KOICA Egypt holds workshop for volunteer programme partner organisations in Cairo
The workshop, hosted at the Holiday Inn Maadi Hotel, aimed to enhance understanding of the KOICA Egypt Office'sWFK Volunteer Programme among newly partnering organisations and to facilitate the sharing of best practices and recommendations from current partners. The event was part of KOICA Egypt Office's initiative to broaden cooperation in areas such as Korean language education, physical education, music and art, and computer skills development, delivered through Korean volunteers in local communities across Egyptian governorates.
Thirty participants attended, including representatives from the KOICA Egypt Office. Attendees also represented various Egyptian partner ministries and organisations where KOICA volunteers are active. These included Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), Helwan University, Sadat City University, Luxor University, Beni Suef Technological University, the Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH) in Luxor, the Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels in 6th of October City, Misr public libraries of Cairo and Luxor, and the Taekwondo Training Centre in Aswan.
Abdullah El Batesh, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, attended the workshop, offering congratulations and expressing a commitment to strengthening collaboration for the programme. University leaders also participated, exploring and discussing comprehensive collaboration on Korean language education within the context of tourism development at the higher education level.
The workshop commenced with welcoming remarks from KOICA Egypt Office Country Director Jinyoung Kim and Abdullah El Batesh. This was followed by a comprehensive presentation covering KOICA's volunteer programme framework, the process for requesting and dispatching volunteers, activity outlines, and the undertakings of participating organisations.
The Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels in Luxor (EGOTH), a long-standing partner organisation, presented its experiences and the benefits derived from working with KOICA volunteers on its campus. Additionally, two currently serving KOICA volunteers, Oh Young Yu (MODLI, Cairo) and Hyeryeong Kim (MISR Public Library, Cairo), shared their on-site experiences and programme outcomes, offering firsthand insights into volunteer activities.
A group discussion followed, during which participants reflected on their collaboration experiences, new partners shared their expectations, and actionable ideas for strengthening cooperation were proposed. This exchange aimed to build mutual understanding and synergy among attendees.
Abdullah El Batesh stated, 'We look forward to applying KOICA's educational models in our youth centers. This workshop provided a valuable opportunity to align with our goals.'
Ghada Tosson, Director of the University-Industry Cooperation Centre of Beni-Suef Technological University, commented, 'We have been cooperating with KOICA volunteers to offer students practical job skills opportunities for Korean language education and computing skills. We hope to strengthen our partnership to further enhance access to job markets for students in the Upper Egypt Region.' Beni-Suef Technological University was established in 2019 with the support of a KOICA grant programme (2016-2028, valued at $14m) and offers bachelor's degree programmes in mechatronics, autotronics, ICT, and railway technology.
Jinyoung Kim, KOICA's Egypt Office Country Director, expressed her gratitude to all partner institutions. She stated,'Today's workshop was a meaningful occasion for planning our shared future and reinforcing our partnership,' and mentioned that active communication among stakeholders and diversified volunteer fields and activities are key to enhancing youth empowerment through the programme.
The KOICA Egypt Office plans to continue working with educational and public institutions across Egypt to nurture young talent, promote cultural exchange, and contribute to sustainable community development. More than 20 volunteers are expected to be dispatched to work with youths across Egypt as of 2025.
KOICA is a South Korean government agency operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It implements grant aid programmes aimed at combating poverty and supporting sustainable socio-economic growth in developing countries.
