Impact Stories from Environmental Sustainability Policy Area

Fellow initiative named in Young Global Changemakers Top 50

Fellow(s): Rim Assaad (Lebanon, 2018)

Country: Lebanon

Cohort: 2018

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow initiative named in Young Global Changemakers Top 50

Rim Assaad (Lebanon, 2018) has recently been named one of the Top 50 semifinalists for the Young Global Changemakers Recoupling Awards 2023, which recognizes young enterprisers from all over the world who institute tangible, youth-led initiatives contributing towards community economic prosperity by environmentally sustainable means. She is recognized as executive director of RISE2030, a community-led initiative managed by Sustain The World NGO in Lebanon, of which Rim is president and co-founder, and SEFY international NGO in the US, on which Rim serves as a board member. RISE2030 focuses on empowering women and youth through capacity building education and employment and has recently been recognized for launching the first all-women solar team in Lebanon to lead a complete installation project. RISE2030 has led the training of more than 1,250 female technicians and engineers who installed solar photovoltaic systems for multiple facilities such as wastewater treatment plant, waste recycling facilitiy, waste sorting and material recovery facility, solar tree in a public park, women cooperatives and MSMEs.

Report Date...: 3/13/2023

Fellow recognized as trailblazer in Egyptian geology

Fellow(s): Sara Fakhry Elokda (Egypt, 2022)

Country: Egypt

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Sarah speaks on eXtra news TV about her journey to becoming one of Egypt’s earliest female well-site geologists at a rig site.

Fellow Sara Fakhry Elokda (Egypt, 2022) has recently gained media recognition on several news platforms for her distinction as one of the first female field geologists in Egypt. In recent weeks, she has been interviewed by Egypt’s eXtra news, DMC TV, Oil News and the Women of Egypt Network. Through these outlets, she has shared the inspirational story of becoming one of the first women in her country to serve as a well-site geologist and how this led her to apply and be selected as an Emerging Leader for TechWomen. She also shares her opportunity to speak in Washington D.C. on a panel discussion during a luncheon addressed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Since returning to Egypt, Sarah has been active in spreading the message of her experience with TechWomen to encourage other women to apply for the program.

Report Date...: 3/5/2023

Fellow Ph.D. thesis studies EM waves for green energy

Fellow(s): Tolulope Erinosho (Nigeria, 2022)

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow Ph.D. thesis studies EM waves for green energy

Fellow Tolulope Erinosho (Nigeria, 2022) has recently completed her Ph.D. thesis on the “Analysis of thin-wire-based RECTENNAs for efficient harvesting of electromagnetic waves energy” at the University of Lagos. Tolulope’s work seeks to increase the output voltage of electromagnetic harvesting systems by enhancing the power of existing designs. This research addresses the recycling of wasted radio frequency (RF) signals, which have proliferated the airspace environment as a result of the massive adoption of wireless devices resulting out of the technological revolution. “Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the United Nations is centered on clean energy solutions as an alternative to fossil fuel,” Tolulope shared in a recent post. “[This is] the motivation for harnessing free RF signals from the ambient environment and recycling [them] into usable DC voltage.” Tolupe went on to thank the TechWomen program and Professional Mentor Cynthia Leung and Collette Zaro, as well as the entire Moxion Power team, for their technical input on her research during her recent program in the U.S.

Report Date...: 2/20/2023

Pamir-sponsored hydropower project hits milestone

Fellow(s): Asligul is a Senior Environmental and Social Officer at Pamir and has been cited in several publications on the hydropower project.

Country: Tajikistan

Cohort: 2017

Policy Area(s): Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Pamir-sponsored Hydropower Project Hits Milestone

The Sebzor hydropower project sponsored by Pamir Energy company (PE), where fellow Asligul Mavluda Mamadatoeva (Tajikistan, 2017) serves as Senior Environmental and Social Officer, is tracking to be the first project of its kind in Central Asia to be certified by the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is an independent and internationally recognized certification system developed by industry, environmental and social NGOs, multilateral banks and civil society organizations. It assesses a hydropower project’s sustainability using 12 related topics, including biodiversity, indigenous peoples, water quality and climate change mitigation. It provides a framework to incentivize sustainable hydropower projects and improve less sustainable developments. Asligul played an instrumental role in supporting PE to achieve this award. As an Environmental and Social expert, Asligul was directly responsible for 10 out of 12 topics assessed by the International Hydropower Association. She has also measured and ensured gender equality metrics in the Sebzor project, thus paving the way for other senior women energy professionals. Per a recent press release, almost 90% of Tajikistan’s electricity is generated by hydropower and its National Development Strategy has prioritized achieving energy independence by 2030 as a key policy objective.

