13th International Mountain Day Observation held at Utah Valley University

On December 6th, 2022, Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at Utah Valley University (UVU), hosted UVU’s 13th annual International Mountain Day Observation

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On December 6^th, 2022 the students of Utah Valley University (UVU), members of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU, successfully hosted UVU’s 13^th annual observation of International Mountain Day (IMD), a United Nations (UN) event. The main theme for this year observation , was “Women Move Mountains." This wa a decision of the Mountain Partnership, under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations which coordinates activities and initiatives to promote sustainable mountain development (SMD) globally. UVU is a member of the MP since 2006, the first academic institution in North America.

UIMF members hosted the IMD through the student engaged learning (SEL) model. SEL encourages students to resolve practical issue by working as a group with faculty assisting them as mentors. Preparations for this event began months in advance with the creation of a task. This task list was created in such a way as to allow UVU students to sign up to complete different tasks that needed doing in preparation for the event, during the event, and after the event. They designed event agenda, with focus on the main theme of the IMD “Women Move Mountains.” The students identified and reached out to possible speakers, obtained equipment, prepared the room, and printed the materials. They raised funds for and paid for event supplies, designed and produced the brochure, web announcement, poster for the event and certificates for contributors. A wide variety of students ranging from National Security and Political Science majors to students with Information Technologies majors took part in the event.

Students arrived early at LA 116 at UVU to prepare the room for the observation. Chairs were set-up, tables arranged, and technical problems solved, all before guests arrived.

Once guests had arrived, the event was opened by Joshua Kooyman, president of Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) club under the UIMF umbrella at UVU. He was followed by a wonderful welcome given by Dr. Baldomero Lago, the Chief International Officer at UVU, who shared his love for UIMF and UVU’s participation in the event.

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Dr. Lago, Chief international officer of UVU speaks at the event

Dr. Lago spoke about UVU leadership role in the State of Utah and North America in promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through academic activities. He informed how UVU jointly with Salt Lake City hosted the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City in August 2019. The UN conference of such a high level was hosted for the first time not at the UN headquarters but in the western part of the United States. In addition, Dr. Lago spoke about UVU role in hosting the first academic conference on SDGs "Why it Matters" during October 2022 at UVU campus. Representatives from more that 67 nations attended it and UVU faculty and students contributed to the conference success by presenting results of their academic research with focus on a specific SDGs. Dr, Lago also highlighted the role of UIMF in promoting SMD and gender agenda in the State of Utah and at the UN.

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Dr. Rusty Butler, UVU Associate Vice President speaks at the event

His welcoming remarks were followed by Dr. Rusty Butler, who was the Associate Vice President for the International Affairs and Diplomacy and the Director of the Utah Russia Institute until his retirement in Mid-2016. He is now the main representative at the United Nations for the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, an NGO in general consultative status with UN ECOSOC. His remarks covered a wide variety of topics including his experiences hosting multiple important international figures at UVU and showing them the school and the wonderful work students do here. Further, he spoke on UIMF was highlighted in the 2022 United Nations Secretary-General's Report on Sustainable Mountain Development. His remarks were welcome and well presented.

Audience

UVU students in the audience

Jokudu Jada (Winnie), UVU student speaks during the event

After Dr. Butler’s presentation, the audience was privileged to hear from Winnie Jada, a current student at UVU. She is a native of South Sudan and spoke on the difficulties that women face daily in that county. It was an eye-opening speech also about her own actions promoting gender equality in Sudan and how she was benefited from the involvement with the UIMF and in particular use of SEL for joint actions. She expressed hope to implement similar educational model when she will be back in her own country after graduating UVU.

Handen Torsak, UVU student speaks during the event

Next, Handen Torsak, a UVU student native of Utah spoke on his experiences hosting women from Pakistan at his home whilst he was grown up, when his mother, with her peers hosted through SEL the fourth international "Women of the Mountains" conference as the executive secretary of conference. He shared also how this experience shaped his understanding of not only Pakistan and mountain women, but on how people from diverse backgrounds can peacefully cooperate and create positive experiences.

Priyanka Prem Kumar, researcher from India speaks during the event

Following Handen’s remarks, Priyanka Prem Kumar, researcher from India delighted the crowd with her presentation on women in India and the challenges that they face there. It was remarkable to hear from her presentation how women in India are playing a leading role in particular in the area of Informational Technologies and computer sciences. She was glad to talk about a partnership developed between UIMF members and AI for Rural, an NGO, with which she worked on advocating for gender equality and SMD in the State of Utah and India.

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Rachel Welker's, Foreign Affairs club VP and Stephan Atkinson, Foreign Affairs club President present FAO-UN certificates to UVU students and faculty

Next was the annual UIMF awards ceremony in which about 100 students, faculty and local community members, who had been involved with the activities promoting sustainable mountain development and supporting UIMF members during 2022, received special certificates of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The ceremony was headed by Stephan Atkinson and Rachel Welker's.

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Alitha Thompson, UIMF President addresses the audience

Finally, the conference was closed by Alitha Thompson, who shared her thoughts on the importance of SMD, and highlighted how the IMD observation will contribute to the preparations of UIMF members for the visit to the UN next March when they will plan to advocate for mountain women during the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Lago Introduction

Jonathan Lubke, UVU student introduces Dr. Lago

Rachel

Rachel Welker, Foreign Affairs club vice President introduces Dr. Rusty Butler

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McKay Brooks, VP for UVU Rotaract and Leila Mitchell, UIMF member introduce Jokudu Jada and Handen Torsak

Tristin

Tristin Juarez-Smith, President, UVU Rotaract introduces Priyanka Prem Kumar

The event ran smoothly with zero issues. A recording of this event can be found below on this same article.

Running with the success of the event, UVU will be excited to host through SEL its 14^th annual observation next year.

We would like to extend our thanks to our sponsors: the UVU Office for Global Engagement and History and Political Science Department, the Utah International Mountain Forum, the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Utah China Friendship Improvement Sharing Hands Development and Commerce. We are grateful for your help and support.

Joshua Kooyman, President, Sustainable Mountain development club at UVU

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Task List

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Video of the IMD event

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FAO-UN About IMD Observation at UVU

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Utah Rotary District Newsletter

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PREPARATIONS FOR IMD 2022

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