The KOICA Egypt Office, established in 1998, focuses on providing technical education for youths, supporting the digitalisation of government services and systems, and carrying out programmes to address gender-based violence, strengthen women's empowerment, and support vulnerable groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Egypt Independent
5 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Officials discuss comprehensive development plan for the Pyramids and Saqqara area
Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Minister of Housing Sherif al-Sherbiny, and Governor of Giza Adel al-Naga, held a meeting to follow up on the latest developments regarding preparatory work on the strategic plan for the area extending between the Sphinx International Airport and the Saqqara area – including the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The plan aims to develop the area and enhance its tourism and urban development, ensuring its unique spot on the international tourism map. This is being done with the participation of the international expertise house WATG, leaders from the two ministries, the governorate, and relevant authorities. Fathy said that the plan currently being prepared to develop the area aims to transform it into one of the world's most prominent tourist and cultural destinations, within an integrated vision that balances the requirements of tourism development with the preservation of the region's unique cultural heritage. He called on fully adhering to UNESCO's instructions and requirements, given that the area is listed on the World Heritage List. This requires the application of precise standards in planning and implementation, ensuring the development of advanced tourism infrastructure and services that facilitate smooth visitor flow and provide them with a comprehensive tourism experience. Fathy emphasized the importance of preserving the region's exceptional cultural value, maintaining the privacy and majesty of its archaeological sites, and preventing any visual or architectural distortion that would detract from the region's authentic character. He added that development plans for the area should take into account the expected rate of tourist traffic and the diversity of tourist segments visiting Cairo. He further emphasized the need to carefully study the number of tourist nights expected to be spent, which will determine the necessary accommodation capacity and variety of accommodations. This will include traditional hotel rooms, hotel apartments, and luxury accommodation units, in line with the needs and aspirations of different visitor segments. Fathy emphasized the importance of enhancing the region's tourist attractions to be in line with its unique archaeological nature.
Egypt Independent
20 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's tourism sector expected to generate approximately US$100 billion in revenue
Credit rating agency Fitch Solutions anticipates Egypt to generate approximately US$97 billion in tourism revenues by 2029, the privately-owned al-Mal newspaper reported on Monday. A recent report issued by the agency during the third quarter of this year, including its forecasts for the future of Egyptian tourism over the next five years, added that estimates indicate that the sector will generate revenues of US$17.5 billion by the end of this year, rising to $18.6 billion in 2026. Fitch explained that Egyptian tourism will achieve strong growth of 8.1 percent year-on-year, reaching $17.6 billion in 2025, compared to $16.2 billion last year, in line with the increase in tourist numbers. It pointed out that the tourism sector is expected to generate approximately $19.6 billion in 2027, surpassing the $20 billion mark in 2028, and reaching $20.9 billion in 2029. The report said that international tourism revenues in Egypt were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed at the time, leading to a decline to $4.9 billion in 2020, compared to $14.3 billion in 2019. Fitch explained that, over the coming years, improved consumer spending in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa will contribute to increased visitor revenues. According to the report, many tourists visiting Egypt are relatively wealthy travelers with high purchasing power, particularly from the UK, Germany, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Egypt received approximately 8.7 million tourists during the first half of this year, a 22 percent increase compared to the same period last year, it noted. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, stated that there has been a 22-23 percent increase in the volume of tourism revenues during the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2024.
Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's treasury expected to generate revenues of approximately US$100 billion
Credit rating agency Fitch Solutions anticipates Egypt to generate approximately US$97 billion in tourism revenues by 2029, the privately-owned al-Mal newspaper reported on Monday. A recent report issued by the agency during the third quarter of this year, including its forecasts for the future of Egyptian tourism over the next five years, added that estimates indicate that the sector will generate revenues of US$17.5 billion by the end of this year, rising to $18.6 billion in 2026. Fitch explained that Egyptian tourism will achieve strong growth of 8.1 percent year-on-year, reaching $17.6 billion in 2025, compared to $16.2 billion last year, in line with the increase in tourist numbers. It pointed out that the tourism sector is expected to generate approximately $19.6 billion in 2027, surpassing the $20 billion mark in 2028, and reaching $20.9 billion in 2029. The report said that international tourism revenues in Egypt were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed at the time, leading to a decline to $4.9 billion in 2020, compared to $14.3 billion in 2019. Fitch explained that, over the coming years, improved consumer spending in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa will contribute to increased visitor revenues. According to the report, many tourists visiting Egypt are relatively wealthy travelers with high purchasing power, particularly from the UK, Germany, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Egypt received approximately 8.7 million tourists during the first half of this year, a 22 percent increase compared to the same period last year, it noted. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, stated that there has been a 22-23 percent increase in the volume of tourism revenues during the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2024.
