Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is collaborating with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and UNICEF to empower girls from vulnerable communities by training them to recycle water hyacinth into handmade products, the ministry said.
The initiative forms part of the “Ward Al-Kheir” programme, which aims to empower women and girls in the water sector by promoting the recycling of water hyacinth. The programme is expected to be officially launched during celebrations marking World Water Day on 15 March 2026.
Hany Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, said the ministry’s regional training centre has already organised training programmes for women focused on recycling the plant to produce handicrafts.
A total of 24 training activities have been conducted across several areas, including Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, Damanhour, and Esna, benefiting 643 women from civil society organisations and water user associations.
Sewilam added that the ministry plans to expand the training programmes, improve processing techniques for drying and preparing the plant, and develop new product designs to enhance their marketability.
For her part, Sahar El-Sambaty, head of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, said the council places strong emphasis on economically empowering girls and strengthening their skills through initiatives such as the national “Dawwie” programme.
She added that the council is also preparing to launch a separate initiative called “Ghazl Banat”, aimed at training girls in traditional crafts and enhancing their productive skills.
Meanwhile, Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Egypt representative, said the programme demonstrates how environmental challenges such as water hyacinth can be transformed into sustainable economic opportunities for girls.
She also emphasised that access to safe water and sanitation services remains essential for girls’ health, dignity and ability to continue their education and participate fully in their communities.
