The Ministry of Planning, Ain Shams University, and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development launches the “Dar & Salama” project in the village of “Awlad Yahya” in Sohag Governorate.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Ain Shams University, and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development launched the “Dar & Salama” project to implement a group of development interventions in the “Awlad Yahya” village in the center of Dar El Salam, in Sohag Governorate, which focuses on adequate housing and health care.

  Dr. Ahmed Al-Qadi, Deputy Governor of Sohag, witnessed Dr. Jihan Abdel Moneim, Advisor to the Vice President of Ain Shams University, and Dr. Hala Samir, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University, Nahed Yousry, Director of the Social Empowerment Sector, Hanan Khayal, Official in the Social Empowerment Sector at the Sawiris Foundation for Development, and representatives of the Life Makers Foundation.

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with civil society organizations and academic institutions, to benefit from their expertise in developing rural communities within the national project to develop the Egyptian countryside, “A Decent Life.”

  El-Said indicated that the launch of this project reflects the participatory approach that the Ministry of Planning is keen on, in its belief that strengthening the partnership between the so-called golden triangle of development, which includes the government, the private sector, and civil society, is the basic guarantee for achieving development goals and programs.

 

It is one of the most important pillars of achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030, in line with Goal 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “Forging partnerships to achieve the goals.”

Dr. Jamil Helmy, Assistant Minister for Sustainable Development Plan Follow-up Affairs, stated that the launch of the “Dar & Salama” project in the village of “Awlad Yahya” comes as a culmination of the intensive coordination efforts during the last period with Sohag Governorate and partner parties, and in implementation of the cooperation protocol that the Ministry of Planning signed with Ain University. Shams and the Sawiris Foundation.

Helmy pointed out coordination with the Social Solidarity Directorate in Sohag Governorate to update the data of those entitled to decent housing.

  Helmy pointed out that it is targeted to develop and raise the efficiency of 200 homes for families in need, while providing drinking water and sanitation connections, at a targeted cost of up to EGP 53 million, according to a set of standards and controls.

The delegation of the Ministry of Planning, which includes Ahmed Al-Shimi, Deputy Head of the Programs and Performance Unit, Ahmed Reda, Coordinator of the “Decent Life” initiative, and a delegation from Ain Shams University and the Sawiris Foundation, made a field visit to Sohag Governorate, during which he held a meeting with Dr. Ahmed Al-Qadi, Deputy Governor, in the presence of Sherif Abu Sahli, Coordinator of the “Decent Life” Unit in Sohag Governorate, at the Governor’s General Office.

The Deputy Governor of Sohag praised the role of the Ministry of Planning in supporting social groups and vulnerable families under the umbrella of the “Decent Life” project, praising cooperation with the Ministry of Planning in several development initiatives, including the “Green Village” initiative.

The Ministry delegation explained during the meeting that the “Decent Life” project, which was launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic in July 2021, is the project of the Egyptian state with all its institutions, and it is the largest development project in the modern era, in which the government participates in its implementation alongside academic institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector, which is one of the most important elements that distinguish the presidential initiative.

The Ministry’s delegation visited the village of “Awlad Yahya”, during which it inspected several homes for families in need of care, and the development projects being implemented within the “Decent Life” project, including the development of the Hashem Asiri Family Health Unit, the development of the joint preparatory school with 7 classes accommodating 300 students, and the unit. The social center, the technological center, the ambulance point, and the Yahya Al-Hajer Family Medicine Unit, are being established by comprehensive health insurance standards.

On the sidelines of the launch of the “Dar & Salama” project, the Ministry’s delegation held a consultative session with the people of the village, to get to know their opinions on the project, as well as the projects being implemented within “A Decent Life”, in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Sohag, and representatives of Ain Shams University and the Sawiris Foundation, and the people, expressed their happiness. 

The Ministry delegation also stressed that Sohag Governorate is one of the largest beneficiary governorates in “A Decent Life,” in terms of the number of targeted centers, with 7 centers (Dar es Salaam, Al-Balina, Maragha, Al-Mansha’ah, Al-Asirat, Gerga, Saqalta, and Tama), representing 13%. Out of the total number of centers targeted within the first phase, which numbered 52 centers.

Dr. Jehan Ragab, Advisor to the Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, expressed the university’s readiness to utilize all the capabilities of the university’s various colleges to support the “Awlad Yahya” village, by providing medical convoys, raising health and environmental awareness, and integrating social groups. Especially children with disabilities.

During the meeting, Nahid Yousry, Director of the Social Empowerment Sector at the Sawiris Foundation, indicated that the Foundation works by the state’s development plans, and in a way that achieves integration with the government’s efforts to provide adequate housing and support the most needy groups.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Planning signed, in March 2023, a cooperation protocol with the Sawiris Foundation for Development and Ain Shams University, to develop the villages most in need under the umbrella of the national project to develop the Egyptian countryside, “A Decent Life.”