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Green Arm

The Green Arm is a platform for youth-led environmental initiatives in Egypt that address environmental problems of the urban community and promotes green living. Our agenda is tailored to local conditions and priorities. 

Our goal is to ignite an environmental movement to achieve widespread cultural change towards socially responsible green living in urban communities and improved health and environmental sustainability in the cities and streets of Egypt. 

Our approach focuses on proactive networking among existing CSOs and  promoting mass collaboration of relevant grassroots efforts. 

We value the importance of connecting people to the earth and give priority to initiatives that use outdoor activities and sports to encourage youth to “go out”, out of isolation and detachment from both their natural environment and the outdoor urban environment. We believe that such initiatives restore the ownership of one's surroundings, and hence stimulate young people to preserve and restore the environment.

We strive to:
  • Promote youth advocacy and activism and the incremental elimination of the apathy that is currently infested in many of Egyptian youth.
  • Induce a sense of ownership of both the pristine natural environments and the urban environments of Egypt.
  • Appreciate the environment, and the cultural and natural heritage of Egypt and understanding its value and vulnerability. 
  • Encourage activity initiative as a backbone/platform for environmental advocacy.
  • Condition society to encourage women in outdoor activities and sports, and promote social acceptance and respect in this regard.

The green arm has 4 pillars:

  1. Promoting and guiding environmental activism.
  2. Knowledge sharing - Salon El Mahroussa Green series
  3. Spreading a sustainable livelihood culture
  4. Mainstreaming environment into NM activities

 

Why the Green Arm?

The urban environment in Egypt is rapidly deteriorating. The deterioration found in the most affluent parts of Cairo, reflects how even advantaged residents are giving up and detaching themselves from the urban environment; sealed offices, homes, and cars. Those who cannot afford this isolation are even suffering more.

Today, many youth-led environmental initiatives are emerging, and seeking support to really make an impact. The have a comparative advantage of creative energy, demand-driven action, and powerful online networking compared to the older organizations in this field. This should be appreciated and supported with professional guidance to address the right problems, to sustain their activity, andto offer institutional support.

Other than providing support, encouraging peer empowerment among youth through networking and positive communication is the culture that we strive for. "practice what they preach" in terms of improvement of the urban environment and greener living. Having a youth led organization will provide a credible model for social change.

Who are we?

A team of members and volunteers of Nahdet El-Mahrousa with the needed expertise mix in environmental and social ventures and experience in environmental education and awareness.


 


Submitted by Webmaster on March 9, 2011 - 1:18pm. Tags:
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