At the 1st Youth Leadership Forum for Water – Piura 2026, Wavemakers United Founder and Director, Tilly Stroo, shared our vision for strengthening youth leadership in the water sector and turning global momentum into local action.
Her presentation focused on a simple but powerful idea: if we want a water-secure future, we must invest not only in infrastructure and technology, but also in the people who will lead that future. Through Wavemakers United, young people are supported to move from awareness to education, innovation, community action, and ultimately leadership roles within the water sector.
Looking ahead to the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, Tilly highlighted the importance of connecting global youth networks with locally owned initiatives. She invited universities, NGOs, and youth organisations across Latin America and the Caribbean to become part of the next wave of youth water leadership by establishing locally led Waves that connect young professionals, students, researchers, and communities around shared water challenges.
The Forum provided an inspiring platform to discuss how youth ambition can be transformed into tangible impact.
As Wavemakers United continues to expand across Latin America, we look forward to working with local partners to build new Waves, strengthen existing networks, and empower the next generation of water leaders.