Sherine Maher, Coordinator of the Noura Program at the National Council for Women, confirmed that the initiative, held under the patronage of Mrs. Entissar El Sisi, remains a fundamental pillar in the mission to empower young girls in Egypt. The program specifically targets girls in the 10 to 14 age group, a critical transitional phase that requires specialized support and accurate information regarding physical and psychological changes to help build well-rounded personalities before they reach adulthood.
Speaking during an interview on Extra News, Sherine Maher explained that the program spans 40 weeks of intensive training. It focuses on equipping girls with comprehensive life, social, economic, and health skills. The curriculum includes lessons on building healthy friendships and understanding the concept of safe and unsafe touch for personal protection. Furthermore, the girls receive training on the principles of financial inclusion, saving methods, small project management, and traditional handicrafts, ensuring the preparation of a conscious generation capable of facing future challenges.
The program coordinator noted that while Noura initially launched in Upper Egypt and the Al-Asmarat District, it has recently expanded to include Alexandria, Giza, and Aswan as part of the National Project for Egyptian Family Development. This geographical expansion comes in response to significant success and increasing demand from families who have witnessed tangible positive changes in their daughters’ behaviors. The program has successfully become a bridge of trust and dialogue within the Egyptian family.
Sherine Maher concluded by addressing Egyptian families, emphasizing the importance of listening to young girls, understanding their needs, and building bonds of trust. She highlighted that the program, which is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund and the European Union, aims to create a generation capable of achieving sustainable development. Investing in girls at this early age is a true guarantee for a better societal future.
