Youth-led actions have a long history of success. Since theirs is the age bracket most affected by climate change, youngsters are coming forward in large numbers to join the movement addressing this crisis.
To provide the next generation with a platform to unleash their creativity in conceptualizing and developing climate action projects, AKU launched its inaugural President’s Challenge for Climate Solutions, an educational and awareness drive to engage AKU’s youth in ideating climate solutions. This annual initiative was conceptualized to educate, inspire, and encourage the next generation to develop strategies for mitigation, adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change. It is a translation of President Shahabuddin’s vision for preserving the environment for generations to come.
The President’s Challenge engaged students, not only from Pakistan and East Africa, but also from local schools throughout Karachi. To mark the closing of the challenge, President Shahabuddin met with the participants and expressed how passionately he feels about the cause: “We launched the President’s Challenge earlier this year because we know our students don’t want to sit on the sidelines as the world grows even hotter. The thoughtfulness with which you responded to our call for action is another demonstration of your great potential.”
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special video message was sent by the Chief Guest, Prince Hussain Aga Khan in which he spoke of his personal devotion to the cause and what role the next generation can play to limit climate change. “A sense of responsibility to others, and a desire to contribute to the quest for solutions to grand challenges are key attributes of AKU, its students, graduates, faculty and staff. I’m glad to see the spirit of service lives in the new generation” he said.
The closing ceremony also gave members of the winning teams Re-Last, Climatica, and Think Green the opportunity to speak about their proposed solutions, their learning journeys and the role of the youth in the fight against climate change. This challenge aims to ensure that the voice of the youth is included and represented in the strategic priority of the environment and sustainability agenda at AKU. It is part of a series of efforts being carried out to uphold the AKDN-wide commitment to achieve net zero operations by 2030 and engage wider audiences in addressing the most urgent issue of our times. Furthermore, AKU has also brought together partners around the shared purpose of addressing this crisis; ‘Voices from the Roof of the World’, a docuseries, was commissioned to Emmy Award winning director Andrew Tkach in 2021, to cast attention on the catastrophic impact of climate change. The 10 episode-long series was able to garner over 13.5 million views and has landed a spot in 16 international film festivals.
It is now time for action on climate change to take center stage.
Youth-led actions have a long history of success. Since theirs is the age bracket most affected by climate change, youngsters are coming forward in large numbers to join the movement addressing this crisis.
To provide the next generation with a platform to unleash their creativity in conceptualizing and developing climate action projects, AKU launched its inaugural President’s Challenge for Climate Solutions, an educational and awareness drive to engage AKU’s youth in ideating climate solutions. This annual initiative was conceptualized to educate, inspire, and encourage the next generation to develop strategies for mitigation, adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change. It is a translation of President Shahabuddin’s vision for preserving the environment for generations to come.
The President’s Challenge engaged students, not only from Pakistan and East Africa, but also from local schools throughout Karachi. To mark the closing of the challenge, President Shahabuddin met with the participants and expressed how passionately he feels about the cause: “We launched the President’s Challenge earlier this year because we know our students don’t want to sit on the sidelines as the world grows even hotter. The thoughtfulness with which you responded to our call for action is another demonstration of your great potential.”
A
special video message was sent by the Chief Guest, Prince Hussain Aga Khan in which he spoke of his personal devotion to the cause and what role the next generation can play to limit climate change. “A sense of responsibility to others, and a desire to contribute to the quest for solutions to grand challenges are key attributes of AKU, its students, graduates, faculty and staff. I’m glad to see the spirit of service lives in the new generation” he said.
The closing ceremony also gave members of the winning teams Re-Last, Climatica, and Think Green the opportunity to speak about their proposed solutions, their learning journeys and the role of the youth in the fight against climate change. This challenge aims to ensure that the voice of the youth is included and represented in the strategic priority of the environment and sustainability agenda at AKU. It is part of a series of efforts being carried out to uphold the AKDN-wide commitment to achieve net zero operations by 2030 and engage wider audiences in addressing the most urgent issue of our times. Furthermore, AKU has also brought together partners around the shared purpose of addressing this crisis; ‘Voices from the Roof of the World’, a docuseries, was commissioned to Emmy Award winning director Andrew Tkach in 2021, to cast attention on the catastrophic impact of climate change. The 10 episode-long series was able to garner over 13.5 million views and has landed a spot in 16 international film festivals.
It is now time for action on climate change to take center stage.