"The Arab and African Forum to Strengthen the Role of Volunteers to Confront Climate Change" at the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research

Under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, Prof. Dr. Hesham Tamraz, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Prof. Dr. Gehan Hanafi, Director General of the General Administration of Voluntary and Scout Programs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, a member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Volunteering Union, the Faculty held the "Arab and African Forum to Strengthen the Role of Volunteers to Confront Climate Changes" organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in cooperation with the Arab Volunteer Union under the supervision of Prof. Dr.. Reham Refaat Mohamed, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Prof. Dr. Hala Awadallah, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Dr. Huda Helal, director of the Green Transformation Unit at the Faculty, in the presence of a large number of Arab and African countries.

Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, highlighted the activities offered by the Faculty during the forum and presented a presentation of the Faculty’s activities in the various fields of the environment, especially while preparing to mobilize the efforts of African and Egyptian students and researchers to build bridges of climate knowledge with the community in preparation for Egypt’s organization of the COP27 Conference of Parties to spread climate awareness which represents the beginning of the road to sustainable development plans and the realization of Egypt's Vision 2030.

Prof. Dr. Gehan Hanafi, Director General of the General Administration of Voluntary and Scout Programs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is pleased to cooperate with a major institution such as Ain Shams University, represented by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research and the Ministry of Irrigation. She stressed the importance of spreading the culture of volunteer work and educating young people about the importance and purpose of volunteer work, for example, educating people about the danger of the Covid-19 virus, how to prevent it and the precautionary measures that must be followed in order to avoid infection with the virus.

Prof. Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, a member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Volunteering Union, stressed the importance of the event and conveyed the greetings of Mr. Hassan Bouhaza, President of the Arab Volunteering Union, explaining the Foundation's activities and qualitative volunteer projects that target one of the most important segments of Arab society.

He also expressed his happiness to be within the walls of the prestigious Ain Shams University, and added that the Arab Volunteer Union has many programs related to environmental issues, not only because it is a scientific topic, but because it is a topic that touches our lives, the lives and the future of our children.

Prof. Dr. Hala Awadallah, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, honored the attendees, and confirmed that the forum's goal is not only to raise awareness among the participants, but also to cooperate and participate among the youth, who are the target group for these activities.

The attendees visited the Green Transformation Unit and the B Green Project under the supervision of Dr. Hoda Helal, unit manager and d. Ahmed Maher, unit coordinator.

A number of workshops were also held to discuss sustainable agriculture, waste recycling, new energy and the carbon footprint.

Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Dunya, Dean of the Faculty, honored Prof. Dr. Gehan Hanafi, Director General of the General Administration of Voluntary and Scout Programs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, a member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Volunteering Federation, gave them certificates of appreciation.