Haya Karima Foundation and ILO Partner to Promote Social Justice in Egypt

The partnership's primary beneficiaries include children working in informal sectors, those at risk of dropping out of school, their families, social workers, and female entrepreneurs.

The Haya Karima Foundation and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have signed a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Foundation’s premises. This partnership is aimed at promoting social justice in Egypt by combating child labour, supporting families, and empowering women entrepreneurs, particularly in green economies.

The MoU creates a binding framework that focuses on children's rights to education and development, with a strong emphasis on eradicating child labour, improving the socio-economic status of families, and enhancing the capabilities of women entrepreneurs engaged in sustainable, income-generating activities. The partnership's primary beneficiaries include children working in informal sectors, those at risk of dropping out of school, their families, social workers, and female entrepreneurs.

This initiative will target the most impoverished communities across Egypt, expanding from Sohag, Assiut, and Minia to Greater Cairo and Alexandria, with a specific focus on women's economic empowerment in Damietta.

Ms. Ohoud Wafi, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Haya Karima Foundation, expressed her strong support for the collaboration, emphasizing the Foundation's commitment to eradicating child labour and empowering families, especially women, through sustainable economic opportunities. She highlighted that this partnership with the ILO will create a more inclusive environment that safeguards children's rights and drives socio-economic development in Egypt's most vulnerable communities.

Mr. Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo office, stated that the partnership is a pivotal step in enhancing social justice in Egypt. He stressed that it aligns with the ILO’s efforts to empower vulnerable children, support family units, and promote the contributions of women entrepreneurs, especially in green economies. Mr. Oechslin also praised the transformative impact of Egypt’s national initiatives, particularly the Haya Karima project, in driving social and economic development and improving the quality of life for many Egyptians.

He reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to working with national partners, offering technical expertise to expand social protection and raise awareness among workers, thereby fostering community resilience and contributing to Egypt’s overall prosperity.