On Monday, the Local Development Unit of CEOSS organized a meeting on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, in the presence of Dr. Mahmoud Zabalawi, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture in Benha, Major General Hamdi El-Deeb, Advisor to the Minister of Environment, and the following members of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Rasha Fayez, Mrs. Amal Zakaria, and the deputy directors of the Social Solidarity Directorate, Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, Mr. Khaled Abdel-Alim, and head of the Central Department for Research and Studies In the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Hanan Moussa, Dr. Hosni Youssef, Advisor to the Ministry of Solidarity for Social Welfare, Ms. Amira Al-Rifai, Executive Director of the Ataa Fund, Mr. Medhat Abdel Rashid, Director of the Forsa Program at the Ministry of Solidarity, and Dr. Shaima Siraj, Head of the Equal Opportunities Unit at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Among the leaders of CEOSS are Ms. Margaret Saroufim, Head of the Local Development Sector at CEOSS, Mr. Rafiq Nagy, Director of Developmental Sites and Resource Mobilization, Ms. Magda Ramzy, Director of Comprehensive Rural Development, Ms. Suhair Aziz, Director of Specialized Programs, and a number of representatives of civil society institutions and partner associations.

The meeting included a speech by the President of the General Federation of NGOs and Institutions, Dr. Talaat Abdel-Qawi, and a speech by Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, the first undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Solidarity in Cairo. The meeting also included an artistic segment, a presentation of citizens’ success stories in small and micro-enterprises, an introduction of the Solidarity Agreement for the Protection of the Environment, and an invitation to sign the agreement by the attendees.

Margaret Sarofim, Head of the Local Development Sector at CEOSS, said: “CEOSS organized a meeting today with the aim of committing to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and contributing to improving the quality of life for all citizens, especially the most needy and the most vulnerable in rural and urban areas in the governorates of the Arab Republic of Egypt.”

Margaret explained, “CEOSS launched today a call for all attendees to sign the agreement, “Together for the Protection of the environment,” in which all stakeholders from different parties and sectors from the Ministry of Solidarity, the Ministry of Environment and the UN will participate and stand in solidarity under the auspices of the National Alliance for Civil and Development Action, as well as Partners from civil society organizations, universities, the private sector and citizens of local communities, stating:

CEOSS affirms its continued commitment and support to work to preserve the environment and natural resources, and to contribute to mitigating the negative effects of climate change. Together and actively contribute to enhancing societal resilience of local communities to face climate change, promoting the dissemination of a culture of environmental work, improving community environmental behaviors, implementing local initiatives that protect natural resources, and supporting the spirit of volunteerism among citizens, especially young people of both sexes, to contribute and work to implement these local initiatives.

This is a commitment from CEOSS, and all our partners and stakeholders – individuals, groups and institutions – to preserve the environment and its natural resources for present and future generations.”