A Creative Solution for Clean Water from Young Minds: The PureFlow
A team of young people from Türkiye, Team Inspire, has won the Generation Unlimited imaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge with PureFlow
- Türkçe
- English
Türkiye is experiencing increasing water stress due to climate change. The World Bank projects that, under current trends, the country could become water scarce by 2030, potentially impacting agricultural yields, rural livelihoods, and food security. When news broke that Diyarbakır’s water supply could run out in just 23 days, three high school students from Türkiye decided to take action.
Meet Yusuf, Cemre, and Öykü—high school students from Diyarbakır and the bright minds behind Team Inspire, winners of the international Generation Unlimited imaGen Ventures Youth Challenge. Their groundbreaking project, PureFlow, is a low-cost, reusable water filter made from an unexpected material: discarded mussel shells.
“Our journey has been defined by our unwavering commitment to sustainability, youth empowerment, and innovation. With the invaluable support of UNICEF Türkiye and Habitat Association we've transcended boundaries to emerge as global champions in the Generation Unlimited ImaGen Ventures Global Challenge. This recognition is not just an award; it’s a pivotal milestone that propels us toward creating lasting, positive change in our community and beyond.” noted Team Inspire.
These shells, usually thrown away as household waste, have been transformed by Team Inspire into a powerful filtration material. Through their innovation, mussel shells are now capable of removing harmful pollutants—like heavy metals and toxic dyes—from contaminated water.
PureFlow isn't just effective, it's designed to be both affordable and sustainable. Each filter can purify up to one million litres of water at a cost of just $50,000, that is 54% more cost-effective than other systems, making it a practical, eco-friendly solution for communities and industries facing severe water pollution challenges.
Beyond its technical impact, the project reflects a strong commitment to global sustainability. By transforming waste into a valuable resource, the project directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). PureFlow exemplifies how youth-led innovation can support both environmental responsibility and social equity, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.
To bring their idea from concept to reality, Team Inspire partnered with university experts and conducted rigorous laboratory testing. Their experiments proved that the filter could effectively remove harmful contaminants, producing clean, drinkable water. This success validated their innovative approach and marked a significant step toward real-world application.
Looking ahead, the team has ambitious plans to expand their impact. They aim to develop PureFlow into a fully operational water purification machine, making it easier to deploy in areas facing acute water challenges. In addition to scaling the technology, they hope to raise awareness in communities affected by water pollution and engage local stakeholders, especially young people and entrepreneurs, in the movement toward sustainable water solutions. By combining innovation with outreach, Team Inspire is determined to make clean water more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for communities around the world.
“Moving forward, we will refine and field-test our water purification prototypes, bringing them to communities most affected by water scarcity and pollution. Our goal is to create lasting impact through free pilot programs, training local youth and entrepreneurs, and raising awareness. We are committed to scaling our solution globally and inspiring social change towards sustainable water solutions. The water crisis isn’t just a concern of a single group or community, it is a shared issue for all of humanity” says Yusuf, Cemre and Öykü.
TTeam Inspire’s message is clear: Everyone deserves access to clean water, and real change can start with the ideas of young people.
“Being part of the Generation Unlimited program has been an invaluable experience for us. We are thrilled to be with the winning teams in the Generation Unlimited ImaGen Ventures Youth Challenge global incubation program. We firmly believe that the expert consultancy and engagement with investors will play a key role in helping our venture achieve even greater success."
About Habitat Association
Habitat Association (Habitat) is a civil society organization that produces community capacity-building and social impact-oriented projects based on strong partnerships aiming for sustainable development in harmony with the digitalizing world. Founded in 1997 by young people who came together for the 1995 Copenhagen Social Development Summit and the 1996 United Nations Habitat II Summit, Habitat's mission has been to establish a communication bridge between the youth of the world and the youth of Türkiye. Since 1997, Habitat has been operating in all 81 provinces of Türkiye with thousands of volunteers, working with all segments of society regardless of religion, language, race, political opinion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Habitat focuses on empowering disadvantaged groups with the digital skills required by the modern age, ensuring access to opportunities, supporting participation in decision-making processes, and increasing social and environmental sensitivity. Habitat supports the Sustainable Development Goals through its work and establishes multi-stakeholder partnerships with governments, local administrations, the private sector, and civil society organizations in all its activities.
