Emaar Misr Company signed a co-operation protocol with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training project (TVET) under the auspices of the Governor of Cairo, Dr. Abdel Qawy Khalifa. This project aims at launching the Itqan Programme-Training for Employment to train and employ youth in the Manshiet Nasser area in the field of construction and building. The launching of the “Itqan" Programme-Training for Employment for training and employment is part of an integrated system for social work performed by Emaar Misr in the Manshiet Nasser area through supporting NGOs working in the area. Nebny Foundation for Development will undertake social co-ordination in the Manshiet Nasser area to organise and attract individuals interested in joining the programme. In a speech delivered during the signing of the partnership protocol, Cairo Governor, Dr. ‘Abdel Qawy Khalifa, asserted that the real partnership between the public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governmental agencies can strongly contribute to overcoming challenges confronted by random areas. The most important of these challenges include unemployment, which is an impediment to the development of the community, he added. The governor expressed his great pleasure in achieving the governorate's strategy in upgrading underprivileged areas, as one of the main aspects of this strategy is developing citizens in random areas by training and teaching them a craft. In addition, enabling citizens to create jobs for themselves thus becoming productive and beneficial individuals for their families and communities playing a role in development, according to him. Dr.Khalifa added that this will all be achieved through complete partnership between the government represented in the governorate's executive bodies, the Ministry of Manpower's Technical and Vocational Education and Training Project and NGOs represented in the Nebny Foundation. The foundation will provide trainers from the neighborhood, he noted. The governor stated that partnership will include businessmen and investors represented in Emaar Company for Development, as part of its social responsibility towards the surrounding community and district inhabitants themselves. The governor highlighted that the governorate is currently strenuously striving on solving problems and impediments accumulating since a long period of time as well as erroneous addressing of issues. The most important of which is problems of underprivileged areas, which are considered as a priority and that it's important to work on stopping the increase of random areas in Cairo, he said. Dr.Khalifa went on by saying that this can be carried out through investment and development in governorates expelling populations, which encourage them to move to Cairo in search of a source of income, and finding random housing for themselves. Furthermore, they work in a random manner as street vendors, he indicated. ‘We must work on eradicating these problems through short and long-term plans in co-operation with experts, executive bodies, NGOs and businessmen,' he stated. Mohamed Al-Dahan, Emaar Misr CEO, thanked all those who took part in this agreement, especially Dr. ‘Abdel Qawy Khalifa, Cairo Governor, who was eager to support this project. ‘Our responsibility as companies operating under the private sector and under current conditions to pay special and urgent attention to all that is related to sustained development of the community,' he underlined. Al-Dahan added that the" Itqan" Programme represents the core and unique start for creating real jobs for youth in the Manshiet Nasser area through enhancing their skills so they will be able to penetrate the labor market and contribute to creating a better future. The agreement with the TVET Project to launch the" Itqan" Programme-Training for Employment will include training youth on a number of skills required by the construction market, which can accommodate thousands of people, he said. According to him, a large number of Emaar's partners were eager to take part in the initiative including Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) and the Arab Construction Company (ACC), which will provide job opportunities for the first 100 programme graduates in projects by Emaar Misr, namely Uptown Cairo, Mivida, and Marassi. General Mohamed Ahmed Helal, TVET Programme Manager, expressed his joy for co-operating with Emaar Misr in launching this initiative, which he described as a role model for partnership between the government, private companies, and NGOs. He added that this programme will provide constant training and employment for a large number of youth in the Manshiet Nasser area. General Helal expressed his optimism with the project, which will receive huge influx from the region's inhabitants. Mr. Jawad Nabulsi, one of the founders of the Nebny Foundation, stated that the youth in the Manshiet Nasser area possess abilities and unused skills that require development and correct employment in the right place. The people in this area possess many craft talents and are totally ready to learn and assist in the advancement of society and improving living standards, he indicated. He underscored that therefore, light must be shed on this societal category so that it becomes active and constructive in advancing and elevating the nation and hence contributing to solving the problem of unemployment, which confronts a large number of youth.
