2024 PRME Global Students Sustainability Award

The Youth for Sustainable Development club is passionately committed to promoting and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among university students. Our mission is to make sustainable development accessible, innovative, and effective while fostering inclusivity. Our club focuses on two key thematic fields: the environment and climate, as well as social sustainability. Our goal is to empower university students, both on and off campus, to actively contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

Inclusivity lies at the heart of our values. We strive to ensure that every student feels welcome, regardless of their background or area of study. Our club serves as a platform for collaboration, learning, and engagement, enabling students to explore innovative and accessible approaches to sustainable development.

The Youth for Sustainable Development club has been deeply committed to promoting and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals among university students. Through a diverse range of initiatives, the club has made significant contributions towards a more sustainable and responsible future.

The club's activities have directly addressed several key SDGs. The "Faculty Summer Camp + Rooftop Planting" and "Run for the Climate Marathon" events raised awareness on climate change and environmental sustainability (SDGs 13 and 15). The "Hayah Karimah Volunteering" initiative provided vital community services targeting low-income populations, addressing SDGs on poverty, health, and education (SDGs 1, 3, and 4). The "Psychology and Behavioral Sciences for Sustainable Development Event" and "Gender and Climate Guidebook – Anuket" session highlighted the importance of mental health and gender equality, aligning with SDGs 3, 5, and 10.

Additionally, the club's activities demonstrate a strong commitment to the Seven Principles of Responsible Management Education. By engaging students in hands-on learning, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and emphasizing the role of higher education in sustainable development, the club has embodied the principles of purpose, values, method, research, partnership, and dialogue. Overall, the Youth for Sustainable Development club has leveraged its innovative and inclusive approaches to advance the SDGs and promote responsible management education within and beyond the university campus.

The Youth for Sustainable Development club has consistently showcased creativity and innovative approaches in its efforts to advance the organization's mission of promoting sustainable development among university students.

One such approach is how we combine interactive awareness sessions on the SDGs and climate change with a hands-on rooftop planting activities or games (online and board games). By engaging both high-school students and new faculty members as well as a diverse audience beyond the university campus, we are able to spark joy and social interaction among the participants in addition to fostering cross-generational collaboration and encouraged a spirit of active learning and environmental stewardship.

Through our collaborations with external bodies or organisations, we showcased our ability to forge interdisciplinary partnerships and address sustainability through the lens of mental health, human behavior, gender, sport etc. These innovative approaches have not only advanced the club's mission but have also created a more engaged and aware university community.

Within the university, the club's initiatives have fostered a more engaged and informed student body on the topic of sustainable development. For example we have increased awareness on the intersections between mental health, gender equality, and climate change. These events have not only educated students in the university as well as students in the schools we’ve went to, but have also encouraged them to consider sustainability from a multidisciplinary perspective.

The club's outreach to local communities has also been impactful. The "Hayah Karimah Volunteering" initiative, which involved providing vital services to low-income populations across Egypt, has directly contributed to tangible improvements in the living conditions and access to healthcare and education within these communities. The "Anuket" hybrid event was attended by over 30 on-site participants and an additional 30 online participants, primarily from across Africa and the MENA region. This session introduced students to this critical topic, fostering a deeper understanding of the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women in vulnerable communities.

The club's "Medical and Dentistry Pop-Ups" initiative also had a significant impact, targeting underserved areas in Egyptian governorates and providing much-needed medical assistance and access to quality healthcare for local communities. Additionally, the club's involvement in the Gaza food aid provision reinforced a sense of global cooperation among its members, demonstrating that humanitarian action transcends borders and emphasizing the importance of international solidarity in addressing pressing challenges.

The Youth for Sustainable Development club has been instrumental in promoting holistic student development through its diverse range of initiatives and activities. By engaging in these student-led projects, club members have had the opportunity to acquire and hone essential skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Our activities have allowed members to develop skills in community education and climate literacy. Through these initiatives, they have learned how to effectively communicate complex sustainable development concepts to high school students, faculty, and the general public. This has not only strengthened their public speaking and facilitation abilities but has also instilled a deeper sense of civic responsibility. Additionally, we have empowered club members to practice hands-on community service, fostering empathy, teamwork, and a global perspective as well as more aware of social inequalities, inspiring members to continue working towards a more just and equitable future.

