From November 11 to 15, 2024, Iván Aznar and Federico Crespo, from the Projects team of our Foundation, visited Egypt with the aim of reinforcing the monitoring of our convenio ‘Promotion of sustainable economic and social alternatives from of tourism in Upper Egypt’, financed by the AECID and developed together with our local partner AUEED.
During this stay, key meetings were held, visits to emblematic projects and the celebration of relevant activities such as the final of the Top Chefs competition for hospitality schools 2024
Strategy and planning from Cairo
The first day was dedicated to strategic meetings in Cairo. In a meeting with the AUEED management team, we reviewed the progress of the convenio and explored new collaboration opportunities for 2025. In addition, fundamental issues were addressed such as the installation of the new kitchen in the Abu Korkas complex, the hotel renovation plan and the acquisition of key equipment for ongoing Projects.
Abu Korkas: advances in sustainability and innovation
On Tuesday the 12th, Abu Korkas was the epicenter of the final of the Top Chefs competition for hospitality schools 2024, which brought together hospitality students from Menia, Qena and Luxor. East Nile Hospitality Secondary School in Menia was declared the winner in the final of the competition! Congratulations!
We also visited the space where the new training kitchen for hospitality will be installed and had a meeting with the technical team of the Abu Korkas professional technical centre (HTC) to analyse institutional and economic sustainability strategies, as well as new training lines.
On Wednesday, the agenda included a meeting with the management team of the Abu Korkas hotel to assess the results of the business plan and strategy with the Ministry of Tourism.
We also visited the sewing workshop and Community Center run by AUEED, where women participating in our 2021 Project shared their achievements and concerns, demonstrating how this space continues to be a driver of social and economic change.
Institutional alliances and cultural closure
The following day we met with representatives of the Ministry of Education to plan the 2025 actions aimed at students from vocational training Centres in hospitality, reinforcing the role of the convenio as a platform for youth empowerment.
This visit reaffirms the commitment of the Social Promotion Foundation to the development of sustainable alternatives that promote rural tourism and empower women and young people in Upper Egypt, creating economic opportunities in a region with great potential.
