youth champion – Student Energy https://studentenergy.org Empowering the next generation of energy leaders Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:34:25 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 Join Student Energy’s Mentorship 2025 as a Professional Mentor! https://studentenergy.org/join-student-energys-mentorship-2025-as-a-professional-mentor/ https://studentenergy.org/join-student-energys-mentorship-2025-as-a-professional-mentor/#respond Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:00:20 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=21304 Why Student Energy Mentorship Matters

Mentorship is necessary in today’s job market and key for driving innovation, career development, and access to professional opportunities. However, many young professionals struggle to secure mentorship, a critical missing piece from their professional development. 

According to Forbes, 76% of people think mentorship is vital to early-stage professional success, but only 37% have a mentor. Inequitable opportunities,  lack of experience, and restraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have made securing employment for youth more dependent on networking and privileged social capital. This creates greater exclusivity in the workforce, given systemic issues that lead to inequitable opportunities in networks and education. 

Companies and organizations benefit greatly when they provide support to young professionals and build leadership skills at every stage of their careers. Mentorship enhances the development of soft and technical skills critical to employment, and encourages diversity to create a well-rounded team, improving team dynamics.

Since 2009, Student Energy has worked with over 50,000 young people from more than 120 countries, empowering them with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to lead the energy transition. Mentorship is a cornerstone of this mission – by connecting mentees with experienced professionals, we ensure our global youth network gains access to tailored guidance for their unique projects and challenges, practical advice on navigating the climate and energy fields, and the opportunity to learn directly from leaders in the industry. 

 

 

What are the Mentorship Models?

Student Energy will offer three streams of mentorship for a flexible commitment from mentors and mentees:

  1. Flash Mentorship: 1 x 1-hour mentorship session every 1-3 months focused on gathering necessary information, securing connections, or learning a skill. Flash mentorship will likely occur with a different mentee each session. 
  2. Project & Career Development: Monthly, 1-hour recurring meetings supporting a team project or advising on career goals and professional development. 
  3. Committed Mentorship: Weekly or bi-weekly meetings building a solid mentorship relationship, supporting a team project through completion, or young professionals through their early stage career development. 

Commitment levels can change throughout the cycle, and the change can be agreed upon by the mentor and the mentee.

 

How the Mentor Matching Process Works

  • Mentor Registration: Bloomberg staff interested in becoming mentors must complete the Mentor Registration Form (linked below). All staff who apply are added to our database designed to help us create mentor matches. We may contact you anytime between March and December 2025 about mentor matching with our program participants.
  • Mentor Requests: The Student Energy community can submit a detailed mentorship request form outlining their goals and areas where they are seeking support. 
  • Matching and Introduction: Student Energy will review and screen all requests, and facilitate the matching process. Matches will be made based on your skills and experiences and the mentee’s needs. Once a match is made, we will introduce you to the mentee via email, and we will help schedule and facilitate the initial meeting

 

Why become a Student Energy Mentor?

By registering as a Student Energy Mentor, you will:

  • Provide guidance to youth-led projects, professional development, and career exploration.
  • Connect with a global community of innovative youth and professionals dedicated to addressing challenges in the energy transition.
  • Strengthen your coaching and mentorship abilities while making a meaningful impact.
  • Plan an active role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow and driving the sustainable energy transition forward.

This is a great opportunity to inspire, engage, and innovate alongside the next generation of energy leaders.

This is your opportunity to play a direct role in shaping the future of energy. By becoming a mentor, you’ll directly contribute to youth-led solutions and gain unparalleled access to a network of passionate, forward-thinking young leaders.

 

 

Become a Student Energy Mentor Today

Becoming a Student Mentor is an easy process. Simply complete the Mentor Registration Form below and we will follow up with you with for more details and possible mentees to work with.

APPLY NOW

If you have any questions about Student Energy Mentorship, please contact us at mentorship@studentenergy.org.

