International Development Week
International Development Week
International Development Week (IDW) is an opportunity to explore how Canada and Canadians are making a difference around the world!
This year’s IDW (2025) took place from February 2-8. Learn about International Development Week across Canada and read about the events, activities, and opportunities we out on with partnership with members and community partners this year.
2025 Top 30 Under 30 Celebration Event
On February 8, 2025, ACGC celebrated the 2025 Top 30 Under 30s at the Celebration Event at cSPACE Marda Loop in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by 2024 Top 30 alumni, Ziyana Kotadia and Ferrada Lightning, the event featured recitations by aloT of Poetry and a keynote speech by Dr. Nadia Maarouf. Seven 2025 Top 30 speakers also shared their stories at the event. City of Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek addressed the Top 30s and the Hosts read a letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The full event can be viewed at the link below.
This year’s theme is “Past, Present, Future: Celebrating the Journey from Yesterday to Tomorrow,” which is reflected in the Top 30 profiles, linked below. The campaign artist, Esther Dimalanta, also incorporated the theme into the Top 30 logo and artwork.
Let’s Talk International Development: Documentary Screening & Conversation
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
TIME: 6:30 – 9 PM (MT)
LOCATION: Joyce on 4th (506 24 Ave SW, Calgary AB)
International Development Week (IDW) 2025 was Feb 2-8 and in recognition, Let’s Talk International Development returned for a 2nd year in a row to galvanize Calgarians to connect, discuss, and network around this important topic.
Attendees viewed a documentary screening of Without Leaving Anyone Behind followed by an in-person conversation with the geniuses behind the film. Then they networked with EWBers and Calgarians who are keen on exploring the intersections of energy transitions, climate change, economics, and of course, the SDGs.
ACGC x Real Humanitarian – Building Futures: The power of Education
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM (MT)
LOCATION: Crowfoot Room, Medicine Hat College (or join virtually!)
Real Humanitarian in collaboration with Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, invited guests to Building Futures – The Power of Education, a hybrid event where they explored:
- How education supports sustainable development goals and its role in achieving broader global progress.
- Stories of resilience and progress through Real Humanitarian’s impactful work in Africa.
- Challenges faced by underprivileged communities and innovative solutions for equitable education.
Guests engaged with expert presentations, heard inspiring panelists, and joined the discussion on actionable ways to make a difference in international development.
International Development Week Reading List
The 2025 IDW Reading List, in partnership with the Edmonton Public Library, is out! These books highlight the ongoing struggles for social justice, particularly in marginalized communities around the globe, and the efforts of individuals and collectives to bring about real change. Whether addressing the urgent fight against environmental degradation, reclaiming Indigenous rights, or confronting systemic inequalities, each book exemplifies the resilience required to face and overcome adversity.
Letters to Policymakers
For this year’s International Development Week, the ICN partnered with the councils to launch a special letter-writing initiative. Youth participants were invited to share their hopes, visions, and actionable ideas for achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. They were asked to write letters to policymakers, offering innovative solutions and reflecting their aspirations for a better, more sustainable world. Below, find links to the nation-wide campaign as well as the five letters from changemakers across Alberta.
University of Alberta – International Week
DATE: February 3 – 7, 2025
LOCATION: Multiple Locations (University of Alberta Campus)
International Week 2025 invited you to meaningfully engage with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inspiring lectures, insightful panels and collaborative discussions.
Adopted in 2015, the SDGs call on governments and civil society worldwide to address the world’s most pressing issues, from poverty and education to health and the environment.
Open to the University of Alberta and the local community, I-Week’s free events offered various ways to learn about the 17 SDGs and how to engage effectively with them.
Dr. Nadia Maarouf – Top 30 Under 30 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Nadia Maarouf is a clinical scientist, analog astronaut and an explorer. She was recently
conferred the Top 40 under 40 award. Born and raised in rural Morocco, where women and girls
still don’t have the same freedoms as their male counterparts, she credits her parents –
especially her late feminist father- for breaking with tradition and carving educational and
extracurricular activities for her where she was often the only female in the class. Dr. Maarouf is an Analog Astronaut who was selected from thousands of applicants to conduct space medicine research related to healthcare autonomy for missions beyond low-earth orbit and cardiovascular countermeasures in high-fidelity analog missions funded by various space agencies. Dr. Maarouf kindly joined ACGC as the 2025 Top 30 Keynote Speaker and delivered a heartfelt and inspirational speech to the Top 30s and their loved ones.
aloT of Poetry – Top 30 Under 30 Poet
aloT of Poetry joined ACGC at the Top 30 Under 30 Celebration Event this year in Calgary, Alberta. aloT of Poetry is a Nigerian-South African poet and spoken-word artist. Her diverse poetic works range from social commentary to the beauty of simply being alive. Amidst her Kinesiology studies at The University of Calgary, she delved into performance and arts community engagement.
aloT of Poetry delivered a stunning land acknowledgement at the Top 30 Celebration Event, and she recited her poem, “A System of Stars”, to conclude the ceremony.
