Beneath our feet lies one of Southern Africa’s most valuable — and most vulnerable — resources: groundwater. It quietly sustains millions of households, farms, and industries across the SADC region, often without a second thought. But safeguarding it for future generations takes skill, foresight, and a new generation of professionals ready to lead. That’s exactly what the SADC-GMI Young Professionals Winter School is built to deliver – to shape future leaders.

A Growing Legacy of Building Groundwater Leaders

The SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), through its Young Professionals Program (YPP), has one clear mission: to grow a strong, connected community of skilled groundwater professionals across the region. At the heart of this mission is the Winter School — a multi-year platform where emerging geoscientists and water professionals sharpen their expertise in groundwater management, research, innovation, and policy.

The inaugural Winter School, hosted at the University of Zimbabwe, brought together 30 participants from 8 SADC countries and proved just how powerful this kind of regional knowledge exchange can be. Now, SADC-GMI is building on that momentum.

The 2nd Winter School: Two Weeks That Could Change a Career

From 03 – 14 August 2026, the University of the Free State‘s Institute for Groundwater Studies in Bloemfontein, South Africa, will come alive with energy, ideas, and hands-on learning as it hosts the 2nd SADC-GMI Young Professionals Winter School.

Over two intensive weeks, participants won’t just sit through lectures — they’ll get into the field, into the data, and into real conversations with the people driving groundwater management across the region. The program blends classroom learning, practical, hands-on sessions, professional networking, field trips, and direct exposure to real-world groundwater management practices. The goal is simple but ambitious: inspire and connect the next generation of groundwater leaders who will go on to advance water security, climate resilience, and socio-economic development throughout the SADC region.

This Year’s Theme: From Borehole to Basin

Groundwater doesn’t exist in isolation — a single borehole is part of a much bigger picture that stretches across aquifers and entire river basins. That’s the thinking behind this year’s theme: “From Borehole to Basin: Sustainable Groundwater Management for Communities.” The theme captures the full scope of what it takes to manage groundwater responsibly — from the community tap to basin-scale governance. Participants will explore how local water services, aquifer protection, and regional planning are all connected, gaining both the technical know-how and the systems-level thinking needed to manage groundwater holistically.

By the end of the program, Young Professionals should be equipped to design, monitor, and optimize groundwater systems — and to contribute meaningfully to the policies that protect water security across the region.

What’s on the Curriculum?

This is a hands-on, field-ready curriculum built for real impact. Topics include:

• Building Technical and Policy Leadership in Groundwater Governance • Community Engagement and Social Licensing • Transboundary Groundwater Management in SADC • Funding Proposals for Groundwater Projects • Community Groundwater Supply Systems • Practical GIS and Remote Sensing for Groundwater Professionals • Best Practices in Borehole Drilling, Construction, and Development • Groundwater Hydraulics: Pumping Test Principles • Groundwater Monitoring (Quality & Quantity)

Meet the Experts Behind the Program

None of this would be possible without the caliber of experts lined up to lead the sessions, which include Prof. Kevin Petersen, Eng. James Sauramba, Prof. Modreck Gomo, Prof. Francois Fourie, Dr Kudzai Mpakairi, Mrs Batanayi Gwangwawa, and Mrs Anna Negonga. Each brings deep, specialized experience to the table — a rare opportunity for participants to learn from and engage with some of the region’s leading voices in groundwater science and policy.

A Transformative Two Weeks Await

To the Young Professionals preparing to take part: come ready to learn, question, and absorb everything these two weeks have to offer. By the time the Winter School wraps up on 14 August, the aim is for every participant to walk away transformed — carrying new skills, new connections, and a renewed sense of purpose to apply in their daily work.

The future of groundwater management in the SADC region starts with the people trained to protect it. This August, that future takes shape in Bloemfontein.

SADC-GMI Winter School Shaping Future Leaders!!!