Inauguration of the Project for Revitalization of Traditional Craft in the Historic Cairo
2022/12/17
On Saturday, December 17, 2022, His Excellency Mr. Oka Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to the Arab Republic of Egypt, his spouse and Dr. Salah Zaki, Board of Nile Palace Charity Foundation, witnessed the inauguration of the Project for Establishment of Traditional Craft Revitalization and Training Center in Old Cairo. This project was executed by Nile Palace Charity Foundation, using Japan’s grassroot grants of US$85,749.
The project contributes to the promotion of traditional industries in the Old Cairo area by providing vocational training in traditional crafts to about 40 young people living in the area, and enables about 150 local residents and students to participate in local economic activities, including participation in product exhibitions and seminars conducted by Nile Palace.
At the ceremony, Dr. Salah Zaki and Dr. Alaa El-Habashi, Professor of Menoufia University and the director of this project, along with other speakers expressed their sincere appreciation to Japan’s assistance to support the succession of traditional techniques in Egypt in general and this project in particular. Ambassador Oka told he was glad that Japan played an important role in preserving the historic area and revitalizing the community through the grassroots grant.
Two Japanese carpenters Mr. Morita and Mr. Yasuda from Kanazawa city also attend the ceremony and they shared their knowledge and experience as well as exchanged traditional skills and culture with young carpenters in the local community through Japanese traditional woodwork technique “Kumiko” work.
This project comes within the framework of the Japanese aid grant program “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects,” which provides direct financial support to non-profitable organizations including NGOs in various fields such as education, health, inclusion of persons with disabilities, vocational training, and empowerment of women, environment and others. Japan has extended about US$10 million in Egypt since 1994, supporting 174 projects.
The project contributes to the promotion of traditional industries in the Old Cairo area by providing vocational training in traditional crafts to about 40 young people living in the area, and enables about 150 local residents and students to participate in local economic activities, including participation in product exhibitions and seminars conducted by Nile Palace.
At the ceremony, Dr. Salah Zaki and Dr. Alaa El-Habashi, Professor of Menoufia University and the director of this project, along with other speakers expressed their sincere appreciation to Japan’s assistance to support the succession of traditional techniques in Egypt in general and this project in particular. Ambassador Oka told he was glad that Japan played an important role in preserving the historic area and revitalizing the community through the grassroots grant.
Two Japanese carpenters Mr. Morita and Mr. Yasuda from Kanazawa city also attend the ceremony and they shared their knowledge and experience as well as exchanged traditional skills and culture with young carpenters in the local community through Japanese traditional woodwork technique “Kumiko” work.
This project comes within the framework of the Japanese aid grant program “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects,” which provides direct financial support to non-profitable organizations including NGOs in various fields such as education, health, inclusion of persons with disabilities, vocational training, and empowerment of women, environment and others. Japan has extended about US$10 million in Egypt since 1994, supporting 174 projects.