Report Date...: 2/6/2023

sustainable cities

Fellow(s): Maysoun Ibrahim (2011)

Country: Palestinian Territories

Cohort: 2011

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow promotes book on developing smart, sustainable cities

Fellow Maysoun Ibrahim (Palestinian Territories, 2011) recently announced that her book “Smart Sustainable Cities: Transformation towards Future Cities” is available on Amazon in electronic and paperback formats. In the book, Maysoun provides a practical roadmap and detailed framework of factors to be considered while planning the transformation towards smart and sustainable cities. The concepts aim at helping an urban center achieve smartness and sustainability by improving the quality of life of its citizens, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social, environmental and even cultural aspects. This involves creating livable and equitable communities with access to affordable housing, transportation, education and healthcare. The book focuses on a comprehensive model of city planning and management, taking into account the many interconnected factors that contribute to a city’s sustainability. Maysoun hopes the book will provide “a base for planners, researchers, analysts and the interested observer to consider cities in a coherent and holistic model.” This book is the first of its kind in the Arab region written by an Arab woman specialized in this area of research. Dr. Maysoun Ibrahim is the Founder and the President of the Palestinian Information Sciences and Technology Syndicate (PALIST), Chairperson of the Innovation Supporters Network and an expert in smart, sustainable cities and the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Maysoun authored “Smart Sustainable Cities” as part of her work in fostering the United Nations Agenda 2030 and its related Sustainable Development Goals.

Report Date...: 1/23/2023

Fellow named to BBC 100 Women 2022 list

Fellow(s): Ainura Sagyn Tursunalieva (2017)

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Cohort: 2017

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow Named to BBC 100 Women 2022 List

Fellow Ainura Sagyn Tursunalieva (Kyrgyzstan, 2017) has recently been named one of the BBC 100 Women 2022 in their 10th annual compilation of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world. Ainura is an ecofeminist, computer engineer, and CEO of start-up Tazar, an app that connects producers of waste —from the individual level to the corporate level—with recyclers, in an effort to promote sustainability and reduce the amount of refuse that ends up in landfills in Central Asian countries. Sagyn has also led coding and STEM workshops for over 2,000 schoolgirls in Kyrgyzstan. The BBC’s 2022 list includes a diverse group of women from around the world, including those involved in conflict and resistance in various countries, as well as notable figures in music, acting, sports, and literature.

Report Date...: 1/23/2023

Mentor to help lead largest river renewal effort in U.S. history

Fellow(s): Gwen Santos

Country:

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Mentor to help lead largest river renewal effort in U.S. history

As part of a decades-long effort to save an imperiled ecosystem, mentor Gwen Santos will help lead the restoration efforts for the largest dam removal and river renewal project in U.S. history as the project’s Lead Ecologist. The Klamath River Renewal Project, a multilateral, cooperative initiative, led by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, was approved this fall by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Gwen has served as the Lead Ecologist on the project for the past 3.5 years while also performing her duties as Resource Environmental Solutions’ (RES) Western Region Senior Wetland Ecologist and Ecology Team Lead. Stemming from her work on the Klamath project and other endeavors on the West Coast, Gwen was Recently promoted to Director of Ecology & Regulatory for the Western Region. As the Klamath Project’s Lead Ecologist, Gwen, along with Restoration Program Manager, Dave Coffman, and Lead Fisheries Biologist, Dan Chase, will help oversee the resource protection measures during dam removal, the flora propagation effort and restoration of the former reservoir footprints, which aims to restore the degraded Klamath River ecosystem in the Northern California and Southern Oregon region. The water quality has been decimated by aging hydroelectric dams that have prevented threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead fish from reaching more than 400 miles of historic habitat in the upper river basin. The project, Gwen shares, is “vital to the future of several imperiled salmon populations on the West Coast” and has involved the propagation of “billions of native seeds and tens of thousands of native oaks and shrubs.” The Klamath River Renewal Corporation was appointed to oversee the removal of these four dams and implement a settlement agreement signed by more than 40 entities and stakeholders, including the States of California and Oregon, Tribal nations, PacifiCorp (the dam owner), irrigators, and several conservation and fishing groups.