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Our 2023 Annual Report is out! https://studentenergy.org/our-2023-annual-report-is-out/ https://studentenergy.org/our-2023-annual-report-is-out/#respond Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:25 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=17702 In 2023, we renewed our commitment to our mission of empowering the next generation of leaders driving a sustainable and equitable energy transition. Throughout the year, we focused on expanding our global network of youth engaged in our Programs Ecosystem, particularly from regions poised to benefit from our mentorship, training, and networks. Strengthening our partnerships with global organizations in the climate and energy space became a priority as we sought more effective ways to support young people in the energy transition. We enhanced our organizational systems to better support our growing network of young energy leaders. Today, we are thrilled to announce the release of our 2023 Annual Report!

CHECK OUT OUR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Highlights

Here’s a sneak peak to our 2023 Annual Report!

From our Board Chair

From our Executive Director

 

2023: Our Impact at a Glance

Here’s a glimpse of Student Energy’s 2023 impact in numbers:

  • Global Reach: Our Programs Ecosystem (7 active programs) engaged a total of 826 participants from 116 countries, 78 of which are developing economies.
  • Youth Empowerment: Supported 9 global youth delegations at prestigious events, and 407 youth delegates from 95 countries attended SES 2023, the largest youth-led energy summit.
  • Global Community Engagement: Reached 32,730 people through our global Chapters network, with a membership of 4,369 students from different universities across the world.
  • Mentorship, Early Career and Project Development: 32 graduates completed the first cohort of the Guided Projects program, received 1,604 Career Training and 1,063 Fellowship applications from youth interested in joining our capacity-building and mentorship-oriented programs.
  • Networking: Spoke at 34 panels and events in the climate and energy space worldwide, including the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) UAE, Climate Week NYC, and Africa Energy Forum, among others.
  • Recognition: Received 3 individual awards and one organizational accolade, “Best Nonprofit Employer: Youth Advancement for an organization with 20+ staff”, awarded by CharityVillage.

 

5 accomplishments we’re celebrating:

1. Successfully hosting SES 2023 in Abu Dhabi, bringing together 407 young people from around the world.

Making history as the first International Student Energy Summit held in the MENA region – a global hub for energy, SES 2023 featured 407 youth delegates from all over the world to meaningfully collaborate with sector and community leaders on energy solutions. We are proud to work with several partners for the first time, including Bezos Earth Fund, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and coordinated with NYU Abu Dhabi and the COP 28 UAE team as the Summit took place as an official side event of the UN Climate Change Conference for the very first time.

 

2. Activating a first cohort of youth-led clean energy projects in solar PV through the Guided Projects program and expanding the program’s offerings and reach.

With 32 graduates from 6 teams representing Kenya, Canada, and Peru, the Guided Projects program provided teams with the firsthand experience of developing solar PV projects to solve local energy problems in their communities. After a successful first cohort, Student Energy focused on retooling and securing additional resources for the program’s continuation in February 2024.

 

3. Releasing and disseminating our first round of the three research projects with active stakeholder engagement throughout.

Under Student Energy’s newly launched Research and Youth Engagement program, we launched the Global Youth Energy Outlook (GYEO), the Youth Impact Framework, and the Energy Transition Skills Project.

VIEW THE REPORTS

 

 

4. Integrating mentorship as a core aspect of our Programs Ecosystem, offering our youth network platforms to build connections through mentorship offerings.

Mentorship is the foundation of the Student Energy Career Training (SECT) program, and regional and language-specific mentorship is necessary and achieved through individual recruitment from program coordinators who are globally dispersed.

 

5. Amplifying youth-led action on energy on global stages and decision-making spaces

Student Energy attended 23 global energy and climate events, including the New York Climate Week, Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, and the Africa Energy Forum among others. We participated as speakers and moderators at 34 events, and hosted 11 events at COP 28 and the Student Energy Summit. We acted in an advisory capacity for several youth councils, and hosted the very first Youth Energy Narratives Council under the Research and Youth Engagement portfolio.

