New Egypt Foundation for Community Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, organized environmental trips

As part of the cooperation protocol between the New Egypt Foundation for Community Development and the Ministry of Environment, the New Egypt Foundation for Community Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, organized environmental trips to the Wadi El-Gemal and Gebel Elba protectorates. These trips, which included 158 participants, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of natural reserves and promote environmental protection to preserve natural resources. This initiative aligns with the directives of Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, to raise awareness about the importance of conserving natural resources in reserves and supporting collaboration with civil society organizations, coinciding with Egypt's celebrations of World Environment Day

The trips included a visit to the Gebel Elba Reserve, where participants learned about the nature of the reserve, its natural resources, and the reasons for its designation as a natural reserve. Following this, a cleanup campaign for mangrove plants was conducted with the participation of 76 individuals aged 12 to 18 to raise awareness about enhancing waste management in natural reserves to protect and preserve their natural resources and biodiversity. This also aimed to support participation in cleanup initiatives in collaboration with environmental partners.

In the same context, the foundation organized an environmental trip to the Wadi El-Gemal Reserve to support youth participation in environmental protection, with 82 boys and girls participating. The visit included organizing several interactive recreational and environmental activities for the children to raise awareness about the importance of the Wadi El-Gemal Reserve and its natural wealth. Additionally, a beach cleanup campaign was organized at Hankorab Beach to remove debris, especially plastic waste, and to educate about its dangers to marine life and the role individuals can play in mitigating these harms.

This initiative is part of the cooperation protocol signed between the Ministry of Environment and the New Egypt Foundation for Community Development to raise awareness about environmental issues and enhance the role of citizens in environmental protection. The protocol involves implementing various programs, plans, activities, and events, leveraging the role of civil society in raising awareness, promoting environmental education principles, and activities for development and environmental protection. It also aims to clarify concepts related to current environmental challenges, as civil society plays a crucial role in changing perceptions about the environment and prioritizing it for citizens and decision-makers. This is achieved through seminars, workshops, and awareness campaigns on environmental issues to understand developments, solutions, alternatives, and mechanisms for behavior modification and changing consumption patterns that impact natural resources.

The cooperation areas include launching initiatives and pilot projects that contribute to addressing environmental problems, improving living standards through small projects, considering the environmental dimension in all charitable activities conducted by the foundation, and integrating various community segments, especially women, in environmental work. It also involves building capacities in environmental fields to train trainers in all governorates, establishing volunteer databases, organizing field visits to environmental projects, promoting eco-tourism, and increasing green spaces.