Report Date...: 1/16/2023

Fellow Ayeni Olamide wins spot in SIBC for green startup that transforms waste into furniture

Fellow(s): Fellow Ayeni Olamide wins spot in SIBC for green startup that transforms waste into furniture

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2017

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow Ayeni Olamide (Nigeria, 2017), founder of green tech company Pearl Recycling, was recently selected among 45 social entrepreneurs for the Social and Inclusive Business (SIBC) Camp 2022. The SIBC’s mission is to support young African entrepreneurs in scaling up and building lasting stakeholder connections through innovative educational methods and networking with mentors, other startups and potential financiers in their ecosystems. Pearl Recycling “transforms municipal solid waste into environmentally friendly furniture for everyday use,” it reads on Ayeni’s SIBC profile. “To date, the company has already recycled more than 52,000 tons of waste.” Ayeni founded the company in 2016 to creatively and concurrently address the issues of waste and unemployment in Nigeria. “The SIBC has helped me connect with other changemakers across Africa and build a lifelong relationship that will lead to collaborations,” Ayeni shares in an Africa Business article on the event.

Report Date...: 1/2/2023

Seed grant initiative empowers orphans with aquaponic farm

Fellow(s): Seed grant initiative empowers orphans with aquaponic farm – Chiedza Mugabe, Evangelista Chekera, Henrica Makulu, Tafadzwa Murinzi and Yollanda Washaya

Country: Zimbabwe

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

FOCUS Zimbabwe, a self-sustaining food cultivation initiative founded by seed grant-awarded Team Zimbabwe 2022 fellows Chiedza Mugabe, Evangelista Chekera, Henrica Makulu, Tafadzwa Murinzi and Yollanda Washaya, has successfully launched its pilot program at SOS Children’s Village in Waterfalls, Harare. FOCUS Zimbabwe seeks to enable children in orphanages to grow nutritious/organic food by empowering them through hands-on skills training and mentorship in aquaponics, the cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. Through this, they hope to cultivate entrepreneurialism, stimulate an interest in STEM and foster a sense of responsibility for the communities in which the children live, while also helping protect them from the elevated risks of drug abuse, crime, prostitution and suicide. To date, approximately 75 people have interacted with the growing system, resulting in local families gaining food to eat, produce to sell, and psychosocial benefits to their overall wellness. FOCUS Zimbabwe was launched with the funding of a $3,000 USD TechWomen seed grant. It has also received support from its aquaponics system vendor, which has donated complimentary training and consultation hours to the project as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.

Report Date...: 12/05/2022

"Team recognized by BBC & Ambassador after seed grant win"

Fellow(s): Team recognized by BBC & Ambassador after seed grant win – Amara Dar, Sadaf Gul, Ramla Syeda Hassan, Syeda Sadaf Shah, Anum Sadiq and Shehnaz Zakia

Country: Pakistan

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

The fellows of Fall 2022 Team Pakistan, composed of Amara Dar, Sadaf Gul, Ramla Hassan Sadafi Shah, Anum Sadiq and Shehnaz Zakia, were recently featured in BBC News Urdu to acknowledge their having recently been awarded $3000 in seed grant funding for the impact project they developed during their TechWomen program.
The project, AGAHI, will be a mobile technology campaign aimed at raising climate change awareness in the wake of the devastating floods in Pakistan this summer.
In addition to being featured in BBC, the team also recently met with the Ambassador of Pakistan to the USA on 26th Oct. 2022 to discuss AGAHI shortly after the close of their TechWomen program in Washington D.C.
In the meeting, the ambassador expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the U.S. Department of State and ECA for providing opportunities for Pakistani women in STEM to excel through exchange programs. He also encouraged Team Pakistan to complete the project with full dedication, offering assurance of the Embassy of Pakistan’s support in the sustainable execution of the project and the development of future collaborations.

Report Date...: 11/28/2022

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