Empower Women in Upper Egypt through Craftmaking

The following is the summary of activities implemented as of September 30, 2025, in collaboration with our partner in Egypt, CEOSS.

1. Final Selection of Participants

During this reporting period, the project team completed the final selection of 42 female craft-makers across two governorates: 20 from Minia and 22 from Beni Suef. Participants were selected based on a standardized set of criteria to ensure inclusion, motivation, and readiness for economic empowerment. Criteria included:

• Demonstrated eagerness to improve their professional and economic opportunities.
• Existing vocational skills and motivation to start or further develop a craft-based enterprise.
• Priority to women aged 18–45 years.
• Residency in Minia or Beni Suef governorates.
• Preference given to women from poor or marginalized socio-economic backgrounds.
• Additional preference for single mothers.
• Must not have previously participated in earlier phases of the YEP program.

2. Training Program Activities

A series of four training days was conducted —two days of training were completed in each governorate. All 42 selected participants successfully attended the sessions.

The curriculum focused on building foundational knowledge and practical skills in four key areas:
Branding, Marketing, Sales, and Financial Management, with a dedicated segment on Business Plan Development.

By the end of the sessions, participants achieved the following learning outcomes:

Branding

• Gained essential knowledge and skills related to brand creation.
• Understood the importance and impact of branding in small business growth.
• Identified the core principles and characteristics of effective branding.
• Learned strategies for developing a strong brand identity.
• Followed a step-by-step approach to building a successful and authentic brand.

Marketing, Sales, and Financial Management

• Received an introduction to core marketing and sales concepts relevant to small craft businesses.
• Learned foundational financial management concepts needed for business planning and sustainability.

Business Plan Development

• Understood the purpose and goals of having a structured business plan.
• Identified key components of a business plan, including:
• Executive summary
• Description of project idea
• Market analysis
• Financial elements and funding sources (including micro-loans)

3. Networking – connection with the “Ayad Masr (Hands of Egypt)” Platform – Beni Suef

An introductory orientation session was conducted for the 22 craft-makers in Beni Suef with the platform representative from Ayad Masr. This governmental initiative by the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity that aims to support local economic development by promoting heritage and handmade products—especially through digital platforms. It also aims to advance digital transformation to expand online sales of traditional crafts. The session aimed to familiarize participants with the platform’s objectives and services designed to support small-scale female artisans.

Platform Services

• Provides an online marketplace to showcase and sell products.
• Organizes exhibitions and in-person events across multiple governorates.
• Offers integrated electronic payment and shipping services to facilitate sales and distribution.

Next Steps

During the next three months, more training sessions will be conducted for both, Minia and Beni Suef participants, with local trainers with expertise in craft-related small business management. We will conduct four days of training (two days in each governorate). We expect 40 female craft-makers to participate. The training content will focus on how to start and improve their businesses, including developing a marketing plan, defining the target market, identifying promotional strategies and sales channels, estimating sales volumes and costs, and calculating expected revenues and operating expenses. The program will conclude with a session on financial and administrative planning.

Additionally, trainees will be connected to American experts via online sessions, and also will have a session with a former participant of this training program, who is now a successful business women, with shops in Egypt and United Arab Emirates and a factory in Assiut.

Links:

• http://handsalongthenile.org
• Trainee testimony