 

We’ve got so much more in store for you! Explore our 2023 Annual Report:

STUDENT ENERGY'S 2023 ANNUAL REPORT 

Thank you for standing by us as we empower the next generation of leaders in driving a just and equitable energy future! Your continued support fuels our mission and inspires us every step of the way.

Follow us:

Instagram: @studentenergy 

Twitter: @studentenergy 

LinkedIn: Student Energy

Facebook: Student Energy

YouTube: Student Energy

TikTok: @studentenergy

Threads: @studentenergy

Website & Blog: https://studentenergy.org/

 

 

 

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Chapters Spotlight: Khan Sonia Tewah of University of Buea https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-khan-sonia-tewah-of-university-of-buea/ https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-khan-sonia-tewah-of-university-of-buea/#respond Fri, 10 Nov 2023 14:00:10 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16944

Khan Sonia Tewah is the Vice President of the Student Energy Chapter at the University of Buea in Cameroon and is a 2023 Student Energy Fellow.

At her University, she strives to empower and mobilize students to address pressing energy challenges and foster a sustainable future. With a background in Environmental Science and Occupational Health and Safety and currently pursuing a master’s degree in Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Sonia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her endeavors. Her academic pursuits, combined with her involvement in various fieldwork activities, have instilled in her a deep appreciation for the importance of energy and its impact on the environment. Khan Sonia’s passion for environmental education is evident through her involvement in organizing workshops and campaigns that highlight the significance of energy conservation and clean technologies. She actively engages with communities, raising awareness about the importance of sustainable energy practices and advocating for environmental protection.

Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Khan Sonia is an active participant in the Mock EMS Delegate, representing her country, Cameroon. This experience amplifies her understanding of international climate negotiations and the need for inclusive and just solutions to combat climate change.

Interested to start a Student Energy Chapter at your university? Head over to Starting a Chapter!

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Meet the Youth Energy Narratives Council https://studentenergy.org/meet-the-youth-energy-narratives-council/ https://studentenergy.org/meet-the-youth-energy-narratives-council/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2023 13:00:40 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16599 The Youth Energy Narratives Council is a team of five young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who will each pick a unique story to explore through creative media — essay, interview, video, and other forms to develop over the course of five months. These young people will make use of supplementary interviews and research with the end goal of producing a creative, actionable, evidence-based set of recommendations for Student Energy’s partner organizations in the lead-up to the 2023 Student Energy Summit happening this November and once more in February 2024.

The Youth Council’s recommendations are intended to help climate philanthropists better understand youth perspectives and consequently shape their priorities to become more responsive to the needs of youth, as youth are among the most climate-vulnerable groups globally.

Between September 2023 and March 2024, the Youth Council will focus on:

  • Conducting research, synthesizing their own knowledge, and engaging in Student Energy-led workshops to prepare actionable recommendations for climate philanthropists to effectively engage with young people.
  • Developing their initial findings and recommendations into a creative story to be shared on the ground at the Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) in Abu Dhabi; using SES as an opportunity to liaise with other young people and climate and energy leaders on the ground to receive feedback and further improve on and enhance their pieces.
  • Presenting their recommendations to Student Energy’s partner organizations, with support from Student Energy in February 2024, incorporating learnings from SES 2023 in the Council’s final set of recommendations.

Meet the 5 Youth Energy Narratives Council

 

Abul Bashar Rahman

Bashar is an Economics student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) carrying a quiet passion for climate solutions. Hailing from Bangladesh, a nation deeply affected by climate change, he has sought to understand the resilience of his people better.

As a youth delegate at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, he noted the disproportionate representation of Bangladesh as compared to the impact of climate change on its people. Passionate about equitable climate solutions, he is utilizing storytelling to advocate for climate-vulnerable communities in the Global South. One of the ways is through a heartfelt project where he cycled across Bangladesh, absorbing tales of hope and hardship. He’s also working on an atlas, weaving in stories of change from climate-impacted communities with an emphasis on the Global South.

