With assistance from a MEPI Leaders Grant, Nora Chaynane, a 2019 alumna of the MEPI Student Leaders Program (SLP), successfully trained 50 participants from 10 different regions of Morocco to leverage technology and innovation in rapidly changing environments. Through her Shine Space Smart Sustainable Solutions (S.5 Project) initiative, Nora received a small grant from the MEPI Alumni Connection’s fast track funding program to assist youth from her community develop technology, innovation, and creativity skills via inclusive, problem-based, and collaborative learning with the goal of fostering global citizenship. This program produces globally minded leaders who embrace their social responsibility to act for the benefit of all societies.
The S.5 Project then tasked its participants, 60% of whom were women, with spreading the project’s vision of stimulating the passion and creativity of young people through small workshops and dialogues in their respective communities. In doing so, the program participants reached over 200 participants and a project evaluation found 93% of participants had positive feedback and a keen interest in taking part in future iterations of the project. Participants also reported that S.5 Project programming increased their awareness and knowledge of the opportunities and challenges posed by societal changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, brain drain, and others.
The Student Leaders Program is directed by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED) of Georgetown University. Funding for the Student Leaders Program is provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA-AC).
