102 schools in Luxor, Aswan go solar

Our mission is to make sustainable economic, environmental, and social impact in underserved regions: Chairperson of EFG Hermes Foundation

The EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development has signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, represented by the General Authority for Educational Buildings, to transition 102 schools across Luxor and Aswan to clean solar energy by providing, installing and operating solar panels. The project is to generate 700 KWH contributing to an annual reduction of 250 tonnes CO2 emissions.
This comes as part of the country's national strategy to reduce emissions and increase reliance on renewable energy as part of its National Climate Strategy 2050 and the national initiative Decent Life. The investment also reflects the Foundation's holistic strategy and integrated approach in tackling economic, social, and environmental challenges, as it frees up financial resources for injection in other lacking areas by education bodies, contributes to a clean environment, and engages youth in remote regions in climate action.
Yousry El-Deeb, Director of the General Authority for Educational Buildings, said: "We're proud to establish partnerships with private sector institutions that work towards achieving Egypt's Social Development Goals (SDGs), such as supporting the education sector and addressing climate change. We aim to take advantage of this precious opportunity to develop schools' infrastructure and make a positive impact by providing long-term, sustainable educational services to all students. I personally commend the Foundation's tireless efforts to bring about a qualitative shift in the lives of citizens in areas most in need, especially in Upper Egypt, and hope we continue working with the Foundation on other projects that upgrade the education sector and deliver better services to students."
Mona Zulficar, Chairperson of EFG Hermes Foundation, said: "Our mission is to improve the lives of people within our surrounding communities and make a sustainable economic, environmental, and social impact in underserved and marginalized regions. Partnerships are an integral component of how we achieve impact, and by working together with the public sector, we want to build Egypt's resilience and adaptability to climate change as we align with the government's Climate Strategy for 2050, which fits within the nation's 2030 vision for sustainable development. Clean, affordable energy is a priority in this vision, and we are committed to allocating development funds towards transitioning to alternative energy sources, as it drives innovation, economic prosperity, and overall citizen welfare."
Commenting on the partnership, Hanaa Helmy, CEO of the EFG Hermes Foundation and Head of CSR at EFG Hermes Holding, said: "We're very happy to be contributing towards sustainable education through renewables in Luxor and Aswan. By providing schools with clean energy, students are guaranteed no interruptions to their school activities, and by reducing carbon emissions, they can learn in a healthy and safe environment. It's also an opportunity to create awareness in the classroom on the impact and value of transitioning to clean energy and create a conversation around climate change. We foresee it also opening doors for youth in the field of maintenance and installation services, which will need to be available for the solar panels systems. It's an exciting step towards a positive impact that builds a better future."
The EFG Hermes Foundation has been operational since 2006 in the field of integrated development through partnerships with the Egyptian government, Egyptian education bodies, healthcare providers, and local civil society in Upper Egypt's governorates, perceived as the most in need areas of development funds. It focuses on education, health, food security, poverty reduction, housing, drinking water and sanitation, and economic empowerment.