Citi Foundation and Enactus launch1st phase of “Impact@Work”

Citi Foundation and Enactus are joining forces to launch the first phase of the social entrepreneurship programme “Impact@Work” in Egypt, for the first time. The programme aims at upholding and aiding youth to create their own projects. Due to the success that this programme has achieved in other countries, Egypt’s “Impact@Work” is believed to follow in the footsteps of the same programme’s guidelines that were conducted in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

‏To begin with, “Impact@Work” programme contributes to developing the students’ business skills by providing training and mentoring support to 2,500 young people between 18 and 25 years old, in addition to enabling them to transform their social impact projects into start-ups. The programmeme is bound to create at least 10 new Businesses across in Egypt and build the capacities for at least 53 existing businesses to be able to scale.

‏Elissar Farah Antonios, Citi MENA Head, reiterated: “Youth face the highest unemployment rates in our region, with those aged 18-25 facing as high as 40% unemployment,” said Elissar Farah Antonios, Citi MENA Head. She continued: “We are pleased to partner with Enactus to address those issues and together bring economic empowerment to more youth in the MENA region.”

‏On the other hand, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Kader, Managing Director of Citi Country Officer, Egypt, confirmed: “The Foundation is working in 80 countries around the world to promote economic progress and improve the lives of individuals in low-income communities around the world. For that specific reason, Citi Foundation harnesses its efforts that enhance financial inclusion, catalyse employment opportunities for youth to push for thought leadership and innovation. All of that is occurring under the slogan of ‘More than philanthropy'”.

‏To support what was aforementioned, Ms. Fatima Sirry, President and CEO of Enactus Egypt, affirmed: “I am pleased to co-operate with Citi Foundation while launching “Impact@Work”, which comes in line with our vision pertinent to developing the skills and capabilities of young people. All of that is implemented for the outright purpose of preparing a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of creating a better world for all members of our society.”