Third cohort of Youth Panel gets going
Noorderzijlvest Water Authority is pleased that this year too it has succeeded in bringing together a diverse and enthusiastic group of young people. The new composition of the youth panel brings together different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Over the coming year, these twelve young people will contribute their ideas on the future of water!
Who are the new young water thinkers?
The panel brings together a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and perspectives. The young people are between the ages of 16 and 24 and are enrolled in a variety of educational programmes, ranging from pre-university, intermediate and higher vocational education, and university. Their fields of study include communication sciences, chemistry, international relations, urban planning, geography, education, and business administration. In addition, they share interests in areas such as nature, technology, sports, photography, volunteer work, and sustainability.
This diversity aligns with Noorderzijlvest’s goal of gaining a broad understanding of what matters to young people in the region.
Continuity within the youth panel is ensured
Reuven and Jasper were also members of the Noorderzijlvest 2025–2026 Youth Panel and have decided to remain involved in the initiative for another year. This ensures that valuable experience is retained within the group.
Young People reach out to other young people
The 2025–2026 Youth Panel played an active role in recruiting the new cohort. Panel members helped inspire their peers and raise awareness about what participating in the panel entails. In addition to this personal approach, young people were reached through schools, teachers, family, colleagues, and local media. This approach proved successful: all the available spots were filled, and there were more applicants than spots.
Building on what works
Last year’s evaluation showed that observing and participating within the organisation is valued enormously. That is why this will receive an even greater focus in the coming year. Noorderzijlvest and the panel will work together to explore how participants can play a more active role in departments and projects, and how they can serve as ambassadors. The young people will be given the opportunity to indicate which topics and fields of work interest them.
In addition, the panel will be given three assignments that fit in with the water authority’s key challenges. Drawing on their own living experiences, participants will contribute ideas for solutions, communication, and building support.
Tomorrow's generation is already contributing ideas today
The choices we make today in the areas of water management, climate adaptation, and the living environment will have consequences for future generations. Young people are not only the residents of the future, but also the generation that will experience the effects of climate change for the longest time. That is precisely why Noorderzijlvest believes it is important to actively involve young people in issues that affect their future.
The youth panel offers young people the opportunity to contribute ideas, make their voices heard, and gain experience with societal decision-making. At the same time, the panel helps the water authority to be more in tune with the perspectives of a new generation. This generates new insights that contribute to future-proof policies, effective communication, and services that meet the needs of young people.