While studying at a health technical institute, Basmala set up a small workshop at home. Using local, sustainable materials like palm fronds, she handcrafts baskets, handbags, lamps, and decorative pieces inspired by Nubian and Pharaonic heritage.

Her village, like many rural communities, offers limited economic opportunities, especially for girls and young women. Traditional crafts, once integral to Nubian and Egyptian culture, are fading as younger generations move away in search of modern jobs.

At the same time, palm waste—often burned—contributes to pollution and squanders a valuable natural resource. 

Basmala saw an opportunity to change that.

With the foundational skills from Meshwary, she turned her passion into a structured small business. Her first designs, made from wicker and palm leaves, soon gained attention. As demand grew, she began training other young women in her community, turning her business into a platform for empowerment and shared purpose.

By buying palm fronds from farmers—materials that would otherwise be burned, she helps reduce pollution while generating income for local agricultural workers. Her workshop has become a safe space for young women to learn, earn, and reconnect with their heritage.

By November 2024, Basmala’s business had undergone a remarkable transformation – thanks to the expanded support of Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s Silatech & ROTA programmes. EAA Foundation, together with existing development partners, has strengthened the Meshwary programme, extending its reach and deepening its impact. 

With this support, Basmala refined her craft, incorporating Nubian and Pharaonic engravings that blended cultural pride with modern aesthetics. She also introduced LED lighting to her handmade lampshades, making them both beautiful and functional.

More importantly, this support enabled her to double down on her commitment to sustainable craftsmanship – using locally sourced, eco-friendly materials to reduce  environmental waste while preserving traditional craftsmanship.

This turning point allowed Basmala to scale her business beyond her village. Through online sales and exhibitions supported by Meshwary, her products are now reaching wider markets, attracting interest from tourists and cultural enthusiasts alike.

With ongoing guidance and referrals from Meshwary trainers, Basmala has grown her customer base, sharpened her entrepreneurial skills, and expanded her impact.

Once financially dependent and uncertain about her future, Basmala is now an entrepreneur, mentor, and environmental advocate. 

Basmala’s journey reflects the transformative impact of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, EAA Foundation,’s Silatech and ROTA programmes. By providing access to learning, mentorship, and entrepreneurial training, this collaboration is empowering young people to lead climate action, preserve cultural heritage, and build sustainable livelihoods. 

With this strengthened support, Basmala’s success highlights how investing in youth drives both economic growth and cultural preservation – one handcrafted piece at a time. 

About

The partnership between the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) empowers youth in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan to drive environmental action, access sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen their local economies through green skills development, community greening, job placements, and entrepreneurship.

The Green Visions and Thriving Futures programme will support 370,000 young people across Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt in greening actions to protect biodiversity, manage waste and conserve water in local communities, with 60,000 of them undergoing a climate action curriculum in preparatory schools. In addition, the programme will support 195,670 youth in Egypt to transition from learning to earning through job placements or self-employment in sectors such as information technology, healthcare, engineering, and agriculture. This includes 22,500 young people who will first learn about climate action through the curriculum, then gain hands-on experience by participating in greening initiatives, and then access job opportunities.

¹ Meshwary, a UNICEF-supported youth development programme under the auspices of the Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, is led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and funded by development partners including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Education Above All (EAA). The programme aims to promote the socio-economic empowerment of young people through a comprehensive skills package that includes life and employability skills, innovation and social entrepreneurship training, and career guidance services, all designed to enhance youth employability and skilling.