Drosos Hosts Youth Impact Day in Cairo

Drosos Foundation held its Collective Impact Day in Cairo, bringing together more than 1,000 young people, development partners, civil society organizations and government representatives at the American University in Cairo cultural center.

Participants travelled from across Egypt, including Aswan, Qena, Fayoum and Alexandria, to showcase successful models of youth empowerment and community-led development.

The event reflects more than two decades of work by the foundation in Egypt, spanning sectors such as agriculture, rural development, arts and culture, creative industries, the green economy, digital innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Its portfolio includes around 160 projects focused on youth engagement and community empowerment.

A defining feature of the day was the strong leadership role played by young participants, who helped organize and run sessions. This approach aligns with the foundation’s strategy of positioning youth as active partners in designing and delivering development initiatives, rather than passive beneficiaries.

Hanan Dweidar, country director of Drosos in Egypt, emphasized that meaningful impact is built through collaboration, noting that young people are central to driving sustainable change.

The event also featured participation from Mohamed El-Akabi, Assistant Minister of Social Solidarity, representing Maya Morsy. He highlighted the importance of partnerships between government and civil society in supporting youth empowerment, social innovation and entrepreneurship in line with Egypt’s sustainable development goals.

Christian Stroh, Executive Director for Programs at Drosos, noted that the organization is marking over 20 years of work by refining its vision and strengthening its focus on skills development, entrepreneurship and social inclusion. He stressed that long-term impact depends on continuous learning and strong partnerships.

The Collective Impact Day featured panel discussions, interactive presentations and platforms for young people to share success stories, encouraging knowledge exchange and collaboration across sectors.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from partners to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen collective impact, contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable society.

Drosos Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization headquartered in Zurich and registered in Egypt with the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Founded in 2003, it operates in multiple countries including Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland and Tunisia.

The foundation focuses on creating pathways for young people to realize their full potential and contribute to a more just, inclusive and sustainable world. It supports initiatives in skills development, entrepreneurship and socio-economic inclusion through partnerships with locally led organizations.