Why Wavemakers United?

Water, it’s just there. In seas, rivers, lakes, ditches and from the tap. In the Netherlands we have it all. Swimming, sailing, skating; water is a source of entertainment all year round. At home we turn on the tap for a hot shower or a sip of fresh water. And we don’t have to worry about dirty water. It disappears through the drain… into the sewer. We hardly realize that clean water always comes out of the tap in the Netherlands, wherever and whenever we want it. And that we all live safely behind our dikes and dunes. But… having clean, safe and sufficient water is not self-evident. Every day, all kinds of organizations work hard to guarantee water quality, water quantity and water safety. In order to continue to enjoy water, to keep our water supply in order and to protect the Netherlands against water, we must continue to invest. In smart technological innovations and applications, but also in people. The children of today are the problem solvers of the future.

Wavemakers United makes children and young people aware of the consequences of climate change, which causes water problems worldwide. In one place, for example, the harvest fails due to persistent drought, while elsewhere people have to flee from a flood. At the beginning of December, this wall-filling appeal at Cape Town airport was unmissable. Day Zero, the day when drinking water will no longer come out of the tap, was in sight. Climate change is causing sea levels to rise. All over the world this creates problems for which solutions must be devised. In the Netherlands we are also dealing with the consequences of climate change: The sea level is rising… making the waves higher and breaking on our coasts with more force. The chance of severe storms and heavy rain showers is increasing. In the summer it rains less often, but harder. This increases the risk of flooding during heavy rain showers. There are also longer rainy periods, which can cause rivers to overflow. In the dry season, the Netherlands often suffers from drought and heat stress in the major cities. Today’s children will have to solve these increasingly complex problems in the future. It is important that they choose the right study for this. To encourage them to do so, Wavemakers try to make children enthusiastic about water and technology as early as possible.

Wavemakers group consists of young professional sailors, windsurfers and students with a grant from the Top Sector Water. They are young people who want to share their passion for and knowledge about water with others. Wavemakers work as water ambassadors in teams of two. Each team consists of an athlete and a student. The exciting experience stories of the athlete and the substantive knowledge of water of the student are linked in appealing guest lessons for children and young people.  Wavemakers visit primary and secondary schools, companies, youth networks and are present at water events such as World Water Day.  Wavemakers project aims to increase water awareness among children and young people by drawing attention to substantive knowledge about climate change and its consequences in an enthusiastic and inspiring way. Together with us, there are many organizations that are committed to this. What makes Wavemakers unique, however, is that young people with a passion for water sports or a water-related study address and motivate peers as water ambassadors. An approach that pays off. The number of requests to deploy water ambassadors is growing steadily.

Wavemakers project aims to bring athletes and companies into contact with each other. Athletes can help to successfully convey a company’s message. Because apart from a familiar face, an athlete often has a special story to tell. In addition, the athlete usually has a large network at home and abroad. This can be useful for a company. Of course, the athlete also benefits from the cooperation. Collaborating with companies gives you access to new networks. This can make the transition to a social career easier after your sports career. The same applies to students. The project brings you into contact with companies, giving you access to new networks that increase the chance of a challenging job related to your studies.  Wavemakers project has a partnership with, among others, the Ministries of Infrastructure & Water Management and Foreign Affairs, Hoge School Zeeland, Top Sector Water, Our Water, Rijkswaterstaat and the Union of Water Boards (UvW). The Wavemakers network consists of knowledge centers including Center of Expertices, youth networks around water, governments, the Water Sports Association and a water communication platform. As a Wavemaker you become part of this, and on request you help our partners to spread their message. You help companies, government organizations and youth networks by attending projects and events. Depending on the wishes of the client, you give a guest lecture about water or you inspire a brainstorming session. You help schools by giving guest lectures. The Water Sports Association can help you, for example, by being present at their activities on the water with the mobile water lab.

Your education consists of following the eight e-learning modules that you see here in the online community. You have now started lesson 1, and you follow all lessons in the order from 1 to 8. If you have answered the test questions in the final test correctly, you will receive a certificate and you can call yourself Wavemaker. The lessons have been developed by the teacher and content expert of the WU team, in collaboration with Hogeschool Zeeland and the KNAG. In this way we know for sure that the teaching material is in line with the existing courses and the required knowledge level.

If you have any questions during the teaching modules, you can of course ask the ‘Team behind the scenes’. For questions about the content, please contact Muhammet, for deployment as a Wavemaker, please contact Karin, for questions about communication and e-learning, please contact Daphne. For the use of the mobile water lab and other practical matters, go to Muhammet. For questions about teaching lessons and which working methods you can use per age group, go to Muhammet and for questions about our network of organizations and companies, contact Tilly. Goodluck!