Earth Guards and the Ministry of Youth and Sports discuss launching the “Shield of Earth Guards” to sustain sports clubs
Earth Guards and the Ministry of Youth and Sports discuss launching the “Earth Guards Shield” for the sustainability of sports clubs
In an important step that reflects the development of the outlook on the role of sports clubs as comprehensive community institutions, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, discussed with Dr. Mohamed Ziadeh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of theEarth Guards, and Dr. Reham Farouk, Secretary-General of the Foundation; The Foundation’s vision is to launch the Sustainability Shield for sports clubs, which aims to enhance the role of clubs in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the meeting, the Foundation reviewed its comprehensive vision for launching the competition, which is expected to be implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the aim of motivating Egyptian clubs to perform effective development roles, going beyond the sports field to societal, economic and environmental fields, in line with “Egypt Vision 2030” and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Ashraf Sobhi stressed that sports clubs are no longer merely entities concerned with sporting activities, but have turned into pivotal platforms for participation in the comprehensive development process, noting that the Ministry of Youth and Sports strongly supports all efforts that contribute to promoting a culture of sustainability and spreading social and environmental awareness among young people.
The Minister explained that the “Earth Guards Shield for Club Sustainability” is consistent with the Ministry’s strategy to link sports with development, by building influential partnerships with reliable civil society institutions, empowering young people, and involving them in purposeful initiatives that allow them to express their visions and participate in making societal change.
Dr. Mohamed Ziadeh pointed out that the competition represents an unprecedented opportunity to redefine the relationship between sports and development, by activating the role of clubs as engines of sustainable change. He added: We seek for sports clubs to become incubators of community work, economic excellence and environmental awareness, and spaces to inspire young people towards behaviors and initiatives that serve society and contribute to protecting the earth.
For her part, Dr. Reham Farouk explained that the competition is based on a three-dimensional vision that includes the societal dimension related to enhancing social responsibility, not only among the club administrations, but also for those who go to these clubs, especially youth and children, and the economic dimension by supporting operating efficiency and adopting governance concepts, in addition to the environmental dimension, by encouraging sustainable practices within the clubs such as recycling and rationalizing energy and water consumption.
During the meeting, the two parties discussed a set of complementary initiatives that could be implemented in parallel with the competition, including: preparing qualified youth cadres in the field of sustainable development, organizing workshops and dialogue meetings between youth and decision-makers, in addition to issuing policy papers that reflect youth visions on environmental, energy, andclimate issues. It was also agreed to expand awareness programs within youth centers and climate clubs, and to implement environmental and educational activities directed at young people, which contribute to enhancing early awareness of the importance of sustainability and the role of the individual and society in achieving it.
The competition is expected to honor clubs that provide inspiring practical models in the field of sustainable development, through projects or activities that embody true commitment to the principles of sustainability, and the “Sustainability Shield” will be awarded to the club that achieves the highest degree of integration between supporting communities, achieving economic feasibility, and protecting the environment in a model that can be emulated at the republic level.
This initiative is a distinguished model of partnership between the government and civil society institutions in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and an emphasis on the role of sport as a soft force capable of bringing about a positive change in the awareness and behavior of society. It seeks to transform clubs into real development platforms that establish a culture of sustainability and establish a new path in which sport is a gateway to development and a soft power capable of long-term positive influence on the behavior of individuals and societies.
AndThe Earth Guardscontinues its efforts and extended partnerships with various parties; To support the goals of sustainable development, through specific initiatives implemented at the local and Arab levels, in an effort to create an effective impact that enhances individuals’ awareness and consolidates the role of society in building a more sustainable future.
