The Local Development Unit of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services launched the summer campaign to promote the idea of volunteering among young people of both sexes from 12 to 21 years old under the title “We are young people, we change and we are changed.” This activity coincides with the celebration of the International Youth Day, which falls on August 12th of each year. The inaugural meeting of the campaign was carried out the day before yesterday, with the participation of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Youth Administration Officer in Al Minya Governorate, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, in addition to the presence of 60 volunteers from the youth of both sexes. The meeting also included a brief presentation about the Coptic Evangelical Organization, its activities and the idea of the campaign, as well as speeches from the officials to encourage young people to volunteer, while addressing the role of institutions at the local level in supporting and investing the energies of the youth, the importance of volunteering in bringing about the development of societies, and the rights and duties of volunteering. The symposium was moderated by Dr. Lamis Mohamed El-Gafi, Vice Dean of the Faculty of languages for Education and Student Affairs and the Director of the Professional Development Center at Al Minya University.
Professor Margaret Saroufim, Head of the Local Development Sector at the Coptic Evangelical Organization, said: “The We Are Young People, We Change and we are Changed campaign aims at developing the skills and enhancing the value of volunteering for young people of both sexes, males and females, providing them with the opportunity for community participation and investing their abilities and time in bringing about positive change in local communities, as well as providing opportunities for them to learn about the fields of community development, the sustainable development goals, Egypt’s 2030 plan, and the role of young people in achieving them.”
At the end of the meeting, a field plan was drawn up with the youth for the period from August 11 to August 25, which included a set of initiatives and activities led by young volunteers.
