Members of Youth News hope an instructional DVD on Bermuda's water collection methods will inspire others around the world to use the same technology.

Yesterday the students of Youth News, which is run by Global Arts Entertainment, unveiled plans for a new water catchment exhibit which will be built on CedarBridge Academy property.

The construction of the exhibit will be filmed and the DVD will be presented to Dr. Maki Mandela, daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Dr. Mandela is the executive director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which looks to promote sustainable socio-economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.

She will be in Bermuda in March 2008 for a follow-up panel discussion once the students have returned from a conference of the United Nations International School (UNIS).

For the last four years students from Bermuda have attended the UNIS conference.

During last year's conference the students unveiled a prototype design for collecting rainwater, based on the traditional Bermuda method of collecting water from roofs.

It is hoped that this model can be implemented in a variety of developing nations. And UNIS has committed to helping the project reach fruition.

Building the water catchment exhibit is another step in the process. By filming the construction they hope their idea will be better understood in foreign countries.

Premier Ewart Brown was on hand at the unveiling of plans yesterday. The Government has been a big supporter of the project along with sponsors Max Re and Shy Architecture.

Dr. Brown was flanked by Minister of the Environment, Neletha Butterfield, Minister of Education, Randy Horton, and Government backbencher George Scott, who is also the Chairman of the CedarBridge Board.

"It is not often that Bermuda has the occasion to share something with the rest of the world that is distinctly Bermudian," Dr. Brown said. "This project has the full support of the Government."

He added that the exhibit would also be an educational tool and tourist attraction. He suggested that taxi drivers would be able to drive to CedarBridge and show visitors the catchment when they ask 'why the white roofs'.

And US Consul General Gregory Slayton had glowing words of praise for the project, his daughter Sasha, 16, and son Christian, 14, are part of it.

He said: "I knew when we moved to Bermuda two years ago there would be a lot to learn and this water catchment is one of those things. And the world can learn from it.

"Thousands of children around the world die every day because they do not have access to clean water.

"There is nothing more important than getting fresh water."