As part of Alexandria University’s commitment to its societal role and its dedication to supporting underprivileged groups and strengthening social protection, the University launched the activities of the “Dekkan El Farha” initiative to support its students. The initiative is implemented in cooperation with Tahya Misr Fund, under the patronage of the Northern Military Region, and in collaboration with Alexandria Governorate, reflecting the integration of state institutions’ efforts to serve the community.

The opening ceremony was attended by Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Alexandria; Prof. Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim, Acting President of Alexandria University; Major General Staff Yasser Abdel Moaz El-Khatib, Commander of the Northern Military Region; Mr. Tamer Abdel Fattah, Executive Director of Tahya Misr Fund; Prof. Dr. Affaf Al-Oufy, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development; Eng. Hesham Khalifa, Head of Projects Sector at Tahya Misr Fund; Prof. Dr. Wael El-Maghlany, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; and Prof. Dr. Dina Taha, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering for Graduate Studies and Research, in addition to faculty members, teaching assistants, and students.

In his remarks, the Governor of Alexandria emphasized the political leadership’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable groups and alleviating citizens’ burdens, in line with the vision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which places human development at the forefront of national priorities. He noted that the state has given significant attention to expanding social protection programs and broadening the scope of humanitarian initiatives. He also highlighted that Tahya Misr Fund is one of the key development arms that has successfully translated political directives into tangible initiatives that directly impact citizens’ lives, most notably the “Dekkan El Farha” initiative, launched in April 2019 as part of social protection convoys.

For his part, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim, Acting President of Alexandria University, affirmed that the University’s participation in this initiative stems from its strong belief in its societal role and national responsibility to support underprivileged groups. He praised the efforts of Tahya Misr Fund as a leading model of institutional community work that translates state directives into impactful initiatives. He added that the support provided to students and staff reflects the state’s commitment to achieving social justice and alleviating living burdens, stressing the University’s continued efforts to strengthen partnerships and expand community service and volunteer work.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tamer Abdel Fattah, Executive Director of Tahya Misr Fund, stated that the Alexandria University exhibition aims to support more than 6,500 students who have undergone social assessments through the Student Solidarity Fund, in addition to 1,500 auxiliary service workers. He noted that the exhibition includes 41,000 items of new clothing, footwear, accessories, bags, and educational supplies, along with 2,000 educational books across various fields to support students’ knowledge development alongside in-kind assistance. He added that the initiative also facilitated the marriage of 10 daughters of employees and auxiliary staff by providing full wedding and household after careful case assessment to ensure support reaches those most in need.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, 1,500 food boxes were distributed under the “Bel Hana Wel Shifa” initiative targeting auxiliary service workers, as part of efforts to provide an integrated food support system, including a variety of essential dry goods to meet families’ needs.

The initiative also included a humanitarian gesture through the distribution of 20 wheelchairs to students with disabilities, reflecting the joint efforts of the Fund and the University to empower this group and facilitate their academic journey.

It is worth noting that hosting the exhibition at Alexandria University comes as part of a series of “Dekkan El Farha” initiatives implemented regularly across universities and governorates. Since its launch in April 2019, the initiative has become a key pillar of social protection convoys, aiming to promote solidarity and bring joy to students in public universities across Egypt.