• The Department of Water and Sanitation is looking for high schoolers in Gauteng to compete in 2025’s South African Youth Water Prize competition.
• Competitors must bring innovative solutions to South Africa’s many water challenges.
• Prizes like bursaries, laptops and cash are ready to be awarded to the best learners.

High school learners from Gauteng, specifically in grades 9, 10, and 11 can earn rewards like bursaries, laptops, trophies, and cash prizes among others by participating in the South Africa Youth Water Prize competition – but the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) warns: it is highly competitive.

The South African Youth Water Prize competition takes place every year, and the DWS says that it is aims to educate learners and society on a variety of water issues in South Africa, including water use efficiency, water quality monitoring, protection of water resources, public health and hygiene awareness, and identification of invasive species.

It looks for learners who have innovative ideas on how to tackle these issues, with competitors vying for the top spot first at a provincial level, then national and then finally heading to a global competition in Stockholm, Sweden next year.

The DWS is already mobilising schools to take part in the 2025 edition of the competition.

“The DWS in Gauteng urges all high schools within the province to actively participate in the competitions provided by the Department. By engaging in these competitions, students not only have the opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions to water and sanitation challenges but also stand a chance to win valuable prizes that can positively impact their educational and career trajectories,” the department explains in a statement.

“These prizes can serve as a stepping stone for the youth towards a brighter future,” said Mphothulo Eulicia, from the DWS Gauteng regional office.

Water challenges in Gauteng have become dangerously common in the last year, with residents across Johannesburg struggling to get water into their homes for several weeks in March this year stemming from infrastructure challenges within the city.

As increased water demand pushes infrastructure to its limit, innovative solutions for these problems are necessary, and they may come from participants in this competition.

Interested schools across the Gauteng region can access more information about the South African Youth Water Prize at the DWS website.

[Photo by David Becker on Unsplash]