In a landmark event celebrating youth empowerment, gender equality, and educational innovation, Engineer Margret Sarofim, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity, attended the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the “She Leads” initiative, alongside the official launch of the national “Republic Schools Leaders” program. Organized by the Youth Leaders Foundation, the ceremony was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Education and Technical Education, and the National Council for Women.
🔹 A High-Caliber Audience Committed to Empowerment
Notable attendees included Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women, Ghada Tawfik, Central Bank of Egypt Advisor for Corporate Social Responsibility, MP Ahmed Fathi, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Solidarity and Chairman of the Youth Leaders Foundation, and Dr. Magued Osman, along with parliamentarians, government representatives, private sector leaders, civil society stakeholders, and public figures
Their collective presence underscored the significance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Celebrating Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit
During the event, Deputy Minister Sarofim toured the exhibition of student-led projects and personally engaged with participants, praising their creativity, technical proficiency, and forward-thinking ideas. She commended the initiative for cultivating a generation of female innovators, describing the projects as “a testament to the high-level skills and aspirations of Egypt’s young women.
Vocational Education: A Pillar of Economic Development
Sarofim highlighted the pivotal role that technical and vocational education (TVET) plays in driving economic and social progress. By equipping students with in-demand skills, vocational education helps bridge the gap between education and the evolving needs of both local and global labor markets.
She emphasized the Egyptian government’s intensified focus on modernizing TVET programs, aligning them with global standards, and integrating technological advancements to better prepare students for the future of work.
“Republic Schools Leaders” Program Launch
The event also marked the official launch of “Republic Schools Leaders”, a new national program dedicated to training and empowering student union leaders across Egypt’s school system. The initiative aims to build future civic leaders, nurture social responsibility, and enhance students’ capacity for positive influence within their communities.
“She Leads”: Transforming Lives Through Innovation
Now in its fourth year, the “She Leads” initiative is a pioneering national program aimed at empowering female students from technical and applied technology schools. The program identifies, supports, and incubates innovative project ideas that serve the community and lay the foundation for sustainable income generation.
Key Achievements of “She Leads”:
- Over 550 young women trained and mentored
- 165+ student-led startups and projects incubated
Honoring Young Innovators
The ceremony concluded with the official recognition and awarding of the top-performing student teams, whose projects demonstrated exceptional innovation in areas such as programming, advanced manufacturing, fashion design, visual arts, and artisanal crafts.
Each award signified not only academic and technical excellence but also a growing cultural shift in how vocational education is perceived — no longer as an alternative, but as a driving force in national development.
Sustainable Development Partnerships
Sarofim praised “She Leads” as a model initiative for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through effective partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society. She reaffirmed the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s commitment to scaling up such programs and providing broader access to technical education and entrepreneurship training for girls nationwide.
