2026 PRME Students Sustainability Award

Our student organization aims to promote equitable access to education and sustainability in vulnerable communities in Lima Norte (Peru), through the design and implementation of innovative solutions that integrate circular economy, community-based learning, and responsible management.

Through student-led initiatives, we develop sustainable community libraries and environmental education spaces that strengthen reading skills, ecological awareness, and community development.

Our work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), generating integrated social, environmental, and educational impact.

Guided by the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), we promote responsible leadership, ethical decision-making, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and experiential learning, empowering students to design and implement sustainable solutions with real impact within and beyond the university.

Our student organization advances the Sustainable Development Goals by translating global frameworks into concrete, student-led action within vulnerable urban communities in Lima Norte, Peru. Through our initiatives, we expand access to education (SDG 4), transform community spaces into inclusive learning environments (SDG 11), promote circular economy practices (SDG 12), and strengthen cross-sector partnerships that ensure long-term sustainability (SDG 17).

Beyond alignment, our work actively operationalizes the Seven Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). We embed purpose by fostering responsible leadership among students, integrate values through ethical and sustainable decision-making, and apply method through experiential, community-based learning. Our initiatives function as living platforms for collaboration, research, and dialogue, enabling students to connect academic knowledge with real-world impact and contribute to a more sustainable and responsible society.

Creativity is at the core of our organization’s approach, reflected in the design of innovative, low-cost, and scalable solutions that address both social and environmental challenges. A key example is the transformation of discarded materials, such as fruit crates, into functional community libraries—integrating circular economy principles with educational access.

Our approach emphasizes student agency, where students are not only participants but designers and implementers of solutions. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, hands-on learning, and community engagement, we create meaningful experiences that foster active participation, innovation, and a strong sense of purpose. This combination of creativity and action enables us to develop adaptable models with potential for replication in diverse contexts.

Our work has generated a broad and measurable impact across both the university ecosystem and local communities. In vulnerable communities, our initiatives have expanded access to education, strengthened community engagement, and promoted environmental awareness by transforming traditional spaces into inclusive learning environments.

Within the university, we have fostered a culture of sustainability and social responsibility by engaging students from multiple disciplines in applied, real-world projects. This has strengthened experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of leadership and problem-solving skills.

Additionally, our partnerships with local governments, private sector organizations, and community leaders have contributed to building collaborative ecosystems that promote inclusive development, responsible management practices, and long-term sustainability.

While our initiatives are locally implemented, they are designed with a global perspective and strong potential for replication. Our model—based on circular economy, student leadership, and community engagement—is low-cost, adaptable, and relevant to other urban contexts facing similar socio-environmental challenges, particularly in the Global South.

Through participation in national and international sustainability platforms, we contribute to knowledge exchange, share best practices, and learn from diverse perspectives. By aligning local action with global frameworks such as the SDGs and PRME, we position student-led initiatives as drivers of global cooperation and collective impact.

1. Sustainable Community Libraries Implementation

We design and implement sustainable libraries in community kitchens (“ollas comunes”) in Lima Norte using recycled fruit crates as infrastructure, promoting circular economy practices. These libraries are supplied through community-led book collection campaigns and second-hand book purchases, and managed through a digital system that ensures transparency and long-term sustainability. This initiative promotes access to reading, environmental education, and community ownership.

2. Environmental Awareness and Action Programs

We implement sustainability campaigns that combine education, action, and community engagement. Key initiatives include:

Two annual electronic waste recycling campaigns in partnership with the Municipality of Los Olivos and the telecommunications company Claro

Environmental volunteering activities such as tree planting and beach clean-ups

Sustainable fashion shows and environmental awareness campaigns

Community book donation drives to promote reading culture

Collection of perishable food waste for food banks

These activities engage students from diverse academic programs at UPN Los Olivos, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and civic responsibility.

3. Strategic Partnerships and Student Leadership

We build strategic alliances with local governments, private sector organizations, and community leaders to ensure the sustainability and scalability of our initiatives.

Additionally, we actively participate as student leaders in national sustainability platforms such as the Peru Sostenible Summit, representing university-led initiatives in high-level discussions on sustainable development.

These efforts strengthen collaborative ecosystems, position students as agents of change, and connect local action with global sustainability agendas.

Bertin Fabrizio Ortiz Mejia, n00304543@upn.pe