“An advertisement by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Cairo [AICS] on Facebook has changed my life,” said Mohamed Tharwat, a Sharqiya resident, recently.
Tharwat graduated in June from the AICS’s Multi-Educational Programme for Employment Promotion in Migration-Affected Areas (MEPEP), a programme which changed his mind about seeking job opportunities abroad through illegal migration.
“I had earlier received training on automobile maintenance. It cost me LE4,000, but honestly it didn’t add much to my skills or experience,” Tharwat told Al-Ahram Weekly.
“I applied for the AICS programme and was happy to know it was fully funded,” he said, noting that “the training lasted for 15 days in 10 Ramadan City. I was joined by seven other trainees from different governorates. I also learned that the programme offered training in other crafts and professions, some of which are especially suitable for women, like sewing.”
“The trainers were highly professional and skilled, and the programme enforced strict attendance rules. Absences, lateness, and non-compliance were not tolerated.”
“I had saved LE100,000 to seek work abroad, but after completing the AICS training, I decided to open an auto repair centre in Belbeis in Sharqiya. A centre like this is lacking in Belbeis, and many people have had to make the trip to Cairo to get their cars fixed,” he said.
On Sunday, the AICS held a closing ceremony to mark the conclusion of the EU-MEPEP programme that organised the training, vowing to continue advancing inclusive and sustainable technical and vocational education and training in Egypt.
According to Tiberio Chiari, head of the AICS Cairo Office, the EU-MEPEP programme has achieved progress in the field of technical education and vocational training. “Through this programme, we have equipped students with the skills demanded by the labour market in Egypt,” he said.
While increasing their opportunities for jobs, the programme has significantly empowered young people socially and economically, especially in migration-affected areas, he added.
The AICS programme was carried out in partnership with the Egyptian government, represented by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, and funded by the European Union, making it one of the leading programmes contributing to the development of technical and vocational education and training in Egypt.
Over more than four years of implementation, the programme has rehabilitated three buildings at the Vocational Training Centre in 10 Ramadan City affiliated with the Productivity and Vocational Training Agency. A fourth building was constructed, becoming the first sustainable and environmentally friendly public educational facility in the 10 Ramadan Industrial Zone.
The programme also introduced modern equipment, advanced teaching methods, and employment services, enabling thousands of students and trainers to build a professional career.
Additionally, 28 curricula were developed and enhanced across 13 industrial sectors, including green energy, welding, electronics, computer-aided design, programmable logic controllers, mechatronics, automotive maintenance, sewing, mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, digital control, secretarial work, and first aid.
More than 280 trainers (82 women and 198 men) received training in technical and pedagogical skills and are now qualified to teach the updated curricula. The programme also provided training to 2,500 male and female students in various fields.
An employment office was established at the Vocational Training Centre in 10 Ramadan City equipped with six service stations to provide careers guidance and facilitate job opportunities for students and graduates.
According to Nicola Tucci, the programme’s National Technical Coordinator, the EU-MEPEP programme was never merely an infrastructure or statistics project. “It has always been centred around people who embrace change, build bridges of cooperation, and open new horizons for the future,” Tucci said.
“Our collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries is another key pillar of sustainability. By linking training to real labour market needs, we are working to build a flexible and effective model that responds to present challenges and remains resilient in the future.”
At the closing ceremony, Chiari announced a new initiative in vocational training and employment in Egypt. An agreement is being prepared between the Productivity and Vocational Training Department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Integrated Air Pollution and Climate Change Management Project in Greater Cairo, which is funded by the World Bank.
“This partnership is a key pillar in the development of the Integrated Waste Management Facility in 10 Ramadan City that spans 1,228 feddans. It is the largest of its kind in North Africa,” Chiari added.
The partnership is expected to generate over 600 green job opportunities for youth and marginalised groups starting in 2026, while supporting the sustainable operational model of the Vocational Training Centre and contributing to Egypt’s green transformation. It is based on education, employment, and environmental sustainability.
Chiari referred to the cooperation agreement signed between AICS and the Federation of Egyptian Industries on 12 February, through which the Federation will work to encourage factories in 10 Ramadan City to offer training opportunities to beneficiaries of the programme.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 3 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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