The program, which will last 16 months, is part of a multi-country grant that Citi Foundation has awarded Amideast through its global Pathways to Progress initiative, which prepares youth with career readiness tools and opportunities to thrive in today's economy. In addition to the Assiut-based program in Egypt, the grant will also fund training for 54 underserved youth in Saudi Arabia in employability skills crucial for their success in the rapidly changing Saudi economy.
“Amideast is proud of our longstanding partnership with Citi Foundation and thrilled that we can offer the Youth Entrepreneurship Program for the third time in Egypt — and for the first time in the governorate of Assiut,” said Ms. Shahinaz Ahmed, Amideast’s country director for Egypt. “We hope that our focus this year on the inspiring youth population in Assiut will empower innovation and entrepreneurship in Upper Egypt, a key goal for both Amideast and Citi.”
Ms. Ahmed also noted that incorporation of the Pay-It-Forward model will extend the program’s benefits to an additional 600 youth. This innovative feature of many Amideast programs will empower participants to lead workshops in which they share the knowledge they acquire during the program with peers in their communities. The benefits to our primary participants and those they themselves reach are significant.
“It’s incredible to see the pride that develops when our participants share their knowledge with others — the confidence they gain when an institution places such trust in them,” Ms. Ahmed said.
On behalf of Citi Foundation, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Kader, Citi Egypt’s CEO, added, “We are proud to partner with Amideast and to invest in youth in Egypt through targeted empowerment programs. Such programs catalyze economic growth through Citi Foundation grants and in partnership with reputed regional NGOs.”
Amideast’s previous implementations of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program in Egypt have seen young entrepreneurs establish or grow a wide variety of businesses, from apps that help Egyptian students find scholarship opportunities to socially responsible, tech-focused design firms and nationwide marketing platforms. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has continued to nourish Egypt’s young entrepreneurial talent. During pandemic-related lockdowns, the most recent cohort pivoted to online training platforms to ensure that participants would complete the program just as Egypt’s economy began to rebound from the crisis — something that is now paying dividends for their startups.
For further information about the program and how to apply, please click here.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES IN EGYPT, CONTACT:
Yasmina Weber
Amideast/Egypt | Exchange Programs Specialist
02-33324411
