Egypt’s Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity, Margaret Sarofim, attended the closing ceremony of the inaugural edition of the “Green Youth Reels” initiative, designed to empower young Egyptians in climate action through digital creativity.
The event brought together Dr. Saber Osman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Our Climate Foundation, Dr. Amr Abdel-Meguid from CEDARE, Eng. Angie El-Yemany, Executive Director of the Rural and Environmental Industries Support Fund, Dr. Ahmed Saada, Executive Director of the Associations and NGOs Support Fund, along with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and leading civil society organizations.
Deputy Minister Sarofim expressed her enthusiasm for participating in the initiative, emphasizing the critical importance of climate change as a global challenge affecting humanity’s future. She highlighted the program’s goal to raise awareness among youth—Egypt’s future leaders—about environmental issues and climate change, reinforcing the need for collective action to ensure a safe and sustainable future.
Sarofim noted that Egypt has prioritized climate action as a core part of Egypt Vision 2030 for sustainable development, reflected in initiatives such as hosting COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022, ongoing participation in global climate events, and implementing pioneering projects in renewable energy and climate adaptation.
She underscored the pivotal role of civil society in supporting national development efforts, noting that more than 35,000 NGOs and community organizations actively contribute to environmental awareness, sustainable development, and green projects, supporting vulnerable groups affected by climate change. “The collaborative model showcased in this initiative reflects the integrated role of government, civil society, and youth in achieving sustainable development goals,” she said.
Dr. Saber Osman highlighted that the initiative originated from national dialogue sessions and was developed into a national youth platform for environmental education, engaging 176 young participants across Egypt who submitted 206 innovative digital videos on climate awareness and real-world environmental challenges.
Eng. Angie El-Yemany emphasized the initiative’s role in harnessing youth creativity and digital innovation to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible messages for all societal segments. She noted that linking such initiatives with the Ministry’s broader goals of social justice, economic empowerment, and sustainable development ensures alignment with Egypt Vision 2030. The fund aims to translate climate principles into actionable projects that generate income, support rural communities, and promote green economic practices.
The ceremony featured an introductory video on the initiative, a panel discussion on the role of environmental education in developing green skills and jobs, and a showcase of the initiative’s platform. Awards were presented to the winning participants in the video competition, along with recognition for the judging panel.
The event highlighted Egypt’s commitment to youth engagement in climate action, combining education, digital innovation, and sustainability to empower the next generation of environmental leaders.