His dedication has led him to humbly represent Bangladesh, Stories of Change, and UBC through multiple platforms. Bashar hopes to share the stories of those often unheard in the larger discourse on climate change.

 

Cathleen Jeanty

Cathleen is currently an Innovation Fellow at The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the Director of Communications at the Progressive Democrats of New Jersey; a Chapter Co-coordinator at Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation’s (WCAPS) New York chapter, a National Climate Fellow at Change the Chamber; and a globally emerging leader for climate action. She is also a United States LCOY delegate, where she will be drafting the 2023 U.S. National Youth Statement on Climate.

In the past, she was a Public Information Editor at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, an Obama Organizing Fellow, and the Assistant Media Coordinator at the Campaign for a National Presidential Youth Council. She has been a youth delegate at various summits at The World Bank, The United Nations, NATO, and The International Monetary Fund.

 

Adebambo Micheal

Micheal is a dynamic renewable energy professional driven to expand energy access and sustainability in marginalized communities. Hailing from Nigeria, he earned his B.Sc in Physics from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. His undergraduate studies and thesis project focused on solar energy applications.

Micheal is passionate about driving innovation in clean energy technologies to uplift lives in underserved areas. He has hands-on experience as a solar technician and installation engineer designing and deploying solar PV systems to electrify homes, businesses, and villages. He also participated in STEM education outreach initiatives and drug abuse prevention programs.

He aspires to pioneer affordable clean energy solutions, advance renewable energy adoption on a national scale, and train youth to lead sustainability efforts across Africa.

 

Anushka Nagle

Anushka is a final-year Architecture student on a transformative journey driven by a passion for sustainability and a curiosity about innovative ecological technologies and materials. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom as she actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with a diverse global community of like-minded individuals.

Her mission is crystal clear: she is driven to bridge the gap between theory and practice, leveraging the collective wisdom of professionals worldwide to tackle common global challenges. 

She aims to unite people together towards a greener, more sustainable future—a journey where architecture and ecological consciousness converge to reshape the world for the better. She believes that together, we can embark on a voyage of exploration, innovation, and the practical application of sustainable solutions in our daily lives. 

 

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza

Amanda is a Black Brazilian woman raised in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 17, she received a full scholarship to study for two years at United World College (UWC) ISAK in Japan, where she concluded her high school education. A first-generation student and the first person in her family to live and study outside of Brazil, she is now a junior at Macalester College in Minnesota, where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies.

In all three countries Amanda has lived in — Brazil, Japan, and the US, she dedicates herself to working for equity, racial justice, and Indigenous rights. She participated in Black Movements, founded a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee in Japan, and currently works to empower Afro-Latinos in the United States.

She has a range of experiences – from sailing for a month from Hawaii to California where she researched plastics and how they disproportionately affect Indigenous communities, to becoming an intern at the Great Plains Institute in Minnesota during the 2023 legislative session where she advocated for clean transportation, to becoming an intern at The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota where she crafted an inventory of tribal engagement and created a best practices guide on how the organization can conduct work with tribal nations.

During the summer of 2023, Amanda received a full scholarship to participate in the Youth Assembly through the Climate Entrepreneurship Package held by the New York University (NYU). She had the opportunity to celebrate International Youth Day at the UN headquarters in New York and participate in a series of workshops on climate change. Recently, she interviewed Hindou Oumarou, Chadian Environmental Activist and Geographer, for the ActNow film which will be showcased in the upcoming COP28.

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Chapters Spotlight: Benjamin Betancourt Tovar of Monterrey Institute of Technology https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-benjamin-betancourt-tovar-of-monterrey-institute-of-technology/ https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-benjamin-betancourt-tovar-of-monterrey-institute-of-technology/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:00:02 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16587

Meet the former president of the Student Energy Chapter at Monterrey Institute of Technology (Tec de Monterrey) – Benjamin Betancourt Tovar! He was president of the Chapter from August 2022 to July 2023. Currently, he is studying Nanotechnology Engineering at his University in Monterrey, Mexico.

