The youth of Bermuda has sent a message of hope back to Africa through a water conservation project and a gift to Nelson Mandela in the form of a dancing boy.

Dr. Maki Mandela, the statesman's daughter, returns to South Africa today after visiting a water catch project created by students from Youth News. The model for collecting rainwater - to be constructed at CedarBridge Academy - is based on Bermuda's unique roof catchment system and could ultimately bring life to thousands in communities across the continent.

Dr. Mandela, executive director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa - which promotes sustainable socio-economic growth, aims to bring the water catch system to rural areas where women and children sometimes have to trek for hours just to reach a well.

She will also be taking home a gift for her father symbolising hope and the innocence of youth. Dr. Mandela was last night presented with a bronze statue of a Bermudian boy watching Gombey dancers in a Bermuda Day parade. The figurine 'Lif Your Leg Up' has been sculpted by Elizabeth Ann Trott, a descendant of the slaves on board the American ship 'Enterprise' who were freed in Bermuda in 1835, six months after the abolition of slavery on the Islands.

Ms Trott, whose great-great grandmother Mahalia was one of 72 slaves who chose to stay in Bermuda to gain their freedom, said her statue represented "the innocence of childhood".

Dr. Mandela was presented with the figurine as she attended a reception to thank sponsors and participants in the 'Global Rain Water Harvest Programme'. It was presented by the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation, on behalf of Bermuda.

Today she is expected to visit the site of the water catchment model at CedarBridge Academy.

The project was born from a youth delegation to the UN International School-United Nations Conference on 'Global warming - confronting the crisis'. After showing how Bermudians conserve their rainwater and how this could provide drinking water in other countries, the students teamed up with the Global Arts Foundation to take the concept further.

The National Water Catch Exhibit - sponsored by Max Capital - will now act as a model to the rest of the world. Its construction will be filmed for a 'how to' DVD to be distributed to the UN and it will act as an attraction for visiting dignitaries and tourists.

Dr. Maki Mandela said yesterday: "It's been a great honour to be in Bermuda for the first time. It's a wonderful country, full of water all around! I was interested to see the water catch and was greatly inspired by the efforts that have been made here.

"I think there might be lessons to learn here for the African continent, particularly the rural areas."

Dr. Mandela said that 60 percent of communities are forced to travel an hour or more, just to reach a well with potable water.

"The water catch is a splendid idea," she said. "The problem is not so much fresh water in Africa - there's plenty of it. The challenge is providing clean, potable water which is accessible to communities as well."

Dr. Mandela told The Royal Gazette: "I really came here to explore and see. The most appropriate place for them is the rural areas, but maybe the first place to start is South Africa and if successful we can then start looking at other areas.

"I think Bermuda has quite a lot to offer the world."

Sarah Fellows, Global Arts Foundation President, said last night: "It's been an honour to receive Dr. Mandela here in Bermuda. What we've learned from her is that the water catch is a step in the right direction."