IHE Delft 💧 Women for Water scholarship fund

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Video summary

Water is a fundamental necessity for life, yet its critical role often goes unnoticed until communities face severe scarcity. In many parts of the world, women and girls bear the heaviest burden by spending hours each day fetching water, a task that steals time from their education and work opportunities. Despite these challenges, studies indicate that women are already present at every level of the formal water workforce. However, providing them with access to professional water education transforms their potential into tangible impact, allowing them to address complex issues like treatment, resource management, policy, and governance effectively. The Women for Water Scholarship Fund at IHE Delft is dedicated to empowering talented women from around the globe who are at the beginning of their professional journeys. By supporting these individuals to pursue a Master's in Water and Sustainable Development, the program equips them with essential knowledge, skills, and global networks needed to drive change. Alumni testimonials highlight that without such scholarships, many would not be able to study abroad or gain the broad perspective necessary to think beyond local constraints. This education serves as a turning point, enabling graduates to return home as confident leaders equipped to implement integrated water resources management and strengthen their national initiatives. Investing in women's higher education within the water sector creates a multiplied impact on sustainable development by fostering resilient societies. When women are involved in designing, managing, and governing water systems, research suggests that effectiveness and sustainability can increase by up to seven times. This initiative is described as a total win because it benefits not only the individual women but also their communities and the world at large. Graduates often apply their new expertise directly to their home countries, such as working on governance procedures in Iraq or promoting capacity development with a specific focus on women's leadership in water resources management. Ultimately, supporting the education of women from developing countries empowers entire communities and promotes future collaborations within the water sector. These scholars arrive as students and depart as problem solvers who remain connected to an expanding global network of peers for life. The combination of investing in both women and water ensures that development efforts are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. By joining this effort, supporters help shape the future of water management, ensuring that those most affected by water challenges have a voice and a role in creating lasting solutions.

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Water is essential to our lives, yet we often don't realize just how much we depend on it. But in many parts of the world, water shapes daily life. In countless communities, women and girls spend hours each day fetching water, time [music] lost from school, opportunities lost for work. Across the globe, water challenges are growing every day. Yet despite carrying the heaviest burden, studies show that women remain represented at every level of the formal water workforce. But something powerful happens [music] when these women gain access to water education and take part in addressing these challenges [music] professionally. Female leadership in the water sector isn't just about representation. It's essential for designing solutions that truly [music] meet the needs of those most affected. At IHE Delft Institute for water education, we welcome women from around the world. Women who have experienced water challenges firsthand, [music] who are at the beginning of their professional journeys, and who have the potential and determination to create change. Together with other young professionals, they study every aspect of water, from treatment and resource management to policy and governance. >> The Women for Water Scholarship Fund has the potential to turn talented women into real on the ground impact by supporting women to follow the MSC water and sustainable development at IHE Delft. You're giving them the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, the skills, and the network needed to really make a change. So only by supporting one woman, you are already strengthening your [music] community and helping to shape the future of water. Join us in this effort. >> I call this initiative a total win because investing in women higher education in water does not only give benefit to women themselves, it creates countless benefits for the world and the societies. Investing in [music] water is investing in sustainable development and investing in women is investing in resilient societies. When both are combined, investment in women >> [music] >> and in water brings multiplied impact to development, making it inclusive, resilient >> [music] >> and sustainable. >> Looking back, I can clearly say that I achieved played a fundamental role in my professional [music] and personal journey. And this is why scholarships matter so much. >> [music] >> Without a scholarship, I wouldn't be able to study abroad. >> My masters in water and sustainable [music] development at IHE Delft Institute for water education has significantly strengthened my contribution to [music] Department of Public Health Engineering. The program enhanced my knowledge in water, sustainable sanitation and climate resilience, which I now apply in national [music] water and sanitation initiatives. >> Education in Delft was really a turning point in my life. Whatever was being taught here was really giving me, you know, opening my eyes to think broadly and beyond. >> When you support education of women, especially from developing countries, you are not only supporting [music] an individual, you are empowering a community. You are promoting future projects, upcoming collaborations and future leaders for the water sector. >> They arrive as students and they return home as water leaders [music] and problem solvers, equipped not only with knowledge, but with confidence and skills to make a lasting impact. For life, they remain connected to an expanding [music] global network of peers. >> Why women? You might ask. Because when women are involved in the designing, management, [music] and the governance of water sector, its effectiveness and sustainability increase by [music] up to seven times. >> The knowledge that I have gained about water governance as I was able to work on projects related to supporting and strengthening governance procedures [music] in the water sector in Iraq. I'm currently responsible for capacity development of individuals and institutions to be able to implement integrated water resources management with a particular focus on the women and women leadership in water [music] resources management. >> When I finished the master study here, I become more uh dynamic [music] in learning. I feel grateful and thankful for the IHE education. >> [music]