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Within the framework of reinforcing the pioneering community role of Ain Shams University, one of Egypt’s most prestigious universities, Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, and Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, witnessed this morning the signing ceremony of a cooperation protocol between Ain Shams University and the Egyptian Red Crescent, marking the first protocol of its kind among public universities.

The protocol was signed by Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Dr. Amal Emam, Executive Director of the Egyptian Red Crescent. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Al-Okaby, Assistant Minister of Social Solidarity and General Supervisor of the Social Solidarity Units Project, along with several deans, vice deans, and faculty staff.

During the signing ceremony, the Minister of Social Solidarity praised the exceptional role played by Ain Shams University in supporting community causes, affirming that it presents a pioneering model of an academic institution that places its scientific and research capabilities at the service of the most vulnerable groups. She highlighted the University’s leadership as the first public university to sign a cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Red Crescent and to establish an on-campus office for the Association, aimed at encouraging student participation in volunteer work, fostering a spirit of belonging and giving, and harnessing youth potential to help address pressing societal issues. From this standpoint, the Minister called on all Egyptian universities to follow Ain Shams University’s example, to generalize this inspiring experience and transform educational institutions into beacons of humanitarian and community action.

In his remarks, the President of Ain Shams University emphasized that the University is not merely an educational institution, but a cultural and intellectual beacon that leads societal change, stressing that human capital is the primary driver of all national development and modernization plans. He further explained that the University is currently directing research across all disciplines toward applied, practice-oriented outcomes, noting that the true measure of research success lies in its tangible impact on the surrounding environment and its ability to provide innovative solutions to local economic, technological, and environmental challenges.

For her part, the Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development reviewed the achievements of the sector over the past year, during which services were provided to more than 100,000 beneficiaries. This was achieved through the implementation of 14 comprehensive development convoys across various governorates, from Halaib and Shalateen in the far south to Greater Cairo, in addition to 33 specialized convoys annually, 62 awareness seminars, 68 school-based awareness campaigns, 25 training and capacity-building programs, 22 productive and charitable exhibitions, and 15 conferences addressing complex societal issues.

She also noted that the University is preparing to launch a Community Observatory, which will serve as an effective tool for monitoring and analyzing societal phenomena and challenges, with the aim of understanding, interpreting, and even forecasting them, and ultimately developing scientific mechanisms to address them. This initiative supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt’s National Strategy 2030, positioning the University as an educational, research, and cultural hub capable of innovation, competitiveness, and producing outputs that meet societal development needs and enhance its standing in global university rankings.

In turn, the Executive Director of the Egyptian Red Crescent expressed appreciation for the partnership with Ain Shams University, describing it as a strategic partner with distinguished human and scientific capacities. She explained that the protocol aims to expand the volunteer base and disseminate a culture of humanitarian solidarity on a wider scale. She added that the Egyptian Red Crescent, established in 1911 as a non-governmental organization, seeks to alleviate human suffering, particularly for those affected by crises, and operates in accordance with the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. She further underscored the Association’s belief in the power of humanity and volunteer networks, which function as an auxiliary to the government and as part of the international movement to deliver timely and effective responses during crises and to support recovery.

The protocol includes cooperation in organizing medical and comprehensive development convoys in priority areas, with student participation; implementing cultural seminars and health awareness campaigns across various community fields; organizing health days on campus to serve the internal community; training students in humanitarian and volunteer work; participating in field initiatives and school-based awareness campaigns, particularly those related to child rights and combating violence against children; supporting the establishment of student volunteer units within faculties; providing financial consultations to support the Egyptian Red Crescent’s development plans; and collaborating on the design and implementation of media and awareness campaigns to enhance the public image of volunteer work in Egyptian society.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the two parties exchanged commemorative shields and posed for a group photograph.