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Muhammad Ansar

Mississauga, ON

Muhammad Ansar entered his final year of undergraduate studies in September 2023. He is currently pursuing an Honors Bachelors in Life Sciences, with a double major in neuroscience and psychology, and a minor in anthropology. Muhammad is also the co-founder and co-executive director of Human Nature Projects (HNP) Ontario, a student-led, federally incorporated non-profit organization operating in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), focused on raising awareness about ongoing environmental issues to prompt more sustainable practices, policies and development. He spearheaded the Environmental Youth for Indigenous Advocacy Fellowship in Summer of 2023 in collaboration with an amazing executive team. In his free time, he loves reading books, cooking, and going on walks.

Youth Environmental Advocacy Fellowship

Youth Environmental Advocacy Fellowship is a transformative program that equipped students with the knowledge and skills to make a tangible impact in the lives of Canadian Indigenous peoples and communities. Through mentorship and education, participants aged 15-20 learned about environmental issues impacting Canadian Indigenous communities, focusing on health. With this knowledge, youth developed innovative and sustainable policy ideas, positioning themselves as powerful advocates for positive change for Indigenous health and the environment.

https://www.hnpontario.org/youth-environmental-advocacy-fellowship

About this Project

Communities Served

My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Multi-barrier populations
  • Racial or visible minorities

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.

  • SDG 3: Good health and Well-being
  • SDG 4: Quality education
  • SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
  • SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
  • SDG 13: Climate action
  • SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

How the project works

The project empowers youth by educating them about environmental issues faced by Indigenous communities, fostering advocacy skills, and promoting sustainable policy development. The project consisted of a one-week long mentorship and fellowship program for youth aged 15-20. Participants conducted research, learned about environmental issues faced by Canadian Indigenous communities, and proposed sustainable policy ideas in a case competition. The program included interactive workshops and guest speakers, to empower youth to take environmental action and drive change within their communities.

Project Impact

In total, this Fellowship was able to directly impact 75 high school and university/college students globally. Students who were interested in this fellowship wanted to learn more about the intersection between environment and health within an Indigenous context. This fellowship was advertised to students as an internship opportunity which they were really grateful for. Furthermore, students heard from a total of 15+ Indigenous community members themselves, including Indigenous professors and students, who spoke about their personal experiences and how environment and health intersects within their communities.

Project Mission

Our mission is to empower youth to become advocates for Indigenous environmental issues. We aim to educate participants about the intersection of environmental challenges and Indigenous rights, while fostering a sense of empathy and understanding. Through mentorship and sustainable policy development, our goal is to create a generation of youth leaders who actively contribute to positive change for Indigenous communities and the environment.

Project Team

Our team consists of passionate individuals dedicated to environmental advocacy and empowering youth for change.

  • The names of project team members are as follows: Muhammad Ansar, Kiyan Sajadi, Cindy Zhou, Srija Das, Ridah Afshal, Suma Dendi, Sierra Yoo, Alina Riabova, Helia Sayadnasab, Tarani Esparam, Likhitha Koppula, Abtin Zaker, Nabeelah Zaman, Sherry Sun, Uyanda Mntambo, Kelly Li, Junbeen Yang.

Video Name or info

Information about our fellowship event!