Kénitra Hosts the Third Edition of the Open University for Young Environmental and Climate Leaders
The Agricultural Chamber of Kénitra is hosting the third edition of the Open University for Young Environmental and Climate Leaders, taking place from November 8 to December 6, 2025, under the slogan: “Our Environment Without Plastic… A Cleaner Future for Our Forests and Better Health.” This event is organized by the Eco-Development and Climate Lighthouse Association, supported by the municipality of Kénitra, in partnership with the National Agency for Water and Forests and the Fight Against Desertification, the regional directorate of the Ministry of National Education, and the Faculty of Human Sciences at Kenitra’s Ibn Tofail University, along with collaboration from the Abu Dhabi Environment Network, the Academic Center for Scientific Research and Foresight Studies, and the Moroccan Association for Personal Development, engaging both local and national associations concerned with environmental and climate issues.
The focus of the third edition is “Urban Forest Parks as a Driver for Development and Mitigation of Climate Change,” aiming to enhance environmental and climate awareness and raise awareness of the risks of plastic pollution, while highlighting the importance of the urban forest as a natural and cultural space contributing to sustainable development.
The program includes a series of training workshops and practical activities, including simulation exercises, clean-up campaigns, and tree planting, celebrated for World Animal Day (October 4), National Tree Day (November 14), and World Cleanup Day, with participation from youth and students from four educational institutions and workshops at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences at Ibn Tofail University, alongside activities within the urban forest.
In a statement, the association’s president, Mr. Mustafa Benramal, affirmed that the Open University for Young Environmental and Climate Leaders has become “an annual environmental rendezvous to instill values of ecological citizenship and community participation in protecting forests and natural spaces,” noting that the choice of the urban forest symbolizes “a collective commitment to making it a national model for sustainable urban forests.”
The meeting opened with remarks from Mr. Mohamed Dahim, Deputy Mayor of Kénitra, and Mr. Habib Jdi, representing the National Agency for Water and Forests, before the association president presented an overview of the project’s goals and scheduled activities.
The university’s activities featured a diverse training program that combined theoretical presentations and practical workshops, including a presentation on “Education for the Right to a Healthy Environment” led by researcher Shaima Agniewa, and a practical workshop on “The Importance of Engagement in Motivating Participants in Environmental Activities,” conducted by Mustafa Benramal, as well as a concluding workshop on “The Urban Forest as a Driver for Development and Climate Change Mitigation” facilitated by Dr. Bouchra Zhani.
The workshops concluded with an open discussion and experience exchange among participants, along with the distribution of training certificates, making this edition a distinguished milestone for the Open University for Young Environmental and Climate Leaders, and reinforcing Kénitra’s position as an environmental city that encourages youth initiatives and environmental awareness.
