“Himaya” initiative CEO: We will honor all firms backing anti-COVID-19 state initiatives after crisis

01 / 04 / 2020

• Sustainable Development

– “Himaya” or “Protection” initiative is a young people’s overture representing integration among private sector and civil society to buttress state efforts to confront the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

– The idea of spearheading the initiative was first mooted in the second week of March when the crisis started to surface.

It became an exigency to realize integration among all parties concerned with social work – whether governmental institutions, civil society associations or those interested in development work in Egypt. This integration would help disseminate awareness about the importance of the social role of companies and state institutions, especially in the time of crises and the need to face international dangers, topped by the COVID-19.

This was manifested in “Himaya: initiative which was launched by Sona3 ElKheir in tandem with CSR Egypt to assuage the impact of  the COVID-19 on needy people and thousands of helpless daily wage workers, temporary workers as well as widows and divorced women.

For more information about the initiative we held an interview with Hassan Moustafa, the CEO of the initiative and Chairman of CSR Egypt.

Q: How the idea of the initiative was first mooted?

A: The initiative was launched under the slogan “ For Our People” (or Ashan Ahalina) on the back of the spread of the coronavirus and the preventive measures adopted worldwide, a matter which cast its shadow on Egypt, especially on the informal sector and temporary workers who represent most of the Egyptian people. This has been taken into consideration by decision-makers and has prompted us to back decision-makers through getting public and private sectors and civil society to join hands to support the most affected social segments and alleviate the impact of the measures adopted to contain the coronavirus spread. This was the goal of launching the initiative in parallel with other similar initiatives to achieve integration for the best interests of the Egyptian people. The overture was feted by the government and Prime Minister Mousatafa Madbouli sponsored it.

Q: What is the “Himaya” or “Protection” initiative?

A: The  “Himaya” or “Protection” initiative is a young people’s overture representing integration among private sector and civil society to buttress state efforts to face up the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The idea of spearheading the initiative was first mooted in the second week of March when the crisis started to surface. The initiative is meant to support and protect our people from the health and economic consequences. The initiative was officially launched to rally up private sector’s efforts and encourage it to prop up the Egyptian people who really deserve a lot.

Q: Who are the founders of the initiative?

A: CSR Egypt and Sona3 ElKheir Foundation cooperated to launch the initiative. CSR Egypt is a specialized entity seeking to spread awareness among companies to carry out their social role and create integration among the parties concerned with development in Egypt. Sona3 ElKheir is a civil society association which has taken part in implementing several presidential initiative and it has the database of more than 200,000 most needy families who represent about one million people. Therefore, Himaya initiative is a distinguished overture because those implementing it have needed data and field experience.

Q: What are the goals of the initiative?

A: The initiative has three main targets and several sub-goals. Himaya is a sustainable initiative which aims to build a strategy for achieving balanced development in all Egyptian governorates in the economic, social and environmental scores. The first stage of implementing the initiative’s goals focuses on the economic and social dimensions. At the economic level, the overture seeks to extend an EGP 500 as a monthly salary for temporary workers and daily wage workers for three months. It also seeks to secure alternative jobs for those who lost their work due to the ongoing incidents. The initiative also works on unifying efforts to reinforce the health sector and develop public and central hospitals of the Health Ministry.

The social goals of the initiative include extending foodstuff bags to most needy families who can be reached through depending on the database available at Sona3 ElKheir Foundation. It also aims at spreading awareness among people via e-mails and social media about the importance of supporting poor people and taking into consideration all needed health precautionary measures. Within this context, personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, were distributed among needy people and cleanliness workers to sensitize them about the importance of adhering to health measures to confront the pandemic.

Q: Is it enough to spread awareness through social media?

A: Of course, it is not enough as the number of internet users in Egypt is estimated at about 50 million and there are people who have no inkling about social media. Therefore, the initiative seeks through Sona3 ElKheir branches which spread in 27 governorate to have direct contact with people and apprise them of the precautionary measures and the importance of staying at home.

Q: How these goals will be achieved on the ground?

A: These goals will be attained through coordination with the Ministries of Health, Social Solidarity and Manpower. We are preparing lists of temporary workers in collaboration with the Manpower Ministry. We also coordinated efforts with the ministry to distribute personal protective equipment and sanitizers among workers in various governorates. We also have full coordination with Social Solidarity Minister Niveen Qabbag who backs the initiative in order to reach most needy families and orphanages to offer financial support to them. We are also coordinating with the Health Ministry to provide needed medical equipment and supplies to some hospitals which receive COVID-19 cases.

Q: How working mechanisms would go?

A: We train working teams of youths and offer them all needed information about health precautions and the fallout of the COVID-19. These youths work on posting people on the importance of abiding by health precautionary measures and wearing masks if they have to go out for an emergency. These youths also distribute personal equipment boxes among temporary workers and needy people in addition to sanitizing houses, public utilities and worshipping places in villages.

Q: What has the initiative achieved so far on the ground?

A: So far, more than 15,000 personal protective equipment boxes were prepared as a first stage. In addition, contracts were signed to get 200,000 tons of foodstuffs and 20 tons of fruits. Moreover, Sona3 ElKheir allocated funds for any additional needs in the first stage. We started distribution in the Upper Egypt governorate of Menya.

Q: How do you see the contribution of the private sector and businessmen to civil society and the state in this crisis?

A: This crisis uncovers all parties and who support the state and people would be etched in memory. I believe that in the times of crises, all parties vie to back and protect their nation. Unfortunately, many figures preferred to distance themselves from the situation, but the ordeal will be overcome with the support of those who are loyal to their country.

Therefore, CSR Egypt is preparing a list of all companies that backed the civil society associations or the Egyptian government during the crisis and this is taking place in coordination with various bodies. The companies on the list will be announced and honored after the crisis ends.

Q: What do you want to say to the civil society?

A: Civil society is the real supporter for needy people. I believe that all civil society organizations work now as members of one team that has one goal which is confronting the coronavirus and bolstering the Egyptian government.

Q: Is the initiative confined to its founders?

A: Of course not, all people can share in the initiative and give hand to those affected by the social and economic fallout of COVID-19 through donation to 200200 bank account at CIB, United Bank, Banque Misr and Bank Audi or sending an SMS at 5 pounds to 9797 hotline or contacting  the 15101 hotline.