The activities of the Ain Shams University Comprehensive Development Convoy for Sohag Governorate were launched to serve the people of Awlad Yahya village, which was organized by the Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector in cooperation with the Dar and Salama Project within the framework of the national project of the Hayah Karima Foundation and with funding from the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and with the participation of the Life Makers Foundation Egypt, which lasts for two days.

Under the auspices of Prof. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Major General Tariq Al-Feki, Governor of Sohag, and Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service, Environmental Development and Medical Coordination Affairs, Prof. Hala Sweid, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, under the administrative supervision of Major General Hossam El-Sherbiny, Assistant Secretary of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs.

In this context, Prof. Ghada Farouk explained that the university administration and the sector are keen to achieve the societal role adopted by Ain Shams University by implementing the Dar and Salama project in the village of Awlad Yahya, which comes as a culmination of the intensive efforts during the last period in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, the Life Makers Foundation, and Sohag Governorate, and in activation of the cooperation protocol, which was signed in March 2023 with the Ministry of Planning, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the University, to develop the neediest villages under the umbrella of the national project to develop the Egyptian countryside “Hayah Karima.”

Her Excellency also affirmed the keenness of the university administration to implement a number of distinguished comprehensive development convoys to serve the people of the neediest villages in various governorates, permanently throughout the year, to contribute to the development and service of society within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals of Egypt 2023, to achieve social justice that focuses on the two human dimensions to achieve a decent life, maintaining human rights and achieving equal opportunities, as Major General Tariq Mohamed Mohamed Al-Feki, Governor of Sohag, and Dr. Ahmed Al-Qadi, Deputy Governor of Sohag, were received by a delegation from the Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector at Ain Shams University, and representatives of the Ministry of Planning, the Sawiris Foundation for Community Development, and the Life Makers Foundation, and the leaders of the Decent Life Unit in the governorate, to review what was implemented during the previous period in the “Dar and Salama” project, which included conducting a case study for the poor family nominated for intervention, identifying the most deserving families, and approving the deserving cases that conform to the conditions and standards. It was also monitored which homes needed a sewage facility connection service, and a water facility connection service (60 connections were targeted, then the connections were expanded to 500 water connections to cover the needs), and a contract was made with the Water and Sanitation Company and the necessary permits were obtained for that. The challenges faced in the implementation process and how to overcome them were also discussed.

As well as following up on the work of the convoy, which includes a medical, awareness and literacy axis, with the participation of the faculties of “the Faculty of Medicine - the Faculty of Nursing - the Faculty of Pharmacy - the Faculty of Dentistry - the Faculty of Specific Education” and the Adult Education Center.

The clinics of convoy have witnessed heavy demand in various specialties: internal medicine - children - women - dermatology - conjunctivitis - ear and nose - heart - chest - vascular surgery - brain and nerve surgery - teeth - speech therapy. There is also a pharmacy that provides its drug service free of charge. In addition to a number of recreational activities for children, awareness campaigns, and the opening of classes for those wishing to be free from illiteracy.

A consultative session was also held with the villagers and officials to seek their opinions on the projects being implemented, the challenges facing the citizens in the village, monitor their needs, and provide them with urgent interventions. The village people expressed their happiness with the selection of the deserved families to be cared for, and then the delegation made a field visit to the village to inspect a number of the homes of the most cared for families and the development projects being implemented within the “Hayah Karima” project.