The Environmental Working Group (EnWG) is one of the six Working Groups in AEGEE, all of which are giving important and valuable input to the Network and build an essential part of it. Nonetheless the EnWG does believe that there are reasons why they should win the AEGEEan Award for Best Working Group 2012 and you can find them right here:
What makes the EnWG special from other WGs?
When The AEGEEan asked the EnWG why they should win this award the answer was: “Environmental topics play an important part in nowadays’ politics and economics. Big projects like Rio+20 show the integral role of sustainability but also be sustainable itself. There we did and continuously do try to raise awareness for it and make our actions, activities and events sustainable themselves.”
They promoted and supported green events and activities all over the Network, from workshops at training courses to Summer Universities up to statutory events. The idea of transforming an event into a green event has spread and most thematic Summer Universities focus on environmental topics.
This Working Group increased the number of active members and there are also a lot of enthusiastic members outside the board who take the initiative on organising activities like EDE 2012 or workshops on their favorite environmental topic. The EnWG also increased their active communication in order to get in touch with the members and all other AEGEEans who might be interested in joining the WG.
The EnWG of 2011
The previous mentioned increase in active communication was made in initiatives such as introducing the monthly social meeting. At this Skype meeting all members and interested AEGEEans are invited to discuss current topics and share ideas. The numbers of participants have increased constantly since it was introduced and it has become a good starting point for interested AEGEE members.
Externally the EnWG was working hard on their project too. One of their main goals is to spread green ideas across the Network and help locals and members to realise their ideas. After a total of 20 Summer Universities last year, 13 out of 26 SUs which collaborate with a project team or a Working Group decided to go green in 2012 and work together with the EnWG. They are supported with a team of seven EnWG members who help them with their program and organise workshops and thematic activities.
Additionally the EnWG support the Agora organisers to have a green Agora and spread green topics through workshops at various e.g. Network Meetings in Amsterdam and Tallinn or training courses. Here a lot of the input is given by members of the WG, as many of them study environmental topics and eager to share their knowledge.
What was so special about the EnWG last year?
When asked this question the answer from the EnWG is pure and simple: “We improved the communication with our members and managed to involve a lot of non-board members in our activities as workshop leaders, green SU assistants, the EDE and so on to have a flourishing Working Group and not only a few active members in the board.”
What is going on in the EnWG these days?
In 2012 the EnWG has continued the hard work of last year. The biggest upcoming project will be the EDE, coordinated by two of their members and involve large parts of the Network to work on different environmental topics. Thus the idea of sustainability and green topics spread further and the EnWG has a high visibility through the Network.
Last but not least it is also important to mention that the EnWG also started collaborating with Prof. James Skelly, who has been a speaker at EBM Izmir and who made his course on Global Conversation available for AEGEE members.
Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København