“In January of 2023, I had the opportunity to be selected and attend the 13th IRENA Assembly as an IRENA Youth Delegate in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In the same event, I was able to participate in the IRENA Youth Forum: The Next Generation of Decision Makers, where I was part of a panel discussion, expressing how we, the youth, face challenges in the development of science, innovation and technology for energetic affairs. Apart from the assembly, the Youth Delegation had the opportunity to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and visit Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest stand-alone operational solar plant. During my trip, I was thrilled to meet new people from all over the world with different perspectives, meet high level representatives from different organizations and also to learn about the energetic sector developments and challenges from IRENA representatives from all over the world. After this exciting experience, I came back to Mexico with fresh ideas and motivation to design and implement solutions in my community towards the youth-led energetic transition, working within my chapter and also in the development of “ANSE: México Joven por la Energía” [Mexican Youth for Energy], a youth-led energy network within Mexico!” – Benjamin Betancourt Tovar

Interested to start a Student Energy Chapter at your university? Head over to Starting a Chapter on our website and fill out an Expression of Interest form!

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Chapters Spotlight: Chloe Guo of McGill University https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-chloe-guo-of-mcgill-university/ https://studentenergy.org/chapters-spotlight-chloe-guo-of-mcgill-university/#respond Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:00:57 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16429

Get to know the recently graduated president of the Student Energy McGill Chapter, Chloe Guo, based in Montreal, Quebec. Chloe just finished her last year of undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at McGill University and will be staying at McGill for two more years as a Master’s student. She will remain in the SE McGill Chapter as a Graduate Student Advisor.

“I first joined the McGill chapter as the Vice President of Events two years ago during my first in-person semester at McGill. Going into university without having much interaction with others during the COVID pandemic, I wanted to get to know more peers with similar interests. I have always been interested in sustainability and sustainable energy in general.

…As VP Events, I organized several campus-wide in-person and virtual events. When I joined the McGill chapter, it was still a very young student group that many didn’t know about. Hoping to attract more like-minded students, the first event I organized was a virtual info session featuring some of the members on the Student Energy Management Team! After this event, we went on to host many more engaging workshops, webinars, and in-person networking events in collaboration with professionals from outside of the McGill community on topics such as climate migration and climate justice. During my time as VP Events and later on as the president, I learned so much from my teammates and energy leaders that I had the chance to talk with at our events. I’m glad that we have come thus far in the past two years and matured so much together as a team!” – Chloe Guo

If you want to connect with the Student Energy McGill Chapter, check them out on Instagram at @studentenergyatmcgill

Interested to start a Student Energy Chapter at your university? Head over to Starting a Chapter on our website and fill out an Expression of Interest form!

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Staff Stories: ASES Solar 2023 https://studentenergy.org/staff-stories-ases-solar-2023/ https://studentenergy.org/staff-stories-ases-solar-2023/#respond Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:45:27 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16262 My first international conference experience is an unreal one thanks to the Student Energy team. I started my journey with Student Energy as a fellow with the Student Energy Fellowship Program to learn about energy education, and the skills I need to enter the energy workforce while navigating youth imposter syndrome. Fast forward from then to August 11th, 2023, I was tasked to deliver a workshop “Entering the Energy Transition Labour Market” at the ASES Solar 2023 Conference in Boulder Colorado for university students to learn practical skills to enter the energy industry– an experience so surreal that I feel nothing short of gratitude. 