Furthermore, the club's activities has provided members with valuable exposure to stakeholder engagement, policy discussions, and the intricacies of systemic change. These experiences have equipped them with critical thinking and leadership skills that will serve them well in their academic and professional pursuits. By embracing the diverse learning opportunities presented by the club's initiatives, its members have not only strengthened their technical skills but have also developed a deeper sense of social responsibility, global awareness, and personal growth - traits that will undoubtedly benefit them long after their university experience.

The club's work has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting global cooperation and inclusive, cross-cultural dialogue. The hybrid session we organized in collaboration with the British Council in Egypt is a particularly insightful example. By convening students both on-site and virtually from around the world, we created an inclusive platform for shared learning and the exchange of diverse perspectives. Featuring panelists from local Egyptian grassroots organizations was an impactful way to center the on-the-ground experiences and expertise of communities directly affected by the intersections of gender inequality and climate change. This approach helps to expand the traditionally Western-centric narrative on these global challenges, and promotes greater understanding of culturally-specific contexts and solutions.

Similarly, our involvement as organisers in the UNDP-BUE COP28 Simulation Model conference enabled meaningful international cooperation and knowledge-sharing among attendees from all over the world representing other countries and organizations as delegations as we facilitated and assisted their participation. Facilitating this type of global dialogue is crucial for addressing complex, transnational issues like climate change.

Finally, our "Gaza Food Aid Provision" activity with the Egyptian Food Bank demonstrates the power of international solidarity in supporting vulnerable communities, regardless of location. This reinforces the notion that sustainable development requires collective, cross-border action, engraining the sense of global cooperation in the club members and knowing that humanitarian action exceeds borders - a principle that is highly transferable and relevant for student organizations in diverse contexts.

Overall, our organization has showcased innovative, inclusive approaches to promoting global cooperation and shared learning. These efforts hold valuable lessons for student groups seeking to make an impact beyond their local communities.

1. Faculty Summer Camp + Rooftop Planting > Awareness interactive sessions/workshops on SDGs and climate change and small scale planting for high-school students and new faculty students - Improved students’ awareness on sustainable development and skills in rooftop planting and greenification
2. Run for the Climate marathon / Booth >Booth for SDG awareness and games/activities for kids during the marathon - Club members developed skills in youth education and climate literacy during our activities with the school students and attendees
3. Hayah Karimah Volunteering > Volunteering in Egyptian governorates under the Egyptian Hayah Karima (Decent Life) initiative - Community service targeting low income communities across Egypt and providing them with health/educational/skills services
4. Nada Foundation Workshop/ Participation Collab > Club members learned more about road safety measures and were more keen on practicing them during their daily lives
5. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences for Sustainable Development Event / Organisation > Ushering and co-organising in event for the Humanities Faculty - Increase awareness on mental health, drug usage, art therapy, and a variety of psychological topics, creating a more educated community
6. School Visit -Sacre Coeur > Awareness interactive session on SDGs and climate change for kids - Spreading awareness and education on sustainable development and climate change for school children, improving community’s knowledge and introducing young students to ways to take action and serve their own communities
7. Gender and Climate Guidebook – Anuket > Session on gender equality and climate change + volunteering opportunities - Introduction to the linkage between climate change and gender inequalities and provided students with opportunities to volunteer with Heya Masr and Shagaret Beitna organizations
8. Youth Leaders Foundation Leaders League Competition > The project we are competing with aims to work on the promotion of awareness and word towards sustainable development in schools and universities across Egypt
9. Participation in the Egyptian National Dialogue > Club president representing the club spoke on how to improve the work of student activities working in Egypt in the field of sustainable development and be more inclusive of students in national and university activities and events
10. COP28 Simulation Model Organisation > We assisted with the organization and event flow and logistics of the COP28 Simulation model conference
11. Egyptian Food Bank visit > Club members visited the Egyptian Food Bank volunteering to make food aid packages to be provided to Gaza in the ongoing war crises
12. Run for Health and Wellbeing (Booth) > Members managed a booth and held activities and gamed for run participants on SDG’s
    
13. ACIC School Visit > Awareness interactive session on SDGs and climate change for kids - Spreading awareness and education on sustainable development and climate change for school children, improving community’s knowledge and introducing young students to ways to take action and serve their own communities

1. President : Mrs Basmallah Rawash *

2. Vice President : Mr Karim Ayman *

3. Head : Mrs Jannah Kamel *

4. Head : Mr Basel Deghaidy *

5. Head : Mrs Esraa Karameldeen *