WATER JOBS 2035 – Youth Academy for the New Water Economy

How will the water crisis shape the jobs of the future?

Climate change, increasing water demand, drought and possible future water scarcity are not only environmental challenges. They are also transforming the water sector, the skills it requires and the future world of work.

WATER JOBS 2035 is an international Erasmus+ Youth Exchange that invites young people to explore this transformation and discover the skills and emerging occupational profiles that may become increasingly relevant in the future water sector.

The central question of the project is:

“What new skills and occupational profiles will we need in a world facing climate change and water scarcity?”

Why WATER JOBS 2035?

Water scarcity is often discussed mainly as an environmental problem. However, decreasing water availability, climate change and technological transformation will also influence the future world of work and the skills that will be needed.

Instead of simply asking young people to “protect water”, WATER JOBS 2035 invites them to explore which technologies, skills and areas of work may emerge as water challenges become more important.

Our learning approach is:

Explore the lake → Understand the challenge → Learn the technology → Discover future water careers → Develop new skills → Build a solution to a real-world problem.

This makes the project different from a traditional environmental awareness project by bringing together environmental challenges, technology, future skills and youth employability in one learning experience.

Küçükçekmece Lake will serve as a living learning environment. Young people will observe the lake and its surroundings, identify real water-related challenges and explore how these challenges could be addressed in 2035.

Participants will be introduced to eight emerging water occupational profiles:

-Water Data Analyst – water and environmental data
-Smart Water Technician – sensors, IoT and smart water technologies
-Water GIS Mapper – GIS, mapping and spatial data
-Nature-Based Solutions Designer – nature-based solutions
-Water Reuse Specialist – water efficiency and reuse
-Microplastic & Emerging Pollutant Observer – microplastics and emerging pollutants
-Climate & Flood Resilience Planner – drought, flooding and climate resilience
-Water Community Facilitator – community participation and water governance

These profiles will not be presented as official job titles, but as future-oriented skill areas and emerging types of work that may become increasingly relevant as the water sector evolves.

7-day Youth Exchange

Day 1 – Meet the Lake, Meet the Future

Participants will explore Küçükçekmece Lake through observation, photography and team-based challenges and will be introduced to the main theme of the project.

Day 2 – Water in 2035

Water scarcity, climate change and increasing water demand will be explored through future scenarios and discussions about how the water sector may change by 2035.

Day 3 – Water Data & Smart Water

Participants will work with basic water data and discover data visualisation, sensors, IoT and smart water technologies through practical activities.

Day 4 – GIS, Microplastics & Citizen Science

Young people will explore GIS and mapping, microplastics, emerging pollutants and citizen science.

Day 5 – Nature, Reuse & Resilience

Participants will explore nature-based solutions, water reuse, drought and flood resilience and develop solution ideas.

Day 6 – WATER FUTURE CHALLENGE

International teams will work on a real water-related challenge and develop an innovative solution for 2035.

Day 7 – From Learning to Action

Teams will present their solutions, reflect on their learning experience and identify the skills and areas they would like to develop further.

The activities will use non-formal and experiential learning, problem-solving, teamwork, scenario-based activities and design-oriented methods, allowing young people to move beyond theory and apply what they learn.

Who are we looking for?

We are interested in partnering with youth organisations, NGOs, youth groups and organisations working directly with young people from different countries.

Partners do not need to be specialised in water or environmental issues. We are particularly interested in organisations working in youth work, digital skills, STEM, employability, climate action, environmental education, social inclusion and community participation.

Partners will be invited to involve young participants, share water and climate challenges from their countries, bring young people's perspectives into the project and actively contribute to the activities.

With WATER JOBS 2035, we want young people not only to adapt to future changes, but to understand them, explore future skills today and think about their own role in the future.

If water is changing, jobs will change too. Are young people ready for this future?

See the problem. Learn the technology. Discover the skill. Build the solution.