Under the directives of Dr. Hassan Al-Numani, President of Sohag University, and within the framework of cooperation between the university and Caritas Egypt, the university—represented by Dr. Khaled Omran, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development—participated in the third and final day of the training program titled “Waste Recycling – A Step Toward Sustainable Green Projects.” The program was implemented as part of the project “Social and Economic Empowerment of Small Business Owners in Alexandria, Beheira, and Sohag.”
Dr. Omran noted that this training reflects Caritas Egypt’s commitment to supporting the state’s efforts in promoting sustainable development and empowering youth to lead green environmental projects that help address climate challenges. The training was carried out in Sohag Governorate from September 29 to October 1, 2025, in cooperation with Dr. Karim Mahrous and Engineer Rabab Hassan—consultants in environmental issues and training at the Environmental Intellectual Development Association—under the supervision of Mr. Michael Azouz, Director of the Lending and Economic Empowerment Program, and the Sohag Lending Office team, which organized and facilitated the training activities.
During the closing day, Dr. Omran chaired the jury panel evaluating the projects presented by the trainees. The committee included:
• Mr. Mahmoud Fathi Ahmed Ashour – General Director of the Tourism Promotion Authority Office in Sohag.
• Ms. Abeer Mohamed Abdel Hamid – Head of the Media, Environmental Awareness, and Training Department at the Environmental Affairs Agency in Sohag.
• Ms. Hanan Khalaf Mohamed – Representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
• Engineer Osama Abu Kresha.
The panel reviewed a variety of innovative projects in recycling and waste management, through which participants demonstrated growing environmental awareness and a deep understanding of circular economy and green project concepts. Projects were evaluated according to criteria of innovation, feasibility, and expected environmental and social impact.
Dr. Omran emphasized that this type of training enhances young people’s environmental awareness and prepares them to implement sustainable projects that serve local communities. He praised the high level of creativity and professionalism shown by the participants during the presentation of their ideas and projects.
At the conclusion of the training, Dr. Omran announced the team that won first place, confirming Sohag University’s strong commitment to supporting environmental and youth initiatives that contribute to achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030. He added that such programs open new horizons for green entrepreneurship and inspire young people to innovate and collaborate.
In his closing remarks, the Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development affirmed that real development can only be achieved through youth awareness and their active role in tackling environmental challenges, stating:
“We seek, through our partnerships with civil society organizations, to support every initiative that contributes to building a sustainable green community and promotes innovation in recycling, clean energy, and green small enterprises.”
The event concluded with the presentation of a financial award to the winning team amid an atmosphere of enthusiasm and appreciation for the efforts of all participants, who reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their work toward a more sustainable future for Sohag Governorate.