Cairo, 12 June 2025 – In a vibrant show of youth leadership, 23 young environmental champions and representatives from five community-based projects converged yesterday for the “Youth Environmental Initiatives” workshop, organized by the Egyptian Female Lawyers Association (EFLA) in commemoration of World Environment Day.
The June 11, four-hour workshop in an undisclosed location in Cairo had participants draft recycling-waste project proposals and form a cross-initiative working committee to tackle climate change challenges. Lawyer Abeer Mohamed facilitated the workshop and steered discussions relating social responsibility to UN SDGs, with specific emphasis on clean energy (Goal 7) and sustainable cities (Goal 11).
From Debate to Action
Awn, Sout, Hirak, and Manara initiative members showed case studies on reducing single-use plastics in Alexandria and urban greening in Aswan. There was a heated debate between striking a balance between Egypt’s switch towards renewable energy and industrial needs and uncover generational gaps in climate issues.
“These are not hypothetical debates,” Egyptian Youth Union 19-year-old Mariam Adel indicated, referencing their plan to deploy neighborhood recycling centers by September 2025. The group’s short-term action plan includes:
Holding regular Nile clean-up missions
Developing an app for reporting illegal dumping of waste
Campaigning for increased enforcement of Egypt’s 2024 ban on single-use plastics
EFLA director Nevine Ebeid vowed to bring the workshop to Luxor and Port Said, quoting: “When youth lead environmental justice movements, policy makers listen.”
The workshop ended with the participants planting symbolic olive trees in front of the building – both an echo of ancient Egyptian tradition and a nod to modern-day carbon capture technology.
