Dr. Hanan Hamdan signs MOU with General Ismail Al Far in the attendance of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) signed a cooperation framework to further expand their collaboration which targets Egyptian and refugee youth in Egypt.
In attendance was Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms. Manal Gamal, Head of the Central Department for Projects and Youth Training, General Isamil El Far, Head of the Youth administration from the MoYS, Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Egypt Representative, along with senior government and UN officials.
In line with the MoYS vision to transform youth centres into inclusive spaces, catering to the needs of youth, including refugees residing in Egypt, this cooperation between UNHCR and the MoYS will equip them with the spaces needed to enhance their digital literacy while also emphasizing the value of sports through multiple activities.
Minister Sobhy praised the collaboration, “We believe in the importance of the collaboration with UNHCR to support refugee youth and integrate them in the Egyptian society, and we hope to equip them with all means necessary to help them actualize their dreams.”
“At a time when digital literacy is imperative in both one’s education and career, young Egyptians and refugees alike need to be equipped with both the knowledge and space to enhance their skillsets. The newly established digital spaces will create a harmonious learning environment, managed by trained MoYS facilitators and equipped with resources needed for the youth to develop their digital skills and access digital learning opportunities,” explained Dr. Hamdan.
The community centres will also intertwine the value of sports, with a plan to introduce a training programme targeting refugee and Egyptian youth, entailing leadership and sportsmanship activities and aimed at promoting community co-existence between refugees and host community members.
This cooperation agreement is one of many between the MoYS and UNHCR. In 2022, a partnership between both entities culminated in the creation of eight digital hubs located at various youth centres visited regularly by refugees and Egyptians, who attained certified online courses from the global Coursera platform, implemented as part of the PROSPECTS partnership in Egypt, generously funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
Egypt is host to 517,000 refugees of 62 nationalities; the signing of this MoU will contribute to bringing them together, allowing them to build relationships, share their experiences, create a sense of belonging and strengthen their social cohesion.
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