YLF is among the pioneers to dedicate sharp attention to female students in vocational schools across Egypt, with a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. Unlocking the potential of Egypt’s young women with “She Leads” – a pioneering program reshaping the landscape of vocational education. Empowering future female entrepreneurs through high-quality training and innovative projects, we break stereotypes and foster a culture of economic empowerment. Join us in cultivating confident, well-rounded female entrepreneurs ready to thrive in the workforce and drive innovation.
About
Banan (بَنَان) is a program Launched in 2023 by Youth Leaders Foundation, in collaboration with Attijariwafa Bank Egypt and under the auspices of the National Council for Women. Banan focuses on empowering all female entrepreneurs, with no limitations or restrictions for the female graduates of vocational schools for professional and sustainable transformation to expand and maintain their businesses.
The program’s name is Banan, which basically means “fingertips.” It symbolizes the part of transforming girls talents and competencies into tangible artistic products. Inspired by the concept of fingertips being the magic wand that sprinkles art onto the girls’ creations, we chose our unique name: بَنَان.
Banan offers comprehensive capacity building components to female entrepreneurs. This includes:
- Tailored training programs: Trainings aim to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge to navigate the business landscape effectively such as business modeling , ideation , marketing , selling and customer oriented trainings
- Equipped workshops: Banan provides workshops with the necessary resources and equipment, allowing the girls to produce a diverse range of products.
- Sales and Exhibition Platforms (E-commerce website and Showroom): To reach a wider audience, Banan offers two options:
- An e-commerce website that facilitates online sales.
- A permanent showroom located in Zamalek that allows the girls to showcase and sell both their handcrafted products and customized services.
- Groundbreaking Technology Event: Banan goes beyond traditional business support by hosting a huge technology event. Through workshops, talks and meeting with technology pioneers, this event focuses on introducing young women to current technology trends and breaking stereotypes and inspires them to pursue careers path in the technology field.Top of Form
Vision
"Banan" is formulated and implemented based on an extensive on ground research that reflected deep and concrete understanding of female entrepreneurs' needs , obstacles and challenges they face for achieving their entrepreneurial dreams. Banan’s vison is to emphasize commitment to ensure the success sustainability of the projects of vocational school alumnae after their long productive journeys in "She Leads" where the girls first planted the seeds of their businesses. Initiating from the idea, name, logo, vision, goals ; fortunately, they managed to launch their own brands as a newly launched product in the market and got their passion boosted through achieving their dreams. Building on this notion , we decided to make Banan a central hub for young entrepreneurs –especially vocational school graduates- with a sharper focus in the significance of shortening their path to success and accelerating their entrepreneurial journeys
Mission
Our mission is to become a permanent destination hub for female entrepreneurs as an open door mechanism in order to provide the needed support and assistance to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs . By fostering a supportive and learning environment, Banan aims to empower female entrepreneurs to transform their dreams into thriving businesses, leaving an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial landscape.
To achieve such dream
Banan has an equipped workplace in Zamalek that is subdivided into 3 workshops; "Khaled Shalaby", "Ayadina" and "Ebra w Kheit." The program works through Three main development phases and a final competition that selects the best projects to receive financial support along with a sustainability plan for them.
1-Khaled Shalaby: In honor of the memory of the innovative leader and the late engineer, Khaled Shalaby, we have launched this workshop to direct the girls’ eyes onto the promising field of technology. Through a curriculum developed by experts, girls will be able to dive deep into the modern trends of technology and learn to be well updated with the fast-paced technological evolution happening around us. Currently, the workshop offers two tracks: Robotics Design and Mobile App development. Girls work on real-world projects in order to transform their newfound knowledge into tangible products that test the workshops’ impact on their progress and understanding.
Ayadina, which means “our hands” in Arabic, encompasses everything that is related to art. From elegant accessories to fascinating paintings and a variety of other products, it empowers young girls to explore and to unleash their artistic talents and cultivate their passion for handicrafts. They learn to observe the beauty around them and transform it to masterpieces through threads and beads or colors and paintbrushes. Ayadina’s impact extends far beyond the realm of artistic skills. It fosters a sense of empowerment and self-discovery within these young girls, nurturing their confidence as they discover their unique talents and abilities. The workshop provides a place where they can express themselves freely, explore their passions, and unleash their creativity.
3-Ebra w Kheit: inspired by the belief that the art of tailoring is an enduring craft that will never get old or perish, we launched our unique workshop “Ebra w Kheit”, meaning “Needle and Thread” in Arabic. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, Ebra w Kheit instills in its participants the fundamental skills required to transform fabrics into wearable masterpieces. The workshop serves as an incubator that adopts young talents with dreams and transforms them into inventive fashion designers. We bet that our girls are capable of pursuing their dreams and positioning themselves for success in the ever-evolving competitive world of fashion.
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