Sobhy, Ambassador of Switzerland Observe Extension for Community Digital Centers Project

After a successful first year, the Minister of Youth and Sports and Ambassador of Switzerland

observe the extension for the community digital centers project until 2025.

Dr. Ashraf Sobhy and Swiss Ambassador to Egypt Yvonne Baumann observed today, at the headquarters of the Civic Education Center in Gezira, the extension of the agreement for the next three years until 2025 to operate eight community digital centers, , Minister of Youth and Sports. Those centers aim to empower the migrants and Egyptian youth in Egypt by enhancing their social, daily and entrepreneurial skills through technology, in addition to empowering those youth and training them to benefit from the growing digital Egyptian economy in collaboration with Terre des Hommes.

From the Egyptian side, the extension ceremony was attended by Major General Ismail El Far, Head of youth sector in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and who signed the agreement and Mrs. Manal Gamal (Head of Central Department for Youth Empowerment). From the Swiss side, Dr. Valérie Liechti, Head of Office for International Cooperation –Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, and Mrs. Pakinam Khireldin, Program Officer, Swiss Office for International Cooperation, and from Terre des Hommes Mrs. Laure Baudin, Country Representative of Terre des Hommes Egypt and Mrs. Sara Ghanem Migration Program Manager of Terre des Hommes Egypt.

In his speech, the H.E. Minister of Youth and Sports welcomed H.E Ambassador of Switzerland and for her presence to sign the extension. He highlighted that the signed 3 years extension is a fruit of the political leadership efforts in Egypt and based on the directives of H.E Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to focus on the file of building on the individual and investing in youth and enhance institutional capacity building across government agencies, as well as enhance cooperation with all the development partners in different fields.

Sobhy added that the Ministry is willing to offer its full capacities to serve the youth and migrants living on Egyptian territories, their second country, and enable them with technology along with providing decent job opportunities, while pointing out the role of the Ministry to develop the youth’s skills in the different governorates and preparing them for the job market to keep up with the pace of development. This is what we were keen on implementing through our partnership with Terre des Hommes. The Minister of Sports called for increasing cooperation between the ministry and the authority, especially in terms of womens’ empowerment and preparing them for the job market through youth centers in the coming period.

H.E Yvonne Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland has extended her gratitude to H.E Minister of Youth and Sports for being here and for this cooperation opportunity for the youth. She highlighted that like Egypt, Switzerland strongly believes in empowering youth by developing their skills, providing them with career coaching, and facilitating their access to the labor market.

Ambassador Baumann added that this partnership becomes even more relevant in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Switzerland is committed to support Egypt’s role in extending services and ensuring the livelihoods and well-being of refugees and migrants.

Ambassador Baumann also stated she is taking this opportunity to commend the Government of Egypt for its continued great efforts to accommodate the large community of migrants and refugees who have come to the country, before the war in Sudan, and since it started.

Mrs. Laure Baudin stated that in the context of the fruitful cooperation between Terre des Hommes and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which has been extended today, it is actually a collaboration towards building a new generation able to cope with the modern technology pace and equipped with creative ideas towards better future.

Mrs. Bodine also confirmed that Terre des Hommes believes in the importance of technology and digital impact, as the youth empowerment program aims to provide the youth with digital and leadership skills to enhance their ability to find suitable job opportunities in the labor market.

It is noteworthy that the agreement has been implemented in its first year. The youth have been trained in 8 youth training centers after being equipped with the most updated equipment and internet connection in the following centers: “Education Center Tenth of Ramadan - Ain Shams Youth Center - Helmeyet El Zaytoun Youth Center - Center Sixth District Youth - October Youth Forum - Youth Development Center in Sheikh Zayed - New Maadi Youth Center - Olympic Center for Training National Teams.