing research talent in our youth.  This year’s competition, held on 5 June 2010 at Leriba Lodge, Pretoria, indicated how seriously learners are able to take the country’s challenges into consideration as they compete at various competitions with their peers.

This initiative has, over the past twelve years, assisted South Africa to develop technological inventions that help in minimising the challenges that the water sector faces.

One learns, through participation in this competition, that the youth, as early as Grade 10, can present their scientific findings convincingly without obtaining any particular tertiary level academic support. The emphasis of the SAYWP is on the development of either an innovation or awareness creation project, with scientifically-based findings.  Learners participating in provinces as well as at national level have to make their presentations accompanied by evidence of the true application of their research methods.

This year the country’s representatives for the Stockholm Youth Water Prize will once again be learners from KwaZulu-Natal. Dlamini Mduduzi and Nomfundo Zondi of Mehlokazulu High School in Pietermaritzburg managed to win the first prize. Their prizes include a bursary by the Department of Water Affairs and laptops from the Water Research Commission. They will also be given support as they participate as finalists in the international competition in Stockholm in August 2010.

It is encouraging to know that even though only one school out of nine could emerge as winner, all of the projects presented can still be utilised to address the challenges faced by the country. Note the innovative ideas demonstrated by the entries below:

Eastern Cape: “How to save water at school and community especially from leaking pipes”.

Free State: “Drip or Drop” aimed at investigating an easy and cost-effective method of purifying river water.

Gauteng: “‘Hydro Induced Current System’ conserving water by utilising rainwater in informal settlements”.

Limpopo: “Innovative system for solving the problem of water pollution in Magalakwena and Magopane rivers”.

Mpumalanga: “Water warrior” which is a low-cost vessel that boils water using only one and a half sheets of newspaper.

Northern Cape: “Enviro-Travel, an effective and economical game to create environmental awareness in South Africa”.

North-West: “a movable tower that is able to harvest raindrops more efficiently at an angle that is falling“.

Western Cape: “Pollution in the Khayalethu River in Knysna”.

According to the comments given by the panel of judges, there is a greater need to work towards developing a mentorship programme for those learners who don’t make it as Stockholm Youth Water Prize finalists but who show outstanding scientific calibre in their presentations.

contact : hlengiwec@wrc.org.za