Under the auspices of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, and Dr. Nevine El Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity, the Social Solidarity Unit at the university has launched a package of training programs for students wishing to establish productive projects during their studies at the university, as part of the Productive Student Initiative launched by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The training workshops include handicrafts, crochet, wax crafts, macrame, decorations, flowers arrangement, accessories, arabesque woodwork, drawing and shaping sand, hoop work, embroidery and detailing, designing clothes, making cosmetics and perfumes, ceramics, carpets, kilims and pottery, recycling, and resin. These workshops will continue in cooperation with the Taha Hussein Centre for Students with Disabilities at the university until the 20th of September.

The Productive Student Initiative aims to refine the students’ character, support their financial and social independence, develop the spirit of innovation and creativity, and encourage them to invest in their skills and abilities. These courses represent an opportunity for students to obtain the necessary knowledge and expertise to implement productive projects that generate continuous income.

Dr. Salah Hashem, General Coordinator of Social Solidarity Units in Egyptian Universities, indicated that the initiative aims to train 10,000 students during the summer vacation. Training courses are being implemented in the fields of feasibility study, marketing, financial inclusion, as well as traditional arts and handicrafts. The Ministry of Social Solidarity offers grants ranging between 10 thousand to 15 thousand pounds per project, with a total of 5,000 productive projects. The activities of the initiative will be concluded by holding a bazaar to display to students the output of these productive projects, in cooperation with the products of fraternities within each university. This will take place at the end of the summer vacation and the beginning of the new academic year. The participating students will be granted a certificate for passing the training courses, grant-winning projects are also selected through committees formed by the Ministry of Solidarity in cooperation with environmental affairs sectors in various universities. Applications of students wishing to participate in training grants will be received at the headquarters of the social solidarity units in universities.