Water security starts in the classroom, and we saw what that can really look like.

Kosovo’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change, pollution and unsustainable use. Infrastructure, regulation and investment are essential, but lasting water security also depends on a generation that understands water, values it and sees itself as part of the solution.

This is the ambition behind EDUwaterKosova, implemented by Young Water Professionals Kosovo with the support of the IWRM-K Program: bringing the fundamentals of Integrated Water Resources Management into pre-university education through dedicated learning packages for three education levels.

Last week, teachers, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, SHUKOS and academia came together to review and validate the materials before they enter classrooms.

The teachers’ response was particularly encouraging. They were impressed by the modern, highly visual and interactive materials, designed to help pupils grasp key concepts quickly, connect them with everyday life and, most importantly, think critically.

A key strength of this initiative is its sustainability. Teachers will continue using these materials year after year, with generation after generation of pupils, embedding water literacy well beyond the project itself.

The aim of all this is not only to provide information, but to encourage pupils and students to ask the right questions:

🌊 Where does our water come from?

💧 Who uses it and who is responsible for protecting it?

🏘️ How do our communities affect rivers and groundwater?

🌦️ What does climate change mean for future water availability?

⚖️ How should competing water needs be balanced?

For secondary-school students especially, the message is clear: you are not only learners; you are important stakeholders in Kosovo’s water future.

From Grade 3 to Grade 7 and 12, and further through university bachelor's and master's-level education, the IWRM-K Program is helping build a continuous pathway of water knowledge and responsibility.

Stay tuned. We will soon share how pupils and students experience these activities in the classroom.