The International Mountain Day (IMD) at UVU was observed for the third time under the umbrellas of the United Nations Mountain Partnership and the United Nations Academic Impact and for the first time as part of the United Nations Association of the United States of America
On December 2nd, the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of clubs at Utah Valley University (UVU), observed for the 10th time the International Mountain Day (IMD). This event about why mountains matter for youth was hosted by UIMF through the student engaged learning model, which provides students the opportunity to resolve complex problems as a group under faculty mentorship.
IMD 2019 was hosted under the umbrella of both the MP and the UN Academic Impact (UNAI), which is an initiative of the UN Department of Global Communications. UIMF also observed IMD as a chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA) at UVU. UNA-USA, which has promoted UN values in the US since 1943, posted a toolkit why mountains matter for youth and officially included IMD among the UN events to be observed by its 60,000 members and over 200 chapters nationwide.
During the event, Dr. Baldomero Lago, UVU Vice Rector for Global Engagement and UNAI representative, congratulated UIMF on contribution in the 68th UN Civil Society Conference (68UNCSC) in Salt Lake City as the only student – led group which hosted a poster session and a workshop and added language in the outcome document about mountain communities;
Dr. Rusty Butler, main representative at the UN of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, an NGO in General Consultative status with ECOSOC and MP member, spoke about joint with UIMF advocacy efforts at the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women and preparations for CSW64 in March 2020.
Mrs. Wendy Jyang, Founder of Utah China F.I.S.H. D&C, another NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC and MP member, discussed joint activities of her NGO with UIMF during CSW63 as well.
Mr. Uday Teki, CEO of Project Work Groups, introduced his company initiatives to reduce food insecurity in mountain communities worldwide and informed about preparations for students from three major Universities in Utah to join the UIMF delegation at CSW64.
Ms. Lacee Meyer Vice President of UIMF, spoke about challenges experienced by rural and mountain communities and her vision about local economic development.in Utah.
Mr. Michael Hinatsu Vice President of UIMF, informed about UIMF’s advocacy for mountain targets and women during CSW63, 68UNCSC and coming visit to CSW64.
At the end of the event, UIMF leaders presented on behalf of the MP a specially designed certificates to all contributors to the SMD advocacy in Utah and globally.
Samuel Elzinga, President, UIMF
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BROCHURE OF THE EVENT
Front side Back side of the brochure
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MEDIA ABOUT IMD AT UVU
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Mountain Partnership About Samuel Elzinga and UIMF
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Mountain Partnership About IMD at UVU
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UNA-USA About IMD and Why Mountains Matter for Youth
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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS
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Michael Hinatsu Rachel Godfrey
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James Uhl Abdulrahman Alghanmi
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