«Shaghalni» Launchs a New Employment Project for Upper Egypt’s Youth

Shaghalni, in collaboration with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and Education for Employment Egypt (EFE Egypt), has officially announced the launch of a new project aimed at training and employing youth in Upper Egypt, specifically in the governorates of Sohag and Qena. The initiative focuses on equipping young people with the necessary skills to secure sustainable job opportunities in the fields of tourism, hospitality, and maritime industries.

Attendance
The announcement was made during a press conference attended by several prominent leaders and officials, including: Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Khaled Abdel Haleem, Governor of Qena, Eng. Naguib Sawiris, Founder of Orascom Investment Holding and Founder & Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sawiris Foundation, Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary-General of the Digital School and Executive Director at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, Anis Aklimandos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at EFE Egypt, Nevine El Tahri, Chairperson of Delta Shield Investment, and Angie El Yamany, Executive Director of the Rural and Environmental Industries Support Fund

Supporting Youth Employment in Upper Egypt
During the event, three new cooperation agreements were signed as part of the Upper Egypt Youth Employment Project, including:
- A cooperation protocol between Shaghalni and the Rural and Environmental Development Support Fund
- A partnership between Shaghalni and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
- A cooperation agreement between Shaghalni and the Global Digital Institute

Addressing Unemployment
Omar Khalifa, Founder of Shaghalni, highlighted the company’s journey since its establishment, saying: "Ten years ago, I sent an email to Eng. Naguib Sawiris. I received a response from his office after he learned that our mission was to provide free employment opportunities for youth. We believed we could tackle unemployment through the internet, but many young people did not trust online job postings."
He added that the company had to strengthen direct communication between employers and job seekers: "We opened our first employment center in Sohag and succeeded in providing jobs for 1,000 young people within one year. Afterwards, we secured investment through the program ‘Shark Tank’ and opened another employment center in Lebanon Square, Cairo."

Shaghalni’s Success
Eng. Naguib Sawiris praised the company’s achievements, saying: "I did not expect this level of success. We will continue working together to provide thousands of job opportunities. Although it is still a small number compared to the total unemployed, bridging this gap requires the collaboration of many companies alongside Shaghalni."
He also noted that the Sawiris Foundation allocates an annual budget of up to EGP 1 billion to support development projects, including training programs across various fields.

Investing in People
Nevine El Tahri, Chairperson of Delta Inspire, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting youth and startups, stating: "Real investment is measured over time. Omar is a great example of a young leader who perseveres and remains committed to his goals until he achieves them."

Holding on to the Dream
Ayman Abbas, an investor in Shaghalni, expressed his happiness to be part of the initiative: "Some people hold on to their dreams no matter the challenges—and Omar Khalifa is one of them. Technology has become a key driver in creating new job opportunities."

Attracting Investments
Dr. Khaled Abdel Haleem, Governor of Qena, affirmed that the collaboration with Shaghalni reflects the governorate’s commitment to supporting youth and expanding employment opportunities. He said: "We are working on a clear investment roadmap and aim to transform Qena into a green governorate that relies on renewable energy and the circular economy. There are many areas in which we can collaborate with Shaghalni."