A S U

Under the umbrella of the presidential "Bedaya" initiative, and in implementation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's directives to focus on human development, and within the framework of the cooperation protocol between the Ministries of Higher Education and Social Solidarity, the Faculty of Media at Ain Shams University conducted the 'Mawadda' training as part of the National Program for Preserving the Egyptian Family Structure.

The program was held under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; and Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs. It was supervised by Prof. Heba Shaheen, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication, with administrative coordination and supervision by Mr. Ibrahim Said Hamza, Assistant Secretary of the University for Education and Student Affairs.

The "Mawadda" program aims to raise awareness among young people preparing for marriage, specifically those aged 18 to 25, and to equip them with the knowledge and life skills necessary for building a healthy and stable family.

Prof. Heba Shaheen welcomed the participating students, praising the "Mawadda" initiative as an important step toward raising awareness and empowering them to build a stable family future. She emphasized the initiative's significance as an effective tool for engaging young Egyptians of both genders nationwide, aiming to provide them with the skills and knowledge required to establish a happy and successful family that contributes to societal stability and preserves the integrity of the Egyptian family.

Assistant Lecturer Mai Zayed, from the Faculty of Media and a certified trainer by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, covered the psychological and social aspects of family life. The training included guidance on choosing a life partner, factors for a successful marriage, scientific approaches to resolving marital conflicts, and techniques for positive communication between spouses. Role-playing exercises involving students generated significant interaction from attendees. The sessions also addressed forms of domestic violence, negative child-rearing practices, and principles of managing family finances.

The training further covered health-related aspects of family life, including pre-marital medical checkups and vaccinations, family planning methods, the importance of birth spacing, the harms of female genital mutilation, and the psychological, health, and social consequences of child marriage.

Additionally, the program introduced the concept and objectives of marriage in Islam and Christianity, the principles and rulings of engagement, and the mutual rights and responsibilities of spouses. The training concluded with inspiring stories and practical lessons aimed at promoting healthy marital life.

The "Mawadda" project was launched in 2018 following a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics indicating a significant rise in divorce rates. In response, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi tasked the Ministry of Social Solidarity with developing a program to address this phenomenon and enhance the stability of Egyptian families.