The “Heya” Campaign was launched on March 19, 2017 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina by UNHCR Alexandria Field Office in collaboration with the General Collections and Services Department at the Depository Library Section. The event opened with speeches by the organizers and partners of the Heya Campaign. Aseer Al Madaien, Head of UNHCR Alexandria Office spoke about this year's UN theme “Women in a Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030” and UNHCR’s theme for 2017 "UNHCR supports women's right to decent work." "Women’s rights are human rights," Al Madaien said. "UNHCR believes that empowerment of women and girls economically and socially is the only means by which to protect their rights and guarantees that they achieve their potential.

Two arts and culture events were held for some 150 Syrian and Egyptian children, co-organized by UNHCR Egypt and Caritas Alexandria on 28 and 29 August in the Ras El Soda and Borg Al Arab areas in Alexandria. Refugee and Egyptian children enjoyed fun activities hosted by the Mac Club including face paintings, accessory making, games and colouring followed by a theatre performance of a play called “Star of the Orient.” Produced by the Swedish NGO Re: Orient, the play depicts the story of the legendary late Egyptian singer Om Kalthoum.

UN Women launched a training center in coordination with the National Council for Women in order to train Syrian refugees with soft skills.

UNHCR organized a “Refugee Voices in Egypt: Refuge, Resilience and Exile” Photo Exhibition at the American University in Cairo for WRD

UNHCR Community Support Programmes (CSPs) on December 29, 2016, held reflective and informative training sessions on the experience of engaging with host and refugee communities in Egypt. The sessions reiterated the objectives of the projects, reviewed their processes, and explored new possibilities.

UNHCR Egypt Representative Ms. Elizabeth Tan met with 350 teachers from all governorates in Egypt who have benefitted from the Active Learning Training programme, which was successfully implemented from the 31st of October to the 5th of November 2016. The event, held in the Student’s Union building, was organized by UNHCR in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Ms. Tan thanked the Government of Egypt and the Ministry of Education for their generosity in hosting refugees, as well as giving their children access to public schools. The Representative also thanked the teachers, and acknowledged the efforts and patience they show the refugee children that may face difficulties in adapting in a new environment. Ms. Tan said that UNHCR is committed to support the Ministry of Education in delivering high quality education and ensuring that schools are a safe learning environment for both refugee and Egyptian children.

UNHCR Egypt commemorated WRD 2015 under the theme ‘Get Involved – Stand Together’. Ambassadors and business men attended the event.

UNHCR Egypt extended its reception hours last week and received 3,876 individuals (1,709 families), approaching the office to renew their documents, update their information and add new family members to their records. Continuous verification contributes to a better understanding of the profile and needs of people registered with UNHCR. This exercise has also considerably reduced the waiting period to obtain a renewal appointment in our offices, which decreased from 3 months to 1 month. Additionally, 86 Syrian families also had the opportunity to complete their vulnerability assessment interviews.

UNHCR Egypt hosted the Refugee and Egyptian Women’s Business Fair at the Greek Campus on March 18, 2017. There was a huge selection of art, jewelry, clothes and accessories combined with various delicious types of cuisines from Ethiopia, Syria and Sudan offered by over 85 participants. The event was held to mark International and National Women’s Day, and furthermore to recognize and celebrate women’s socio-economic empowerment and their relentless and important contribution to the economic development of Egypt.

UNHCR Egypt is pleased to share the good news of the expansion of the Y’ahl El-Hay - يا 'هل الحي project (People of the Neighbourhood) this year. After its successful implementation during 2015 in Obour City, UNHCR Egypt’s Community Support Programme (CSPs) is extending the Ya'ahl El-Hay project to three further locations including a Family Health Center in 10th Ramadan city, a Family Health Unit in 6th October city, and a Health Center in El Salam Awal area.