The ASES Solar conference held space for presentations, discussions, and speakers for both working professionals and youth to co-learn about social justice aspects of the energy sector– such as women in solar, intergenerational discussions on mentorship, and youth entering the labour market to name a few. The event ran from August 8-11th but I arrived in Boulder on the 10th, leaving me with little time to enjoy the rest of the conference. I was, however, lucky enough to listen in on a “Young Professionals” panel discussion on youth sharing their strategic ways on networking, and navigating their early career challenges in the renewable energy sector. The latter half of the session allotted for a rotating speed networking session with the youth panelists, where I participated and learned some common, yet relevant challenges that young people face in entering the green jobs market. Youth with backgrounds in engineering, public policy, and STEM research find it challenging to find meaningful work, and shared various ways such as pitching project ideas or research topics as a way to show their initiative and proactiveness in their work-learn opportunities and internships. Connecting with these young professionals informed me the same stories of all other young people globally who are passionate change makers, and have grit to make meaningful difference in the energy transition movement, but are struggling to enter the industry. Feeling even more inspired by this experience, I channeled the same level of positivity into delivering Student Energy’s workshop that speaks to the very nature of this conversation– how young people can enter the energy transition labour market. 

The workshop drew key insights from Student Energy’s recently published report “Energy Transitions Skills Project” and its own 14 years of youth engagement to provide some actionable recommendations on how youth can take hold of their own energy careers. I walk through the importance of reflecting values, desires, and skills before job searching as a way to remind young people what is important to them when selecting a career; and relating their values to the labour market demand will make it easier for them to target their job search. Later, I facilitated a storytelling session where participants pitch their stories amongst themselves as a practice run for future networking opportunities with industry professionals. While there was low attendance in the workshop, the youth who participated were very engaged and happy to share their stories and connect with one another. 

Sharing recommendations to young people to be part of the energy movement gives me joy as I was in the same position a couple of years ago–I did not know how to apply my own unique skills and lived experiences in the energy transition industry, and felt severe imposter syndrome as a result. I still am continuously navigating through this rhythm of learning collectively as I engage with other youth on how we can intercept high-level decision-making spaces, and make our voices heard through our work. From learning about energy education through the Leaders Fellowship Program, to now working as Research and Youth Engagement Special Projects Coordinator, Student Energy has expanded my potential in the way I see myself, and how to creatively apply my own unique skills in the energy space. This experience has given me the opportunity to connect with other brilliant minds that give me the optimistic feeling of a positive transformation of the energy industry, and preparing for the next generation of leaders to confidently reclaim and re-write their futures. 

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Student Energy featured in SolarPVcast podcast https://studentenergy.org/student-energy-featured-in-solarpvcast-podcast/ https://studentenergy.org/student-energy-featured-in-solarpvcast-podcast/#respond Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:58 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16247

 

Student Energy’s Shakti Ramkumar, Senior Director of Policy and Communications, had a conversation with Chris Palliser, host of The SolarPVcast podcast by Shift Energy Group in a podcast episode “Empowering Future Leaders: Student Energy’s Impact on Sustainable Energy Transition” published August 4 on Spotify and YouTube. The conversation delves into how Student Energy, a global, youth-led non-profit organization, is empowering young people to become leaders accelerating the transition to a just and equitable energy future.

The conversation begins with the humble beginnings of Student Energy – how a team of three students (Janice Tran, Kali Taylor, and Sean Collins) in Calgary back in 2009 managed to build the world’s largest organization working on energy with a network of 50,000+ global youth 14 years later. Starting with the first International Student Energy Summit, the founders successfully brought together 350 young people from over 30 countries to gather in Calgary and provide a space for collaboration alongside world leaders and energy experts. And so, Student Energy was born as a non-profit with a mission to empower aspiring young leaders to take an active part in a just energy transition.

Shakti shares the organization’s many initiatives, including the impact of Student Energy’s programs ecosystem engaging thousands of global young people in building the skills, education, training, and project development experience to empower them in tackling various energy, climate, and equity issues both at a local and global level. In particular, Shakti talked about Student Energy’s Guided Projects program, with the first cohort installing solar PV projects within their local communities in varying contexts. A pre-pilot solar PV project was successfully installed by students at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta before the official cohort launch. Led by students Jack Harding and Ethan Buchanan, power generated from the solar array is now being sold to the University, and the students are using the proceeds to fund their Chapter’s work. Since then, the Guided Projects program brought on six teams from all over the world as part of the first cohort. Two of these solar projects are now successfully installed – the Shames Mountain team providing power for a community-owned ski hill in Northwestern BC, and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) team’s project aiming to electrify Gachororo Primary School in their community in Juja, Kenya.

