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Young adults immerse themselves in global water issues at “Thirst for Life” conference

April 26, 2007

On Friday, April 27, participants in the "Thirst for Life" conference in New York City will spend the day interacting with experts and advocates on increasing worldwide access to clean water.

The conference, co-sponsored by Church World Service (CWS) and New York City's Pace University, is part of the humanitarian agency’s continuing focus on the impact of the world's dwindling water resources on poverty. CWS and Pace are sponsoring the day of lectures, panels, and films in conjunction with the United Nations "International Decade for Action: Water for Life."

The "Thirst for Life" audience, composed chiefly of students from local colleges, will hear from water experts and advocates, view a documentary examining the debate over water as a human right or a commodity, and will participate in a simulated World Water Forum.

Rajyashri Waghray, Church World Service director of education and advocacy, emphasizes the importance of involving young people in advocacy around important issues.

"Responding to this issue is work that will continue for years to come. CWS is cosponsoring 'Thirst for Life' as a part of our commitment to support adult and youth study and action on the issue of water and its role in ensuring sustainable livelihoods and development," Waghray says. CWS works with partners to confront the root causes of hunger and poverty, including the lack of access to safe, affordable water and sanitation.

The portion of the day spent on the World Water Forum, is designed to give the audience information they need to develop their own statement about coping with water scarcity.

The activity is part of Pace University's Model United Nations program, at http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=19336, which equips students with political vocabulary and diplomatic skills by having them simulate United Nations debates on a broad range of global issues.

The water forum simulation will be led by the university's internationally recognized, award-winning Model United Nations team. Members of the team will work with the "Thirst for Life" audience as they roleplay UN ambassadors and other official representatives of different nations in discussion and debate around water issues.

One team member, Mikelle Adgate, who also works as an intern in the CWS United Nations office and helped coordinate the conference, credits her experience with Model UN programs with broadening her thinking about political, social, and economic concerns facing a globalizing world.

Adgate, who chaired the International Hydrological Programme at the recent Model UN Nationals conference, says she will use the skills she learned to "create an opportunity for international dialogue and advocacy for young adults," at the CWS/Pace conference.

In addition to the participatory activities, the conference will feature presentations on water-related issues.

Frederik Pischke, an associate expert in the Division for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will speak on the topic "Coping With Water Scarcity." Pischke works in the secretariat of the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" 2005-2015 and UN Water, which coordinates the water resource-related activities of 24 UN agencies.

Program Development Officer Sarah Dobsevage, of WaterAid America, will speak about gender access and sanitation.

United Kingdom-based WaterAid is organizing a May 12 march through the streets of London to deliver to the government petitions demanding that the United Kingdom act to end water poverty. http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/campaigns/campaigns_news/5441.asp

CWS is working in partnership with WaterAid, to close the gap between West Africa's water and sanitation needs and the targets set by the Millennium Development Goals.

Through its "Water for Life" program, CWS works with local partners to provide clean, safe water, an ecumenical voice in the global debate on water and sanitation issues, and to build grassroots support for congressional legislation that supports universal access to water worldwide.

The "Thirst for Life" conference promises to be an informative and stimulating experience for young adults interested in developing skills necessary to foster cooperation in a rapidly shrinking world.

Says Waghray, "Our young people are our future. They are the global citizens who will continue the work of finding solutions to the crucial global issue--like lack of access to safe water and sanitation--that so affect people’s lives. This conference is another tool that will help prepare them to meet that challenge."

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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