After 6 months of launching the”Innovation Factory” programme in partnership between Ashoka Arab World and ALWaleed Philanthropies, the two entities celebrated this week the graduation of the first batch of social entrepreneurs and presented financial awards to support winning projects.
The training programme ”Innovation Factory” was carried out by the Ibtikar Khana, which is the implementing partner of training.
A total of 17 Egyptian social entrepreneurs, young men and women, benefited from the programme.
The ceremony was held under the auspices of Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el-Kabbaj, and Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, who is the Secretary General of ALWaleed Philanthropies.
Through the programme, Ashoka seeks to support social change makers, including men and women and enable them to start their social projects that will provide real-world solutions the local societies face.
According to the partnership agreement between Ashoka and ALWaleed, the programme will be carried out within 3 years in three Arab countries, including Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
Al Saud said, “ALWaleed seeks to encourage social entrepreneurship to achieve sustainable change of individuals and societies and to enable women and youths in the Arab World by providing necessary support.”
Iman Bibars, Regional Director of Ashoka Arab World, pointed out that the implementation of the programme has already started for 6 months.
The implementation started with 56 participants in training camp for 5 days, Bibars added.
Depending on a number of measures, 17 projects qualified to join intensive trainings that work on develop and extend these projects.
Bibars also pointed out that a competition entitled Egypt’s creative youth was organised for young entrepreneurs from the graduates of the “Innovation Factory” programme.
