about us

Mission

Waterberry is an organisation working to strengthen the role and involvement of young professionals in development work.

The need for Waterberry

Sustainable development strategies carry promise and imply obligations for the young and for future generations. Without the full participation of young professionals in development work in all regions and sectors sustainable development cannot be achieved. Young professionals can provide the energy, talent and commitment needed for a long-term development effort that leaps generations. An ongoing
commitment is required from the development community to bring young professionals from throughout the world into well-conceived, well-run and solidly-funded development posts. Thousands of students and young professionals are eager to take up the challenge of fighting hunger and working for peace and security. Waterberry Development
Organization seeks to promote the links, connections, funding mechanisms required and to promote understanding of the need and value of having young professionals in future development leader positions.

Programs Areas and Activites

Waterberry’s activities can be divided into two spheres – building a Knowledge Network and the Knowledge Advantage Program.

The Knowledge Network: Waterberry is creating an online knowledge base. Leveraging the functionalities of this system a knowledge network will be created that will bring together: Young professionals interested in development work, Universities, Foundations, Employers, Mentors, Sponsors and other stakeholders. Creating and maintaining this knowledge network is Waterberry’s core activity. In addition, Waterberry uses pro-active methods such as speaker forums and careers days to take the knowledge network to young professionals. The success of this knowledge network will be the foundation for four of Waterberry’s Program Areas:
- The Awareness Program raises awareness of development issues among young professionals;
- The Education Program raises awareness of post-graduate courses relevant to development;
- The Employment Program provides a centralized database of development jobs and internships for young professionals; and
- The Social Entrepreneur Program assists young professionals in kick-starting their own initiatives.

The Knowledge Advantage Program: Research by established think-tanks has shown that in many organisations the skills of young professionals are not being utilised to maximise the productivity of those individuals and of the organisation as a whole. To assist employers in development work to maximise the contribution of their young professionals Waterberry generates general technical assistance documents and organisation-specific evaluation projects that build on this research to make recommendations on how to implement managerial policies to get the most out of the work of young professionals.

The Team

Waterberry was created to address problems faced by the founders in the beginning of their careers in development. The lack of appropriate resources was witnessed first hand and the team was created to analyse and address this problem. The founders have acquired considerable knowledge and experience in the development sector and are working to impart these to young professionals around the globe. This process will be facilitated by mentors and the advisory council, formed to guide the growth of Waterberry.

The Waterberry Tree

The name Waterberry is taken form the evergreen tree which is found across Africa along streams and watercourses.

501(c)(3) non-profit status

Waterberry's 501(c)(3) status has been officially approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) making it eligible to receive tax-deductable donations.



	Mission Waterberry is an organisation working to strengthen the role and involvement of young professionals in development work. The need for Waterberry Sustainable development strategies carry promise and imply obligations for the young and for future generations. Without the full participation of young professionals in development work in all regions and sectors sustainable development cannot be achieved. Young professionals can provide the energy, talent and commitment needed for a long-term development effort that leaps generations. An ongoing commitment is required from the development community to bring young professionals from throughout the world into well-conceived, well-run and solidly-funded development posts. Thousands of students and young professionals are eager to take up the challenge of fighting hunger and working for peace and security. Waterberry Development Organization seeks to promote the links, connections, funding mechanisms required and to promote understanding of the need and value of having young professionals in future development leader positions. Programs Areas and Activites Waterberry’s activities can be divided into two spheres – building a Knowledge Network and the Knowledge Advantage Program. The Knowledge Network: Waterberry is creating an online knowledge base. Leveraging the functionalities of this system a knowledge network will be created that will bring together: Young professionals interested in development work, Universities, Foundations, Employers, Mentors, Sponsors and other stakeholders. Creating and maintaining this knowledge network is Waterberry’s core activity. In addition, Waterberry uses pro-active methods such as speaker forums and careers days to take the knowledge network to young professionals. The success of this knowledge network will be the foundation for four of Waterberry’s Program Areas: - The Awareness Program raises awareness of development issues among young professionals; - The Education Program raises awareness of post-graduate courses relevant to development; - The Employment Program provides a centralized database of development jobs and internships for young professionals; and - The Social Entrepreneur Program assists young professionals in kick-starting their own initiatives. The Knowledge Advantage Program: Research by established think-tanks has shown that in many organisations the skills of young professionals are not being utilised to maximise the productivity of those individuals and of the organisation as a whole. To assist employers in development work to maximise the contribution of their young professionals Waterberry generates general technical assistance documents and organisation-specific evaluation projects that build on this research to make recommendations on how to implement managerial policies to get the most out of the work of young professionals. The Team Waterberry was created to address problems faced by the founders in the beginning of their careers in development. The lack of appropriate resources was witnessed first hand and the team was created to analyse and address this problem. The founders have acquired considerable knowledge and experience in the development sector and are working to impart these to young professionals around the globe. This process will be facilitated by mentors and the advisory council, formed to guide the growth of Waterberry. The Waterberry Tree The name Waterberry is taken form the evergreen tree which is found across Africa along streams and watercourses. 501(c)(3) non-profit status Waterberry's 501(c)(3) status has been officially approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) making it eligible to receive tax-deductable donations.