Youth … the Vehicle of Change
This story is a living proof of how small initiatives can exemplify an intellectual and composite strategy like the Active Citizenship Engagement for Good Governance (ACE). It is a story of decentralization, social change, good governance, partnerships and developing active citizenship under the umbrella of strengthening institutional capacity of civil society leading to democracy and poverty reduction. Dina, a 21 year old, and currently the Managing Director of Abou El Nomros Science Center (AENESC), told her story about Abou El Nomros Center, a modified replica of the well-known Wadi Environment Science Center (WESC).
About Abou El Nomros
- Is an urban/rural area, located in Giza governorate, between Sakkara and Dahshour.
- Its population is 50,000 inhabitants of which 27,000 are male and 23,000 female.
- The community suffers from many major problems, like lack of potable water, lack of sanitation systems, highly polluted irrigation water, high rates of drop-out from schools, poor medical services and lack of employment opportunities for youth.
- About Abou El Nomros Environmental Science Center (AENESC): AENESC is the result of partnership between Abou El Nomros Community Development Association and WESC. AENESC provides services to more than 6,000 students. The main objectives of the center are to:
- Target both students and teachers.
- Protect the environment by raising children’s environmental awareness and supporting them to have a more effective role in their communities.
- Develop children’s scientific skills.
- Simplify the curricula for the students.
After one year at university, Dina decided to work while studying to gain practical knowledge; but the idea was totally refused by her parents.
However, when she heard about the opening of an environmental education center at Abou El Nomros that teaches school children using different approaches and applying creative learning methods, she went into another convincing round with her parents.
This time, Dina won the battle and started her training at the Center! The training was varied, but the main focus was on active learning and engagement in the community.
After finishing her courses, Dina and her colleagues began organizing science field trips for primary school children. The main objective of those trips was to allow the students to reflect, closely examine the environment problems in their communities and understand the link between the environment they are living in and the problems that the world faces.
At the beginning, the Center worked with only two schools considering its modest resources. But, as demand grew from the other surrounding schools, new training cycles for more teachers started. To date, teachers from seventy schools received the training.
Aya, a twelve- year old representative of Abou El Nomros community has been involved in the project since the age of nine. She is the youngest member in the Water Project. In spite of her young age, she met with the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and gallantly told him about the problems they have in her community.
Aya also attended the International Water Conference in Mexico City.
“Poverty reduction is not about money, it is when the young people have a voice, and a sense of right and wrong. It is when they are able to express themselves with confidence and when they are aware of their rights and are able to practice their rights” Lynn Frijie,
This exposure helped her to realize that there are other countries facing similar problems. However, she also realized that many of these countries were taking action while we weren’t.
One of Aya’s positive views is that collective thinking, regardless of age differences, can produce innovative and highly effective ideas, especially when the group is looking forward to the future and not helplessly living in the past. Amazingly, given her young age, Aya recognizes the importance of constantly assessing the community’s needs as well as on-going evaluation of the project impact.
“My self confidence increases year after year, and that is due to meeting with a range of people from important officials to very poor individuals.” Aya
These young people are examples of youth empowerment and active citizenship engagement. They are dynamic representatives of their communities in both Egypt and abroad. They do not only understand and ask for their rights but also for the rights of others. They have realized the Importance of partnerships with different stakeholders and have acquired important skills on both the professional and personal levels. They have learnt some of the means of changing a stagnant society and are now spreading this knowledge to others. This group of youth is truly the ‘Vehicles of Change’ in their communities.
“We don’t have specific criteria for children or schools. In our dictionary there is nothing called stupid student. Everybody can learn, but in different ways. That’s what we are doing. We teach the children using different methods that match their different intellectual abilities.” Dina
“You have the right to eat, drink, enjoy your life, develop, teach, learn, but not to forget that the coming generations have the same rights.” Hassan, a member of Abou El Nomros project & student at the American University in Cairo”
“If you develop their awareness, if you strengthen their capacity, if you give them a voice, if you support their actions, mobilize their strengths and provide them with coaching, they do it on their own. Giving voice to youth is the vision of continuity.” Lyn Freiji.