I am thrilled to share that the IWA YWP Spain Chapter has been recognised as the 2024 YWP Chapter of the Year during the 6th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum in Toronto. This honour is part of a new initiative by IWA to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the IWA Young Water Professionals (YWPs) Community and YWP Country Chapters worldwide. The evaluation process was led by the IWA YWP Steering Committee, its Chapter Coordination sub-committee, and supported by the IWA Secretariat. Our chapter was awarded based on the activities we carried out in 2023, focusing on quality, content, innovation, collaboration, impact, and alignment with IWA’s Strategic Goals. I am proud of what we have achieved and excited to share some of my reflections as the chair of the IWA YWP Spain Chapter. 

What a year for YWP Spain! Reflecting on the year that has passed, I cannot help but feel a profound sense of accomplishment for what we, the Young Water Professionals (YWP) of the Spanish IWA YWP Chapter, have achieved. The year 2023 stands out as a remarkable period since our inception in 2015, filled with activities that strengthened our community and our mission. Our commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, promoting technical education, and spreading awareness about the water sector has never been stronger. 

National Conference in Valencia 

We have worked tirelessly to create synergies between our YWP members and seasoned professionals, establishing ourselves as a chapter of reference and encouraging the growth of emerging chapters across Latin America. Our efforts to introduce the International Water Association (IWA) to young professionals have been met with enthusiasm, and it is gratifying to see our network expand beyond 500 members. 

This past year, we have organised four ‘Water Meetings’ across various cities—Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia, and Castellón—each one being a hub of knowledge exchange and professional development. Our reach extended beyond Spain with three Ibero-American webinars, connecting us with peers in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina. The creation of five technical blogs has allowed us to share our insights and expertise with a wider audience. 

Collaboration is the heart of our chapter, last this year we have laid the groundwork for three agreements with different entities, two of which are set to be finalised this year.in 2024. Our commitment to education was further demonstrated by the organisation of a hackathon that engaged 50 students in solving real-world water challenges. 

Our community spirit was also evident in our social activities, which included two paddle tennis tournaments, a ski trip, and two technical visits to Valencia and Bilbao, all of which provided valuable networking opportunities in a relaxed setting. We have embraced the digital age with the launch of a new TikTok profile and continued to engage our members through social media outreach and the distribution of 127 newsletters. 

As we crafted the YWP Spain Decalogue, we laid out the principles that will guide us into the future. The energy and dedication of our members are the driving forces that will propel us to new heights this year in 2024. 

Lessons Learned and Achievements 

Reflecting on 2023, we have learned valuable lessons and celebrated significant milestones. One of the most important lessons we have learned is that young people demand in-person activities, such as technical visits, meetings and sports events, which help to build a sense of community. We have also honed our ability to reach and engage different profiles within the sector, resulting in a diverse and dynamic network.  

Our communication with other chapters has improved significantly using various methods beyond email. 

Goals Achieved 

We have succeeded in creating a decentralised network beyond Madrid, with active participation from cities like Valencia, Barcelona, Castellón, and Bilbao. Thanks to our hackathon, we introduced the IWA to students and bridged the gap between universities and companies, enabling students to secure internships with collaborating entities. Our events have grown in number and scale. 

Our social media impact has been remarkable. Interaction from our followers has increased by 68.5%, while interaction from non-followers has surged by 250%. Additionally, our presence and influence in relevant forums have significantly increased. 

This award will inspire us to keep promoting the YWP network and IWA values, trying to be more relevant in the sector and celebrating our upcoming national conference, to which I warmly invite you! 

If you have questions regarding the IWA YWP Community, please, contact Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer, at isabela.espindola@iwahq.org.

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