At the core of Student Energy’s work is education. The aim is to demystify the energy system by leveling the playing field on who gets to understand the energy system by simplifying technical jargon, making energy education accessible to anyone, and empowering people to feel comfortable explaining the energy system. The Energy System Map, the Energy 101 series on Student Energy’s social media platforms, and energy education videos on Student Energy’s YouTube channels are the many ways the organization shares educational resources so anyone can be empowered to learn about the energy system.

Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and watch the full episode on YouTube!

 

Spotify

YouTube

 

 

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Deborah Emokpaire shares experience as SECT 3rd cohort alum https://studentenergy.org/deborah-emokpaire-shares-experience-as-sect-3rd-cohort-alum/ https://studentenergy.org/deborah-emokpaire-shares-experience-as-sect-3rd-cohort-alum/#respond Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:00:11 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=16233

Debby’s career interests lie at the intersection of energy, environment, data, and policy. She currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Federal University of Agriculture where she earned a Bachelor’s of Agriculture in Soil Science and Land Management. Much of her previous experience was focused on agritech, fintech, and business research. Eventually, she decided she wanted to focus on clean energy to influence advocacy and implement policies necessary to electrify Nigeria and Africa, while collaborating and working with clean energy businesses to achieve economic development and transformation.

After joining SECT, Debby applied for the Naija Policy Hackathon where she was selected along with 400 young people across various themes. She was selected to participate in the Climate Act Track to suggest policy recommendations to improve the Nigeria Climate Change Act alongside her team members. Though her team did not get to be part of the finalists, it was worth the effort since it her my first experience around policy making.

Connect with Debby on LinkedIn!

Three more days left to apply for the upcoming Student Energy Career Training program 4th cohort! Apply by August 31, 2023 at 23:59 PST!

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42,000 Youth Voices: Launching The Global Youth Energy Outlook https://studentenergy.org/42000-youth-voices-launching-the-global-youth-energy-outlook/ https://studentenergy.org/42000-youth-voices-launching-the-global-youth-energy-outlook/#respond Thu, 08 Jun 2023 22:12:27 +0000 https://studentenergy.org/?p=15780 8 June 2023 – VANCOUVER – The Global Youth Energy Outlook (GYEO) is a new youth-led report released today by Student Energy, featuring nearly 42,000 survey responses from young people 18-30 in 129 countries. The GYEO is the largest youth-led data-gathering project on energy, developed by Student Energy, alongside 12 Regional Coordinators who led survey development and community outreach in their respective regions. The GYEO report is also accompanied by two Action Toolkits, a “Youth Toolkit” and a “Governments and Industry Toolkit”, which outline how various stakeholders can navigate the report and take action on the recommendations within.

Key Highlights from the GYEO:

  • 80% of youth surveyed believe their governments should take drastic actions to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, with two-thirds of youth who expressed support for decarbonization targets indicating they wanted their governments to work toward a 2030 goal rather than 2050.
  • As a global average, youth ranked ‘Government willpower, policies, and regulations’ as the biggest barrier in achieving a sustainable energy transition in their respective countries – especially in Latin America (56%) and South East Asia (48%). Youth also indicated they are prepared to vote on this issue, with 83% of respondents saying that they would vote for a political candidate based on their position on the energy transition.
  • Government policy was chosen as the factor having the ‘most importance’ in accelerating the sustainable energy transition, with 44% of respondents choosing it as their top option. Youth in all regions also identified that governments had the most responsibility to reduce emissions.

 

The Global Youth Energy Outlook intends to bridge the gap between youth and decision-makers in governments and industry – for youth to use the Outlook as a data-backed advocacy tool, and for decision-makers to use the Outlook to understand how to meaningfully engage young people. 

