To strengthen international partnerships for exchange of knowledge and promotion of youth-led green initiatives, Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) with support of the US embassy hosted a delegation from the DePaul University, Chicago under the joint initiative called Green Urban Development (GUD) programme.
The delegation from the DePaul University was led by Mr. John Zeigler, Director Urban Education & Community Partnerships, and Ms. Hiba Zakai, a distinguished PhD scholar.
During the 7-day visit, the delegation held several high-level meetings with important stakeholders including Mr. Rana Mashood, Chairperson, Prime Minister’s Youth Program (PYMP) and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairperson, Higher Education Commission (HEC).
“Through the Green Urban Development programme, we are forging impactful partnerships with institutions like DePaul University to empower young leaders and foster sustainable solutions for our communities. This collaboration embodies our commitment to nurturing the next generation of changemakers in urban development”, remarked Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director, School of Leadership Foundation.
During these meetings, the Green Urban Development School (GUDS) model was recognized as a great initiative which can play a critical role in developing understanding and skills of youth to lead the transition towards a sustainable future. Discussions were also carried out to explore opportunities for creating a synergy between GUDS and the Green Youth Movement (GYM) Clubs which being supported by the government in 136 public sector universities.
