Green Impact Student Spotlight: Meet Safi Hussain
Posted on Monday 18 August 2025
In June, we celebrated the amazing work of our Green Impact teams across the University; groups dedicated to making offices, labs, and departments more sustainable.
Behind the scenes these teams are supported by our passionate Green Impact Project Assistants (GIPAs), student volunteers who help turn sustainability goals into action.
One of them is Safi Hussain, a second year BA Philosophy student who has been making a real difference at the Norwegian Study Centre (NSC).
Last year, Safi helped the NSC team win three platinum awards. This year, she has returned to help create a sustainability guide for students attending the NSC’s Short Courses. Based on surveys of visiting students the guide will highlight sustainable food spots, ethical shopping, eco-friendly transport and green spaces around York. It will be released as a digital resource next academic year, helping make study visits to York more sustainable.
We caught up with Safi to hear more about her experience as a GIPA.
Tell us a bit about what you have been doing as a GIPA for the Norwegian Study Centre.
As a Green Impact Project Assistant for the Norwegian Study Centre, I supported and led various sustainability-focused projects which contributed to the amazing six platinum awards the department now has.
One of my favourite projects to work on was the creation of a tailored sustainability guide for Norwegian students visiting York for short periods of time. The guide offered practical advice on sustainable food choices, eco-friendly transport, ethical shopping locations and local nature-based activities.
This project was particularly rewarding as it had a direct influence on the ways in which students engaged with York, and I enjoyed promoting sustainable tourism in the city I’ve lived in for three years now.
What have you enjoyed most about your project or being a GIPA? What did you learn from the experience?
I’ve really enjoyed seeing how ideas can inspire real change - being a GIPA meant I saw the whole pipeline. From influencing how departments operate to implementing creative solutions that promote sustainability, the role gave me the ideal platform to contribute meaningfully to the university’s environmental goals.
Leading a project gave me not just a sense of ownership, but responsibility, and the chance to be both creative and strategic in my thinking. I was honoured to receive the Student Leadership Special Award for my contributions as a GIPA, and I’m really proud that the changes I helped to implement were recognised!
The experience also helped me develop key skills in leadership, communication and project management skills, while showing how small, well-designed initiatives can make a lasting impact.
Do you have any advice for a student who might be considering becoming a GIPA?
Just do it! Get involved, take initiative, don’t think twice. Don’t be afraid to lead a project or to share your ideas - that’s what being a GIPA is all about. The experience has really helped me grow, and beyond the professional advantages it’s a great way to affect some real positive change around York. I’d highly recommend it to anyone passionate about environmental or social justice! Green Impact isn’t degree-specific, nor is it restrictive - it’s a place for like-minded people to share their ideas and build a better world.
-----
A huge thanks to Safi for sharing her experience as a GILA for Green Impact! If you’re inspired by Safi’s story, consider applying to be a GILA next year (keep an eye out for our application window in September).