The Sadat Association for Development and Social Welfare held a one-day participatory session in Qena governorate on the most vital challenges in their communities the most prominent societal needs, defined priorities and community needs of the Qena governorate and upper Egypt in general. This comes within the framework of the activities of the project to enhance youth political and civic participation in Egypt, which is implemented by the Sadat Association for Development and Social Welfare under the auspices of the German ifa Institution. “Supported with German Federal Foreign Office’s,  funds by ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Funding programme zivik”

The session dealt with some urgent community problems that were identified by the youth and in cooperation with a consultative team specialized in identifying and prioritizing community needs and building capacities during the first part of the session. Among the most prominent problems that were raised in the second part of the session were the ways to enhance the efficiency of some health units, such as their restoration or restructuring, in addition to the problem of the spread of drugs among youth without effective and decisive treatment/solution. These problems were also presented and discussed with a number of prominent figures locally related to the topics raised, such as some representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, academics, community leaders and members of the boards of directors of some youth centers and active institutions and/or NGO’s.

Among them Mr. / Mohamed Shehata Ali, director of the Egypt Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Abuse, as well as Mrs. Ahlam El-Qady, President of Bint Al-Reef Foundation and member of the Teachers Syndicate Member of the Board of Directors of the Qena Youth Center and Mrs. / Nahed Abdel-Rahim Al-Dawi, Executive Director of the Qena Girls Activities Foundation.

In light of these international challenges, considerations of the outbreak of the Corona epidemic and the endeavours of the governments of the countries of the world and citizens of different nationalities to restore normal life routine. El-Sadat Association has been successfully organized the activities as per the Egyptian ministry of health regulations as well as WHO guidelines. The masks, alcohol, and face protector were distributed to the participants and the working team as the venue was safely and effectively sterilized.