“Women’s Empowerment”… Phase Seven Projects of the Small Grants Program Begin to Bear Fruit Medical Convoys, Beekeeping Training, Plastic Alternatives, and Combating Palm Weevil
Most—if not all—projects implemented under Phase Seven of the Small Grants Program have placed “women’s empowerment” at the forefront of their priorities, alongside environmental and social goals. One of the strategic projects in this phase, “Bee Girls,” is specifically dedicated to empowering women, and many other projects across the targeted geographic regions are led by women in key roles.
As part of the “Bee Girls” project, implemented in Fayoum Governorate with funding from the Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP), the Senro El-Qibliya Community Development Association continued its training activities with the participation of women and girls from villages in the Abshway, Tamiya, and Youssef El-Seddik districts. The training aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed for beekeeping and managing honeybee farms. The project promotes environmental conservation through sustainable beekeeping practices, addresses poverty and unemployment, and creates job opportunities for women and their families. The association also organized a medical convoy offering services in gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine, dermatology, and orthopedics, targeting local residents—especially women—in the project areas.
Under the “Recycling Palm Waste and Combating Palm Weevil” project, also implemented in Fayoum, the Higher Horizons Association for Development and Environmental Service held an awareness seminar for women farmers in villages of the Itsa district. The session introduced the dangers of the red palm weevil, early detection methods, and control techniques to protect palm trees from damage—helping safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and promote environmental sustainability.
In Cairo, the Pioneers Foundation for Projects and Development held an awareness session for women beneficiaries of the “Sustainable Management of Plastic Waste and Climate Change Mitigation” project. Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment’s departments for environmental awareness and NGOs, the session included hands-on training for women on designing and sewing fabric bags—an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags. The project aims to enhance women’s productive skills, empower them economically, and reduce environmental pollution by promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
In Giza, the House on the Rock for Development Association organized a training workshop under the “Green Waraq” project, targeting women and housewives in the Waraq area. The workshop focused on raising awareness about proper waste management, safe disposal, and economic and social benefits of recycling. Women were recognized as central figures in household cleanliness and the most capable of sorting waste at the source. The training also introduced a barter model where waste could be exchanged for goods—contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.