A contingent of 16 local students will head to the United Nations Assembly Hall tomorrow to pitch a water harvesting system that may help children in other parts of the world.

Their flight is scheduled to leave today.

Minister of Education Randolph Horton will meet the students in New York City and be part of their presentation to the United Nations International School Conference on tomorrow and Friday.

At a press conference with the students yesterday Minister Horton called the 16 youngsters "leaders of tomorrow".

They are from both public and private schools and participate in Global Arts Entertainment and Youth News.com.

Minister Horton said: "These movers and shakers will unveil a global rain water system prototype which, if approved, will be implemented in six communities across the world including Kenya, Mexico, Ghana and Haiti. Just think of the positive impact their efforts can have world wide."

The Royal Gazette was there as two of the adult leaders met last week with an architect to work out the details of how the water harvesting system will work.

It's primarily based on the roof water trapping system used Island wide in Bermuda.

However what works here may not work in developing parts of the world so the team needs to devise options that can function in different regions.

The goal is to help people, particularly underprivileged children, in third world countries secure their own potable water.

While in New York our students will confer with students and leaders from the United Nations International School (UNIS) which has entities all over the world.

Minister Horton said: "In 2003, there were 400 million people across the globe who were affected by water shortages.

"These teenagers have stepped up to the plate by not only recognising that there is a global issue that needs immediate attention, but by realising that they can be a part of the solution.

"We have young people that are, number one, concerned about people all over the world — young people who have a high level of citizenship responsibility. They're concerned not only about the people who are close to them and next to them, but the people in other parts of the world who maybe don't have anything to do with them.

"But as we all know, as adults we all know, that we are connected all over the world. And I think it's great to see that our young people are so-minded. "

Bermuda Institute student Mackinnon Eldridge, 17, is one of the teens making the trip.

He said: "What I've really learned so far is that, although a lot of countries do go without water, most of the problem comes from lack of knowledge on how to clean their water."

Mr. Eldridge said part of the water harvesting proposal will include teaching people about making the water they've already collected safe and drinkable.

Along with the presentation from the Bermudian students, Minister Horton will give a speech to conference attendees.

In mid-March it's expected that a contingent from the UNIS will come to Bermuda to officially launch the water harvesting prototype.