We are pleased to announce the upcoming World Water Camp to be held on 11-15 August 2024, in Toronto, Canada. Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is a unique opportunity for students and young water professionals aged 35 or below with an interest in current water challenges to meet and network with other students from around the globe in a strong learning community.

What

The main aspect of Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is carefully guided participation in the International Water Association’s World Water Congress and Exhibition which will be held in Toronto, Canada. The Congress is the premier global event for water professionals and is designed to bring together over 10,000 people from academia, utilities, industry, government, regulators, and NGOs. It is held every two years in different cities across the globe. We are proud to welcome participants to the North American region in 2024.

Key Dates

26 July 2024: Warm up, Online

2 August 2024: Warm up, Online

11-15 August 2024: On-site, Toronto

28 August 2024: Recap session, Online

The Toronto 2024 World Water Camp will start with two 2-hour warm-up online sessions before the main conference. These will be held on Fridays (26 July & 2 August 2024). Participants will get to know each other and be introduced to planning to get the most out of participation in a large international conference on water.

Campers will then participate in the World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) in Toronto, Canada, organised by the International Water Association (IWA) on 11-15 August 2024. After the event in Toronto, the World Water Camp will arrange for one recap online session (2 hours) on 28 August 2024.

During the stay in Toronto, Campers will stay near the conference location in Toronto, within walking distance from the Congress venue at the Metro Convention Centre. The Centre is conveniently located within walking distance of Union GO station which connects directly to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Who can apply

Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is for students who are currently enrolled in an educational programme related to water at a Bachelor’s or Master’s level, or young water professionals under 35 currently working in the water and wastewater sector, of both technical and non-technical backgrounds. Students from all over the world are encouraged to apply.

Application

Are you interested in joining the World Water Camp? The application window is open until 23 December 2023. Click on the link below to complete the application form. As part of the application form, we ask you to prepare a motivation statement. This statement is important, as it will be used to select candidates for the limited number of places available. Thirty (30) participants will be selected. Alongside this opportunity, there is also a digital World Water Camp (coordinated by external stakeholders in Denmark) to be held February – May 2024. Participating in the digital World Water Camp can increase your chances of being selected for the Toronto 2024 World Water Camp.

>> Toronto 2024 Application Form

Selected participants will incur a fee of CAD 300 per person. Note that this is only a fraction of the actual costs, thanks to generous donations from our sponsors who are leaders in the water sector. The fee covers the entrance fee to the IWA WWCE, activities, and field trips. Travel expenses to and from Toronto are not included. There is a total of 10 scholarships for students from low-income countries, supported by the Camp organisers. Each scholarship is valid to cover the delegate fee to join the World Water Camp 2024 along with boarding and all meals. We hope you will join us!

About WORLD WATER CAMP 2024

World Water Camp is a collaboration between the following organisations:

• IWA Young Water Professionals (YWPs) Canada
• The International Water Association (IWA)
• Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
• The University of Western Ontario (UWO)

As a participant in the World Water Camp, you will learn about current challenges and explore possible solutions in a growing water sector that offers many exciting work opportunities for young water experts.

The World Water Camp focuses on providing you with opportunities to build an international network among students sharing an interest in future water. We provide an international perspective on the water themes and approach the subject matter from the points of view of different stakeholders: utilities, consultants, contractors, equipment suppliers, researchers, environmental authorities, etc.

Part 1: Virtual Warm-up

Two virtual class sessions will be held on Zoom. There will be one session each week (July/August 2024) and each session will last 2 hours. Since participants are in different time zones, that actual time depends on your location (morning in the Americas, afternoon in Africa and Europe and evening in Asia).

During these sessions, you meet the teachers and get to know your fellow Campers by solving challenges in small breakout rooms. These class sessions will introduce the major themes of the World Water Camp including: Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Climate Change Adaption as well as prepare you to get the most out of your conference experience. We will also have lively debates about so-called “wicked” problems. In connection with these sessions, you will receive videos and other materials for viewing at your own pace.

Part 2: The Congress Week

This intense week in August 2024 is your opportunity to meet your teachers and fellow Campers in real life and to experience the exciting atmosphere of a major conference, where world experts meet to present and discuss global challenges in the water sector.

Each day, we will meet at breakfast and the task of the day will be presented. After breakfast, you will go to the conference venue in small groups and complete the task. This can involve sitting in at a specific presentation, searching the exhibition halls to spotlight certain industry products and services or simply having free time to explore the venue for any subject that has your specific interest.

In between conference participation, relevant field visits to exciting locations will be arranged and special sessions for specific subjects will be made – such as visiting the IWA Young Water Professionals organisation. Your own country may already have a YWP organisation. If not, you may be able to start one!

Each evening, we will meet with each other for the Philosophers’ Hour. During this time, we will reflect on the experiences of the day and get to know each other better. Following successful completion of the World Water Camp, you will receive an official Certificate of Participation.

Contact

If you have any questions about the camp, please contact

Hayat Raza hayat.raza78@gmail.com

Alexandra Webb awebb050@gmail.com