The Masar incubator at Sohag University has concluded the initial phase of its “Fatayat Al-Ard” (Girls of the Land) program, training 500 women and girls in rural villages across Upper Egypt. The initiative is designed to build a culture of entrepreneurship and establish production cooperatives tied to the region’s agricultural clusters, boosting women’s economic empowerment and local development.
Quick Facts
- 500 women and girls trained in Sohag
- Focus on agri-entrepreneurship and cooperatives
- Next phase is a bootcamp for 400 participants
- A partnership with Enroot Development Foundation
Bridging Academia with Local Economic Needs
Dr. Hassan Al-Nomani, President of Sohag University, described the “Fatayat Al-Ard” program as a practical model for connecting the university with the needs of the local community. He emphasized that the university’s role extends beyond academic education to building citizens’ capacities and enabling them economically.
“The university is not limited to providing academic education, but rather seeks to build the capabilities of citizens and empower them economically through quality programs that respond to the needs of each region,” stated Dr. Al-Nomani. He praised the partnership with the Enroot Development Foundation, noting that such programs create real opportunities for the economic empowerment of rural women. The university hopes the program will result in successful and sustainable women-led cooperatives, positively impacting local families and supporting the state’s comprehensive development goals in Upper Egypt.
From Field Training to Sustainable Cooperatives
The program’s first phase successfully implemented 10 field training tours in the Maragha, Tahta, and Saqalta centers, reaching 500 participants. According to Dr. Ashraf Okasha, Director of the Masar incubators, the training covered concepts of agricultural entrepreneurship, production cooperatives, and the role of women in leading economic projects.
The next stage will involve a specialized training camp for 400 of the participants. This camp will focus on developing business models and project ideas linked to local onion and loofah production clusters. The ultimate goal is to select the best teams to receive the necessary support to formally establish their own cooperatives and launch their projects on the ground.
About Masar Incubator
Masar is a university incubator based at Sohag University in Egypt. It is focused on fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic development within the local community by linking academic resources with regional needs. The incubator runs programs aimed at building practical business skills, particularly within the agricultural sector, to create sustainable local enterprises.
Source: El Watan News