 

Inside the Report: The GYEO opens with an Executive Summary and a Global Insights section, which contain the headline statistics, findings, and recommendations from the project overall. The report also contains 10 Region-specific Chapters. Each Regional Chapter is introduced with a Foreword by a Regional Coordinator to provide context, a ‘Regional Highlights’ section to amplify particularly interesting findings from each region, and a series of Discussions and thematic analyses that are specific to that region. The GYEO’s survey data is also accompanied by qualitative findings from 25 Regional Dialogues held with youth, as well as Youth Spotlights of young people who are taking action on energy around the world.

Partnerships: The project received financial support from Founding Partners DNV, the Government of Denmark, the Government of Canada (Natural Resources Canada), and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition. The project also received knowledge and peer review support from Knowledge Partner, Enel Foundation.

Student Energy first launched the initial findings from the report at the Science Show Theatre as an official event of the COP26 Green Zone Programme in Glasgow, Scotland, featuring an intergenerational panel discussion with Regional Coordinators and government officials. Since then, the GYEO’s insights have been presented to various youth and global audiences, to support the development of this final report.

 

“We are excited to launch the Global Youth Energy Outlook to celebrate a 3-year youth-led research process. Through a labor of passion and dedication, the report was developed by young energy leaders who are keen to envision and facilitate a rapid transformation of the energy system. We are also thrilled to have Dr. Carlo Papa, Managing Director of Enel Foundation,  join us for the launch event of the GYEO, as Enel Foundation has been deeply supportive in the review process for the project as our Knowledge Partner. Over the course of this project, Student Energy has seen that young people globally are unified in their desire to see urgent climate action, and yet have a diversity of perspectives informed by the unique geographic and social contexts of their communities. We hope that this research is a launching point for decision makers to meaningfully include young people and youth perspectives in decision-making on the energy transition.” – Helen Watts, Executive Director, Student Energy

 

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering 50,000 young people in 120+ to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since its founding in 2009,  Student Energy has worked to build the knowledge, skills, and networks that youth need to take action on energy. Student Energy operates on a unique youth empowerment model, which means that initiatives are co-created with youth, for youth.

Student Energy also works with governments, the UN, and other decision-makers to facilitate meaningful youth engagement and mobilize resources, coaching, and mentorship to support youth-led work. Student Energy has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as Indigenous Clean Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, HSBC Global, the Stockholm Environment Institute, DNV, WSP, and national governments like Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. Student Energy has stewarded CAD$10 million+ in funding to date, supported the development of over 280 youth energy projects, held 6 international Student Energy Summits, and attracted over 17 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

 

About Enel Foundation:

Enel Foundation is an Italian think-tank established in early 2012, with the key objective to drive changes through knowledge creation and sharing to help solve the greatest challenges of our time in the energy and climate domains.

Based in Rome and Santiago, Enel Foundation conducts in-depth independent research leading to scenarios analysis, policy and regulation recommendations and tailored solutions and it co-creates multi flags training programs.

Knowledge platform for a clean energy future

 We focus on the crucial role of clean energy to ensure a sustainable future for all.

By envisioning a sustainable future – resilient and equal – boosted by quality education and enlightened self-interest by the business community. The future we want is powered by affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern electricity smartly distributed to all.

We focus on research and education.

By developing partnerships with pre-eminent experts and institutions across the globe, leveraging on the vast knowledge of our Founders, we conduct research to explore the implications of global challenges in the energy domain. We develop scenario analysis, define policy and regulation opportunities, and design education programs to the benefit of scientific and institutional realms.

We operate at the intersection of business and society.

By engaging institutions and governmental bodies, thought leaders and civil society representatives, industry experts and academia. We are a non-profit organization seeking to converge with like-minded actors determined to solve global challenges ensuring a sustainable future for all.

 

Media Contacts:

Shakti Ramkumar, Senior Director of Policy and Communications

shakti@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 445 4306

 

Helen Watts, Executive Director

helen@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 354 2930

 

Click here to watch the full recording of the webinar event on YouTube

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