Within the activities of the twelfth Ain Shams University Scientific Conference entitled Alliances and Partnerships, the “Partnerships in Non-Governmental Organizations” session hosted Dr. Marwa Fakhry, Executive Director of the Hayah Karima Foundation, Mr. Talaat Abdel Qawi, President of the General Union of the National Foundation, and Eng. Alaa Afifi, President Bekia Board of Directors, the session was moderated by Prof. Jihan Rajab, Professor of Marketing at the Faculty of Business, and Prof. Ahmed Selim, Director of the University’s Financial Consulting and Auditing Center.

Prof. Jihan Rajab highlighted the university’s efforts in concluding various partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions such as the Hayah Karima Foundation and cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, raising the efficiency of the infrastructure of more than 200 homes in the village of Awlad Yahya in Sohag Governorate, as well as cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and launching the Productive Student Initiative.

Dr. Marwa Fakhri, explained the role of the Hayah Karima Foundation and how it began as a youth dream fulfilled by the state, so that the dream became a reality and an institutional entity through which young people volunteer to support and develop society. She also introduced the audience to the Hayah Karima Foundation’s activities and projects and how it adopts various initiatives. It aims for comprehensive community development from the economic and awareness aspects and raising the infrastructure of a number of the neediest villages.

She explained that the “We Support” initiative provides psychological and academic support for various educational levels, whether for school or university students, pointing to the partnership with Ain Shams University in various activities, initiatives and joint cooperation during the comprehensive development convoys organized by the Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector.

As Dr. Talaat Abdel Qawi, President of the General Union of Civil Society Organizations, discussed the laws regulating civil society work and their development, and the difference between a civil society organization and a community foundation, explaining the rights of volunteers to obtain training, qualifications, and support, and their duties to work diligently and honestly.

Eng. Alaa Afifi referred to the Bekia initiative, which is concerned with recycling solid waste in exchange for a sum of money, which began in 2019 through a mobile application through which beneficiaries can exchange solid waste for a sum of money. He explained the advantages of this initiative in providing solid raw materials for the factory from recycling waste and achieving a financial return for the citizen in addition to the positive environmental return, and stressed the importance of the upcoming cooperation with the university.

Prof. Ahmed Selim spoke about the role of the University’s Financial Consulting and Auditing Center through a presentation and review of the center’s organizational structure, headed by Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and the role of the Center in providing services inside and outside the university by providing consultations for the approval and review of feasibility studies for a number of national projects, including:

“The Tarboul project in Giza, an industrial complex in North Sinai, and a silicon production plant from white sand in South Sinai,” in addition to training services in cooperation with a number of community institutions.

At the conclusion of the session, all speakers stressed the importance of concerted efforts made by all governmental and non-governmental organizations and sectors to achieve sustainable development.