Back in July, HEPCA organised a three day environmental program for a group of 40 students from the Faculty of Political Science, Cairo University. The target of this program was to inform the students about sustainable development in the Red Sea and the many challenges this brings. The program included seminars, open discussions and a sea trip to Giftun Island to introduce the students to the mooring system concept.

The students are all part of the Namaa development program. The Namaa program was an initiative launched by the GWZ in 2005 and subsequently under the umbrella of NGO Nahdet El Mahrousa Association, which is responsible for carrying out the activities of this program.

Phase 2 of the award-winning Madrasty Project is now underway after a special Vodafone Signing Ceremony in Cairo. HEPCA attended the Signing Ceremony along with the other NGOs working on the project and was invited to give a presentation.

The groundbreaking Madrasty Project is the biggest campaign so far for equal education in Egypt. This initiative hits right at the heart of Egypt’s primary school education system, and links quality education with quality environment. Phase one of the Madrasty Project was completed last year and HEPCA successfully carried out physical renovations of 40 underprivileged schools in six of the most remote governorates in Egypt. Phase Two of the project sees HEPCA take responsibility for 50 schools in 10 governorates throughout Egypt.

Following the signing ceremony, Amr Ali accompanied Vodafone representatives Noha Saad, Corporate Responsibility & Foundation Manager and Sara Refaat, Senior Specialist CSR & Foundation, on a site visit to the south. Two schools were visited in El Quseir, followed by a site inspection at the new Solid Waste Plant in Port Ghalib that is being financed by Vodafone.

The group then made their way to Shalatein in the deep south. A number of schools were included in the program and HEPCA declared the opening of a nursery to help and support the local community in this area. On the return journey, the party stopped in to visit the Solid Waste Plant in Marsa Alam, which opened earlier this year.

Find out more about Madrasty in our Projects section.