ILO celebrates female entrepreneurs in awards ceremony
ILO’s project funded by Methanex Corporation Egypt celebrated female entrepreneurs in Damietta.
10 September 2024
Damietta, Egypt (ILO news)- As part of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) project “Decent Jobs for Egyptian Youth - Together for Youth Development in Damietta,” funded by Methanex Corporation Egypt, an awards ceremony was held to honour the outstanding trainees of the recently concluded GET Ahead training programme in Damietta.
Implemented in partnership with the National Council for Women, the Ministries of Labour and Social Solidarity, and civil society organizations, and under the supervision of the Deputy Governor of Damietta, the programme aimed to empower women by enhancing their skills and supporting them in starting and developing their own businesses. This initiative aligns with the Egyptian state’s plan for women’s empowerment and support for entrepreneurship.
The event was attended by distinguished guests including Dr. Ayman Elshehaby , Governor of Damietta; Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, and Eng. Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director of Methanex Egypt.
Governor Dr. Ayman Elshehaby emphasized the governorate’s commitment to supporting the programme from its announcement to the interviews and the training sessions, which benefited approximately 115 women in its current phase and 950 women in its first phase.
The Governor then extended his congratulations to the winning women, encouraging them to continue their efforts towards even greater success. He also reaffirmed the governorate's commitment to ongoing cooperation to achieve further community and economic development.
Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, emphasized that the organization’s role in supporting entrepreneurship through training programmes that enhance essential and technical skills. The ILO’s GET Ahead training programme, which targets women, equips them with the necessary skills to successfully start and manage their own businesses, thereby creating decent job opportunities and fostering development in Egypt.
From his side, eng. Mohamed Shindy of Methanex asserted the company's commitment to continuing the programme to achieve further success and support for women. He also expressed his gratitude to the partners involved in this programme.
The ceremony featured project presentations from the five most recent winners and the 30 winners from the first stage. The female entrepreneurs who participated and excelled in the training sessions organized between 2021 and 2023 also shared their success stories and experiences. Certificates were distributed to the five winners and the participating civil society organizations.