AUS student club empowers youth in need through renewable energy program

In an initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders, a student club at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has independently delivered the Guardians of Our Green upskilling program to a group of orphaned youth between the ages of 12 and 20 from the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation. Launched this academic year, the fully student-led renewable energy education program engaged underserved youth in Sharjah and empowered them to become advocates for sustainability and renewable energy.

Through hands-on learning, interactive discussions and community-based projects, the program provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of renewable energy sources and their pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future. It offered students five weekly sessions, each focused on a specific form of renewable energy, from solar and wind to hydro, geothermal and biomass. Students also got hands-on experience through a series of demonstrations and experiments using technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines.

"We built Guardians of Our Green with the knowledge that empowering youth with knowledge about renewable energy is essential in fostering the type of environmental stewardship our planet needs. The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed newfound interest in pursuing careers in renewable energy or environmental science. This is exactly the kind of impact we hoped to achieve,” said Haya Taifour, President of IEEE SIGHT AUS Chapter.

“We were delighted to support the IEEE SIGHT Chapter’s fantastic initiative. It wholly aligns with AUS’ holistic approach to education and our Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center’s (EWSERC) goal to help tackle global challenges in energy, water and environmental sustainability,” said Dr. Mostafa Shaaban, Director of EWSERC and Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering.

The AUS student club members ensured that the program's objectives aligned with global sustainability goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and Climate Action (SDG 13). The program concluded with a celebration of participants' achievements and a certificate ceremony. 

“We take great pride in our constructive partnership with American University of Sharjah, which provided our orphaned youth with a unique opportunity to participate in the Guardians of Our Green program. This initiative served as a rich educational platform to enhance participants’ awareness of renewable energy and sustainability, opening new horizons for scientific and social thinking. Empowering them with practical and experiential knowledge in such a vital field contributes to building a more environmentally conscious generation, better equipped to face the challenges of our time. We deeply appreciate the efforts of the university’s students and faculty members who played a key role in the success of this program, and we look forward to the continuation of such impactful initiatives that make a real difference in the lives of our youth,” said Nawal Alhamedi, Director of Social Prosperity Department at the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation.

The initiative was brought to life through a collaboration between the IEEE SIGHT AUS Chapter, the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation and AUS’ EWSERC, Community Services department and Office of Student Experience. Volunteers, AUS faculty and industry experts also played a key role in delivering the educational content and mentoring participants throughout the program.

The IEEE SIGHT AUS Chapter has said it is committed to continuing the Guardians of Our Green program in future semesters, expanding its reach and impact to more underserved youth. 

For more about AUS’ community service and outreach work, visit: www.aus.edu/life-at-aus/student-life/community-involvement