Sanad and the Egyptian Food Bank Launch a Project to Empower Youth Care Leavers and Promote the Sustainability of Care Homes

In partnership between Sanad for Alternative Parental Care and the Egyptian Food Bank, a new initiative has been launched to empower youth leaving care and support the sustainability of care homes through the establishment of food production projects within the homes themselves. 
The project, conceptualized by Dr. Bassem El-Zohairy, Head of the Care Home Development Team at Sanad, aims to operate food production units inside two care homes in Cairo, enabling young people to gain real work experience while generating regular income to improve the quality and continuity of care. 

The project targets 50 youth “men and women” aged 15 to 26, along with care providers. It includes equipping kitchens to meet food safety standards and operating production systems managed by the care homes to ensure sustainable revenue generation. Participants will receive life skills and professional training, including hands-on experience in cooking and food processing. Care providers will also receive training on aftercare, and 25 youth participants will have access to an entrepreneurship program. 
The overarching goal is to achieve sustainable social and economic integration for care leavers through stronger systems and clear pathways toward independence. 

On the sidelines of the protocol signing, Sanad held a discussion session titled “The Role of Employment in the Social Inclusion of Youth ”, which generated key ideas reflecting the project’s philosophy. Among the highlights were the importance of youth-led solutions, the need for psychosocial support and career guidance in employment pathways, reliance on evidence and impact indicators to ensure sustainability, and the adoption of comprehensive, multi-dimensional interventions instead of one-size-fits-all solutions. 

The session featured the following speakers: Ms. Yasmine Al-Hagry, Executive Director of Sanad; Dr. Mohamed El-Qarmani, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Senior Advisor at the Egyptian Food Bank; Ms. Rasha Salem, Programs Director at Sawiris Foundation for Social Development; and Mr. Khaled El-Sayed, Coordinator at Art Studio and swimming coach, representing youth who have graduated from care. 

Sanad extends its gratitude to its partners and to everyone opening real doors to the future of our children. Follow us for updates on project implementation and impact  

measurement results in the coming phase.