About a dozen local students want to take an intrinsically Bermudian tradition and share it with the world.

The youngsters, part of Youth News.com, will take Bermuda?s water trapping roof design to the United Nations in New York City next week. They hope the unique water catchment system can be recreated around the world to help third world countries harvest fresh drinking water.

Although Bermuda is not a United Nations country, the students have been invited to participate in the United Nations International School.

The participants are from the Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School, Bermuda Institute, Saltus and CedarBridge Academy. The Minister of Education Randolph Horton will be on the trip along with a collection of sponsors and adult chaperones.

Two of the adults involved, Andrew Phillips of Global Arts Entertainment and Andrew MacKay of Gorham?s Hardware, met Thursday with an architect to try and draw up a water catchment model that works. sat in on the meeting and immediately it became clear that the fix the students are after won?t be easy to achieve.

What works in Bermuda may not work in Kenya, Ghana, Haiti and Mexico ? the countries where the water catchment model may eventually be tested.

Simon Hodgson of Shy Architects, who agreed to assist in the effort, said during the meeting: ?You?ll find that each individual cultural context will demand different methodology.

?So this shouldn?t be seen as the only way to do it. This has sort of Bermudian precedence ? which I guess is what kicked the whole thing off, but I?m advocating that you put to the UN or whomever, that this is not the only way to tackle rain water harvesting.?

Although Mr. Hodgson came up with a drawing that may be used in the students? presentation to the UN, he was careful not to call it a prototype.

It?s Mr. Phillips? job to make sure the kids understand that important distinction.

He said: ?We?re going to conform where it?s necessary or adapt to whatever environment exists.?

The UN International School is an important vehicle for a programme like this because the school is made up of the children of diplomats. Wherever the UN goes, the school goes with it.

So if our students can train their students on water harvesting, the lesson will literally go around the world ? especially in the undeveloped world where these techniques are needed the most.

Mr. MacKay said: ?They?re like the promoters.

?If you look at the UN and take a junior version of it ? they?re the kids taking the lead role for the next generation. That?s the way I look at it.?

After the initial presentation in the United Nations Assembly Hall on March 1 and 2, a contingent from the International School will come to Bermuda where the water harvesting idea will be officially launched.

That is scheduled to take place on March 15 and 16.

Mr. Phillips said: ?We?re looking to put the prototype in Bermuda. The site is soon to be officially announced. Mr. Horton is working on that right now.

?And then pretty much within a year we?re looking to put six prototypes in six different regions.?

Mr. MacKay, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Gorham?s, and one of the chief sponsors has extensive knowledge of Kenya. His expertise has gone far beyond being just financial.

He is also expected to speak at the United Nations. Minister Horton will give an address as well.

The Ministry of Education is slated to further explain its role at a press conference Tuesday.

In the end, the ultimate hope, is to have the water harvesting systems placed at orphanages in the underdeveloped world.

That way they would have built a system where children are helping children.