Drawing The Journey and Elevating The Voice

From Dakahlia emerged a bright young man named Omar Jaber, driven by a passion for changing the lives of future generations. No matter how big or small his role was going to be, Omar was determined to contribute to enhancing the prospects of younger generations. This dedication led him to become the youngest life skills coach in the national Meshwary program and a committed Dawwie facilitator passionate about empowering girls within just a few years.

Omar's Journey: "Meshwar Omar"

In 2019, Omar joined Meshwary (My Journey), a national program supported by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, operating across several governorates in Egypt. Meshwary aims to empower and train young people socially and economically, and the program quickly saw in Omar a potential trainer for younger children due to his remarkable performance throughout the training.

The small age difference between Omar and the participants allowed him to connect easily with the young participants, especially as he had been in their shoes not long ago. Omar motivated them, boosted their self-confidence, and encouraged them to develop their own skills as rapidly as he had.

Dawwie: A Defining Moment

In mid-2023, Omar's career took a positive turn when he joined Dawwie's training. Dawwie, the National Girls' Empowerment Initiative, falls under the national investment framework for girls, and it significantly influenced Omar's thinking. He came to understand the significance of focusing with intention on the empowerment of girls and the roles boys could play in supporting this journey. The training drew Omar to Dawwie's activities, namely the intergenerational dialogues, storytelling circles, and the digital literacy course, which collectively demonstrated how to create a safe and supportive environment for girls to express themselves, be heard, and be supported by their male peers.
This focus on empowering girls is particularly crucial in Egypt, where many girls and young women still face barriers in accessing education and employment opportunities. With nearly 27% of adolescents not engaged in education, training, or employment, and young women experiencing a 32% unemployment rate—more than double that of young men—Dawwie's approach aims to close this gap. Digital literacy, as a pivotal part of Dawwie's activities, made a profound impact on Omar. The training aimed to bridge the gender digital divide by equipping girls with essential skills, like finding learning opportunities online, building self-awareness, and creating digital content. Participants also learned how to stay safe online and strengthened key soft skills for personal and professional growth. Omar saw how these new skills expanded the girls' ability to make informed choices, advocate for themselves, and inspire change within their communities—empowering them socially and economically while promoting gender equality.

"One of the stories that impacted me most during training was about a man named Ashraf, whom I met by chance on a train. He was helping someone create a study schedule, and I offered my knowledge about time management. Their reaction was incredibly positive, and that encounter sparked a journey where I ended up training over 100 people—friends and acquaintances of Ashraf—on life skills as they spread the word about the program in their town."

Drawing The Journey and Elevating The Voice: Meshwary and Dawwie together as Drivers for Skilling and Gender Transformative Change

Omar's journey is a testament to the interwoven nature of Meshwary and Dawwie, two programs that complement each other in driving skilling and gender transformative change. Through Meshwary, Omar developed foundational skills in leadership, communication, and youth empowerment—skills that set the stage for his involvement in Dawwie. When he transitioned into Dawwie, these abilities were further refined, now with a focus on gender equality and girls' empowerment. Meshwary equipped Omar with the confidence and competence to become a mentor, while Dawwie deepened his understanding of the importance of inclusive empowerment.

MetLife supported UNICEF's strategic efforts to empower young people, especially girls, by providing them with the skills needed to improve their future prospects. UNICEF trained facilitators and volunteers affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who then implemented Dawwie camps, benefiting 10,000 young men and women from different governorates. These camps provided opportunities for acquiring digital learning skills, engaging in intergenerational and community dialogues, and participating in activities such as viewing clubs and trainings available through the Dawwie website.

Together, the initiatives of Meshwary and Dawwie, alongside the support from partners like MetLife, built a seamless path for Omar to continue his journey of impacting others, fostering environments where boys and girls alike learn to support each other, bridge gaps, and work towards an equitable future. This continuity reflects how national initiatives, supported by strategic partnerships, can synergize to empower not only individuals like Omar but entire communities by shaping skills, mindsets, and opportunities that contribute to sustainable and inclusive change.

"The most important thing that motivates me to continue training is the change that I see in the lives of the young people we train and that we are part of a bigger circle that aims to deliver a message to the new generations. This message is: we support you, and our goal is to help you change to the better."