Egypt’s Qena Governorate has officially rolled out the “Achieve Your Dream” initiative, a large-scale ecosystem development program structured to train 7,000 young men and women in entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and digital transformation. Driven by the governorate’s Population Unit, the program targets rural areas under the national “Decent Life” framework to accelerate economic empowerment and integrate grassroots projects into the formal economy.
Quick Facts
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Program targets 7,000 youth across Upper Egypt’s rural villages.
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Core focus includes entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and micro-business financing.
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Strategic partners include Banque Misr and Sonaa El Kheir.
Scaling Financial Inclusion in Upper Egypt
The initiative addresses a critical gap in regional economic development by offering direct pathways for founders and micro-entrepreneurs to formalize their operations. Major General Mostafa El-Beblawy, Governor of Qena, emphasized the necessity of expanding training programs that build capacity in innovation and business management.
By focusing heavily on financial literacy and digital transformation, the local government aims to connect emerging founders with formal market mechanisms. El-Beblawy confirmed that the governorate will provide the required technical and logistical backing to convert early-stage ideas into sustainable businesses capable of driving regional economic growth.
Strategic Partnerships for Micro-Enterprise Growth
Beyond theoretical training, the program delivers immediate financial infrastructure to its participants. Ramadan El-Sagheer, Director of the Population Unit in Qena, outlined that the training operates in cohorts of 100 participants, primarily targeting underserved villages.
The operational rollout relies on an integrated network of institutional partners. Alongside local directorates of Social Solidarity, Youth and Sports, and Labor, the initiative brought in Banque Misr as a strategic partner for financial inclusion, along with the Sonaa El Kheir Foundation.
This banking partnership unlocks immediate resources for the participants. The program facilitates the issuance of free “Meeza” payment cards, opens zero-fee bank accounts for youth and individuals with disabilities, and activates e-wallets. Furthermore, the initiative connects viable projects with micro-financing pipelines to help these new businesses compete in the domestic market.
About Achieve Your Dream
“Achieve Your Dream” is an economic empowerment initiative launched by the Population Unit of Egypt’s Qena Governorate. Working alongside national ministries, Banque Misr, and the Sonaa El Kheir Foundation, the program provides comprehensive technical training, financial infrastructure, and micro-funding access to 7,000 young men and women across Upper Egypt to foster sustainable local entrepreneurship.
Source: Dostor
